jayboy

It may depend on what address is used, ie Thailand or home country.The latter might present problems over time.However if the card is issued (let us say by a British bank) to a openly declared resident of Thailand - with Thailand address etc, I don't think that any Thailand based expenditure on the card would be queried.Why should it be?

As matters stand if one paid school fees from a cash bank account which existed prior to 1.1.2024 ( memo to self: get accountant friendly record of year end cash balances), I don't think the question of Thai income tax would arise at all - so no need to gift spouse. But as one member correctly observed this kind of discussion is a bit daft and there's a danger of overthinking on paltry evidence.Let's wait and see.

Many people don't pay school fees from current income.If one remitted school fees to a Thai school funded from (for example) investments/cash deposits held prior to 1.1.24, that presumably would not be subject to tax Maybe.But I can't see how for the life of me see how an international air ticket purchased with a foreign credit card on an international airline website could be tracked down by the RD.(Well, obviously it could but it would require a disproportionate effort)

Many thanks.These alternatives appear to be about half the price of Atavorstatin Sandoz 20. On another tack is there a difference in efficacy between Atavorstatin and say Simvastatin or is it not a question possible to answer because they do different things? I had always assumed statins were much the same, and doctors prescribed - sometimes after trial and error - based on the patients tolerance and minimization of any side effects.

Can someone please advise a locally available alternative to Atorvastatin 20mg Sandoz.

Thanks.Isn't the purpose of a DTA to prevent the double taxation of income? Thus if a Brit has HMRC agreed NT status on his/her UK sourced pension income the provisions for tax exemption/tax credit in Thailand under the DTA are not relevant to him/her.Seems logical but perhaps I have missed something.

You're right it's not my day job.Can you refer me to the bit or bits where I have gone wrong.

I believe the onus is on the individual to submit the P85 and argue the case for NT status with HMRC who would then advise the pension provider. I gather it's not nearly as simple as it might appear and I know a few who have been unsuccessful in getting the NT status despite having a good case. Be that as it may, those residents of Thailand with NT status will obviously not be able to benefit from the provisions of the UK/Thailand DTA (because they have been exempted from paying tax in the UK resulting in a conclusion they should pay in\come tax in Thailand).That presents a problem for them, unless they have the financial resources to fund themselves from pre-2024 investments/savings.

This sums up my own position exactly.Funds already transferred to my Thai bank account.Next year will maximize use locally of UK credit card.Resigned to having to file tax return for 2024 tax year and in due course will seek accountant that meets my requirements.Will take no immediate action as for time being this is a developing situation.There is time - filing limit for 2024 tax year is 31.3.2024.

Just a rehash by some beachcomber type of what is already known though missing out on chunks.Near useless.

The point about Abhisit is that he was far from mediocre.He was highly educated, cosmopolitan, charming and diligent.Unlike the thick as mince military politicians, he knew how the national and international world worked.His instincts were liberal and he could have been a great leader.He knew what was the right thing to do for Thailand but he chose the opposite and stained his name and reputation forever. Richard Lloyd Parry summarizes it beautifully: "Many people bear responsibility for Thailand’s divisions, prominent among them Thaksin, who must dearly wish that he had rubbed his enemies’ noses in it a bit less gleefully during his years in office. But the suave villainy of the Democrat Party, and of men like Abhisit and Korn, is insufficiently recognised. They understand how democratic opposition works, and how defeat, over time, strengthens losing parties, by purging them of what is unrealistic and superfluous, and forcing them into congruence with the aspirations of voters. Twice they have had the opportunity to reject military force and to insist on the primacy of elections; twice they have held the generals’ coats for them, and watched civil rights being trampled on, in the hope of gaining some respite from their own chronic unelectability. The Democrat Party’s leaders – young, attractive and cosmopolitan – could have positioned themselves as mediators between a corrupt, complacent old elite and a corrupt, arrogant new power. Instead, they chose their natural side in the class war, and achieved the feat of losing the moral high ground to a man such as Thaksin. Their responsibility, and their disgrace, are very great."

