LivinLOS

4 hours ago, watgate said:

As a novice I thought one needed a U.S ph# in order to utilize google voice which I don't have?

google voice gives you a phone number.. 

Many people choose to redirect or port thier number over to GV service, to retain thier own number ongoing, but GV gives you one. 

I havent had a chance to use USA GV with SMS functions, I set up a UK GV which I use daily and really like, it can integrate into the android dailer and be near seamless, but we dont get messaging on GV in the other countries it can be obtained. 

4 minutes ago, Andyfez said:

Rape?

I thought it said assault, not sexual assault.

Thai press has some graphic details.. 

https://www.psypost.org/therapists-report-significant-psychological-risks-in-psilocybin-assisted-treatments/

And this is why the medical systems of Therapy need to be approached very carefully. 

There ARE huge potential benefits to carefully done and managed psychedlic therapy's.. There are also large risks and potential harms with a badly managed process. 

USA folks can link a google voice and get free SMS inbounds.. You need a USA regsitered google account and then add voice and link. 

ROW has a harder appoach.. I have done it on a corporate level with SIP phone systems but it was a complex setup.. Guys like xpatphone (UK only maybe) powered by devyce ( https://devyce.com/ ) wrap it in a neat wrapper but the app based SMS reception is kinda meh. 


 

1 hour ago, markus said:

I don't understand the question:

What's the problem with getting a gun illegally in Thailand?

Most Thais own unregistered weapons!

It became MUCH harder a couple of years ago for the fully legal route. There was a national freeze on legal permit issueance from the min of interior IIRC. 

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

Still, the mystery remains as to how she got to own a gun legally and who are the owners of the Vila given the Thai laws that

says foreignness aren't allowed to own land unless it's under a company name or a Thai nominee...

Theres legally, which used to be possible but now much harder and then there is 'tolerated' where the police know and often assist procuring it for a fee, and you have the 'nod' that its ok but dont show it..

Then finally theres fully illigitimate. 

I have had multiple mates over the years with the first 2 options.. 1 fully legal, license issued and legal imported new gun all done by the police. 

9 hours ago, ronster said:

How did she buy a gun ?? 

Really.. Do you think that is the hard part ? 

1 hour ago, Crazy Noobie said:

Can I ask a question?  Why don't you use what most non-profit organizations use, .org  ?

I looked it up and here is what I found:  

.org extension

 

The . org extension is the bread and butter for nonprofit organizations. It is usually used for non-commercial organizations, so even people who do not know about your organization will understand it is not a for-profit organization.

Already hold orgs but the good ones are gone.. 

After telling me I couldnt.. Ended up getting it registered with the same company that initially said the rules incorrectly. Took a few days but done. 

Just yet more.. no / maybe / yes lack of clarity.. But anyway, pushing back on the no turned it into a yes. 

4 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

of course mushrooms  large scale / commercial are grown indoors under controlled enviroments  so are mice, Romain Lettuce, and A.I.

I was making a reference to "Wild Shrooms"

I thought you were referring to '2rai of land on my road just got sold to 2 young men who say they will be growing mushrooms' so 2 rai being used to commercially grow cubensus mushrooms related to this topic. 
 

I hope to be allowed to a meeting between the Herbal clinic owners and the Chiang Mai MoPH on monday. From what my Clinic owning friend says she thinks this new law is the subject and reason why a group meeting is being called. 

If I am allowed to join, the issue of 'where' clinics are supposed to obtain thier Schedule 5 narcotics and if clinics can grow thier own product (what security and storage rules etc) will be a large part of what I am trying to determine. There is precident for that being the case as registered clinics can prepare thier own cannabis oil / concentrate for sale from thier own premesis with FDA concent. My Clinic owning friend makes her own brand of extracted oil, which is also a schedule 5 narcotic, and can prescibe it all in house, which would appear to be like for like comparisons. 


 

Just now, jayboy said:

 

I wonder whether many , in anticipation of future audits by RD, propose proceeding as I do, namely by having two UK bank accounts - the first (for remitting) covering all investments, cash deposits etc made before 31.12.2023 and the second covering all current income (not for remitting).

My current plan which I feel is fairly strong. Everyones plan will be different for thier needs. 

I have an Irish income that HAS to be taxed at source (directors salary) so that one I have is pre taxed and covered under a DTA. That I can spend and easily justify and is play money. I wont declare it as I am sure it is legally correct and I have the tax return and DTA archived. 

Other funds for household costs I send to the wife and she already manages our household bills and cashflow. Thats gift if asked and again correct she is spending it on her and her house. 

Any investments are covered by my Jan 1 savings, with statements archived 'just in case' for a couple 100k GBP. Theres another 6 rai I have my eye on and that would manage that without going over. 

Long term LTR visa but thats later. 
 

'Check the actual legal situation' 
 

The issue I am finding is, there doesnt appear to be actual clarity!!  in.th is for individuals, there is no apparent restriction on the nationality of individuals.. Even the registrar who denied me is now humming and haa'ing on if a Pink ID / Yellow book suffices.. And they are incharge of the process !! 

Once again the rules seem to be yes / no / maybe.. 