1 million baht per month in pensions.That's amazing - you are very fortunate. That"s about £ 22,000 pm or £ 264000 pa, say £ 343,000 gross before UK tax.

"The average farang retiree lives here on much less than 1 mill, surveys in this forum over the years confirm that."

Another person who believes this forum represents all retired expatriates.I can assure you there are many retired or partially working expatriates who have investment/pension income far in excess of Baht 1 mill. Most of them wouldn't be members of the forum or even aware of its existence. Look at the advertisers and draw your own conclusions.The blue collar element of expat population is very over represented on this forum.

I know some of them personally, mainly well known firms which are reliable and have integrity.The problem is that, as you note, they are pricey. Having said that biting the bullet and coughing up - at least in the first tax year or so - might well be preferable to using one of the farang bottom feeders.

Interesting question to which I don't know the answer.It does occur to me to wonder whether honest, English speaking, competent and intelligent firms of tax advisers exist in Thailand who would process expatriates tax returns for a reasonable fee. I also wonder what would be the position if one was able to ring fence investments made prior to 31.12.2023 and only make remittances to Thailand from this source,thus presumably without being liable for Thai tax.But would be the tax status of dividends or interest on cash deposits? Would they count as current income and thus eligible to be taxed?

He probably would not have died but he was extremely ill as his doctors attested. As for the obesity issue, it's not even up for debate - https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-blog/may-2021/covid-19-dangerous-patients-obesity

Rubbish.Obesity was mentioned all the time by the medical establishment, government,Sage and the media as (in fat countries like UK ) a key contributory factor to the Covid epidemic.Even Boris Johnson went out of the way to deplore his own obesity and urge his fellow citizens to get healthier.If I could be bothered I would report your absurd conspiracy theorising which as regards Covid is contrary to forum rules.

Nobody would suggest it is not sensible to keep the immune system in the best possible shape.It is however absurd to argue that Big Pharma conspired to minimise the dangers of obesity and unfitness .That's exactly the kind of conspiracy theory that was prevalent among some during the pandemic, many of whom put their deluded ideas (no vaccinations, no mask, reliance on natural immunity, lots of junk drugs like ivermectin) to the test and are now very physically diminished or dead.

You appear not to have absorbed or understood the Med Park advice.Those who insisted during the Covid pandemic - often middle aged men - that they were relying on their natural immunity (often paying a terrible price) were simply wrong. The Med Park advice gives those deluded people no support at all.It rather stresses the dangers of a depressed immune system, a message no rational person could deny.

Sure it does People who had more than one COVID-19 infection were three times more likely to be hospitalized and twice as likely to die than those who only had one infection. Those with multiple infections were also more vulnerable to other dangerous conditions; they were 3.5 times more likely to develop lung problems, 3 times more likely to have heart conditions, and 1.6 times more likely to have brain changes requiring care than people who had only had COVID-19 once.

A sentiment quite often expressed during the Covid epidemic, (often accompanied by praise for the drug Ivermectin - now proven to be useless). Many of those propagating this nonsense - relying on immune system, state of mind etc - did not live to tell the tale because Covid killed them. All the evidence fortunately suggests the latest strains are less dangerous - but caution should be advised.

If I exchange Baht for foreign currency at one of the exchange bureaus in Bangkok do I need to show identity - passport or similar/

Rules on this kind of gift should be followed though the value is of course very small. In the catalogue of crimes committed (eg grabbing the country by force of arms) over the last 15 years it is perhaps not worth getting too hot under the collar.

The trend is clear.Covid cases are ticking upwards not just in Thailand but in the US and Europe.It is recommended by the authorities there that most people should have one of the updated vaccines.Yet here in Thailand there is silence on the subject and as far as I know these vaccines aren't available.There certainly isn't a publicity campaign.