I already grabbed a .asia which can do.. But would prefer an in.th and and long term may even warrant an or.th but not there yet. 

First 2 registrars I have attempted both claim I need a work permit. I have found ones which dont seem to require this but want 80 usd instead of 360 baht !! 

Can anyone confirm if a work permit is a genuine requirement, when a yellow house book can be presented ?? 

Or can provide a registrar for reasonable money (1000b ??) that will offer an in.th domain to a non Thai with Pink ID, Yellow Book, etc.

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

I'm sorry but what you wrote is not correct!

 

The rule change (or reinterpretation of the rules) has been made last year and is in effect from 1 January 2024 and everyone is obliged to adhere to it, Thais and foreigners. Everyone is obliged to follow those rules, there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever about that.

 

What is in question is two things:

 

1) the precise rules and processes that TRD will adopt for all types of income from all countries, that is what many of us are attempting to discover presently.

 

2) The degree to which the TRD will follow up and audit individuals for conformance to the new rules. This may not become fully apparent for a couple of years. The risk is  that some people will adopt a wait and see attitude and when no major announcement is forthcoming they may be lulled into a false sense of security and believe the new rules have been scrapped when really they have been operationalised since 1 January 2024. 

 

How you handle this rule change is you choice but it is not true and is very misleading to say that just because all the details are not known currently, it hasn't happened and will not happen. If this rule change is ever walked back, everyone will hear that news, quite unmistakably.

Isnt that saying exactly what I said ?? 

The rules are now technically in force, however we have no actual idea how those rules will really be enforced or implemented given the complex nature of overseas income streams, DTAs, past taxation liabilities, etc.  In reality we do not know if any actual enforcement of the process at all will be attempted next year.

What specifically did I claim that you feel is not correct ? 

Yaba daba dont !! 

2 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

LivinLOS, are you in a state of denial or have you been asleep the last 10 months.

 

This is exactly what has happened already!

No we dont. 

Until next year when the first of these tax returns will be due, we have no idea how intently the Thai Revenue will attempt to pursue non Thais over 2024 remittances.

We have no idea if.. 

• they will demand proof that inbound remittances were prior saved before Jan 1.
• how they will treat provable offshore savings from Jan 1 2024 over the following years / drawdowns. 
• what the levels of proof that this may be, the denial of comingled future assets, the chain of custody of funds implications.
• they will demand proof that inbound remittances have been tax paid elsewhere.
• they will accept that tax paid elsewhere (incorrectly) is allowed as a credit here.
• they demand that tax incorrectly paid elsewhere is reclaimed under DTA and remitted here.
• even the most basic of 'need to file' is debatable if a liability is uncertain, and almost all non Thais incomes would be in the uncertain category. 

The potential for this to all fall into the 'too hard to administer' basket, when only 4m out of 67m Thais even pay income tax, especially at first, is IMO quite large. Over time, as the systems become more developed, I am sure filing will be more common and I am sure some expats will even opt to pay here as it can save them taxes in other places. 

But pretending that this has happened already or that we know how the varous local revenues will seek to enforce this is simply false. Until next years filing deadlines, no one really knows what they will do in practice. Be prepared, have answers and a plan but dont be too panic'ed by it would be my position. 

1 hour ago, Luuk Chaai said:

...and who in that ministry owns land in the  Golden Triangle ?

and come to think of it ..   2rai of land on my road just got sold to 2 young men who say they will be growing mushrooms..

and there is plenty of cow pie in the area

Cubensus mushrooms are grown in a controlled indoor environment, its a factory looking space not a garden. 

7 hours ago, NaaKap said:

Exactly what I was thinking. The bluster for legalisation of cannibis came with the disclaimer that it was for medical use. Didn't realise Khao San Rd was a hospital. 

But in that case it became descheduled so it had no controls at all. In this case they have redefined who can prescribe, namely the system of Thai Traditional Medicine and the registered Herbalist Dr's which is a totally different form of control. 

The problem I have is that the people charged with handling this, seem utterly clueless in the responsibility they have been given. 

6 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

What are the "sitters and guides" for?

Primarily for harm reduction. People have challenging experiences, and in extreme cases those challenging experiences can mentally scar the person long term and create trauma. The goal of therputic work is to be able to process and deal with the things those challenging experiences bring up, and allow the person to change how they think about the issues they have often supressed. Establishing a safe trusting space and being a calming understanding presence through the experience is very often all that is needed to ensure that a small moment of panic doesnt spiral into a larger more damaging meltdown. Also by ensuring a safe uninterupted environment you reduce external triggers and stimulus which can cause that initial thought pattern. The goal of ensuring patient safety and maximising the potential positives of the experience is what 'guides and sitters' can do. Of course the more mental baggage a participant has that they are seeking to address, the more risk of those issues surfacing and being part of that challenging experience. 

Current theorys on the mechanisms of how this works, via the dissolution of the default mode network and the neuroplasticity that psychedelic experiences appear to generate are less important personally than the fact that this does measurably seem to happen. The use of psychedelics as tools for self improvement, even on basic things like 'I needs to improve my diet / fitness / health' or for people trying to reduce drinking or smoking. Evidence is showing there is no better tool for habit modulation, but they do come with risk and that risk is what needs cautious management. 

If Thailand goes the route it is apparently going, where mushrooms will be dispensed by Herbal Drs with zero knowledge or understanding, then patient harm and negative experiences will happen at a far greater ratio than they need to. Guidelines for beneficial use and guidance, as well as direct personal experience of what the patient may be going through is totally lacking in the Thai Traditional Medicine system that is now allowed to prescribe them. Thailand doesnt really have much indigenous or cultural use, there are not really Shamans to speak of like in S America where this is culturally understood. My experiences this last 2 weeks is the medical, psychiatric, and herbalist community have a near zero understand of what these do, others than 'mao' of some form.  

5 hours ago, topt said:

Thanks for the link -

Not as simple as you are alluding however 

Provide a Thai tax number and or Thai tax return. Not hard. 

Almost all UK retirees resident here should not be paying taxes back to the UK on their pensions. The 'I pay my taxes back there' or 'its protected by my DTA' is miss informed and should be corrected when posted. That isnt how it 'should' be. 

How Thailand treats this is open to interpretation, they may accept it, it may have tax credits, or it may require claiming it back from the UK. Thats the level of detail we do not yet have.  

Both of those are on many download sites and really deserve watching, both very powerful documentaries. 

e

So just for a frame of reference, this was published 4th, I was alerted 6th and Mon the 8th I was at a local traditional medicine clinic to discuss with the owner (not Dr, the Dr was not there) as soon as it opened. 

To be fair, she was not knowledgable as to even what mushrooms do. She is a businesswoman who believes that cannabis flowers will be rescheduled later this year and has set up a clinic and supply infrastructure to be able to 'sell' cannabis medically when that happens. No issue with that but clearly her motivation is profit and not medical care. Within a minute or two of meeting she emphasized she 'didnt take drugs' which in many ways sums up the mindset of what medical cannabis or mushrooms are. 

We talked the law, and the issues, and I tried to discuss the risks and how psychedelic therapy is generally handled in the west. Each point of resistance was just brushed aside with a yes yes that is fine.. I tried to explain that generally a therapy like this is much more than simply giving the dose but should have a therapy component before and after
'yes yes my Dr can do that'
'oh really, so your Dr has experience taking psychedelics'
'Oh NO !!'  
'hmmm ok.. So your Dr can speak English ?'

'little bit' 

Right so I can only imagine the kind of sensative therapy and cross cultural understanding there would be to handle a challanging psychedelic experience and then deal with the post experience integration !! From a DR that speaks 'nidnoi' english and has never taken them !! 

Secondly she appeared to have very little idea of even what mushrooms do !! When I asked why someone could be prescribed mushrooms her answer was 'if depressed or maybe can not sleep' !! (mushrooms for insomnia !!) when I asked what dosage she thought was right she said 'maybe a gram' the more I talked to her the more is appeared that she thought mushrooms were 'something like weed' a bit made you sleepy, a bit more made you more sleepy.. 

This is the level of understanding from the owner of a clinic that is supposed to adminsiter these therapies !! I am a STRONG believer in the power of properly adminsitered psychedelic therapy, but it has genuine risks of patient harm and needs a trained, educated and experienced sitter or guide and to achieve the most beneficial outcomes requires skilled therapists.  I am seriously thinking of setting up a non profit to deal with guide training, I know western guides operating underground already here in Thailand and Thais some of whom have even been trained overseas by MAPS and in the caribbean. Someone has to put in work on this or the opportunity will be wasted when bad things happen. 

 

I have spent 2 weeks dealing with the MoPH over this, I am probably 100 hours into fighting against zero understanding... Everyone is clueless. In fact many have outright denied the law is the law even after me giving it to them to read. 

The law was Published on the 4th April in the Royal gazette. I was alerted to it by a Herbal clinic owner I am working with on the 6th of April and I have since then put in perhaps 50 hours of work trying to get information from MoPH in bangkok / Chiang Mai, etc etc. The blunt fact is no one knows and many of the interactions have been borderline hostile simply for asking 'is this the law'. One person at the MoPH in Bangkok actually said after I showed them the law 'it is the law but we do not accept it', when I asked what they meant by that they just got angry and refused to continue. The pereception of mushrooms as a medicine is not there. 

On Tuesday this week I finally found someone in authority that knew what they were talking about, after being sent from hospital to hospital and office to office just getting insane looks. On this day I was referred to an appointment with the manager of the consumer protection dept at the MoPH in Chiang Mai, the only person above her in the CM hierachy is the regional director, it is her duty to control the processes around the Herbal Clinics and ensure that rules are followed. She took all the info, made some checks, and confirmed this is now the law, but was exasperated that this has been done without any staged roll out and preparation. Thai traditional medical clinics with a regsitered Herbalist Dr can now prescribe magic mushrooms. This has been rolled out with no education, training, and done so country wide for all herbalist clinics, if they have knowledge or not. 

At this time no one can explain 'where' the herbal clinics are supposed to source the mushrooms, if they can grow them themselves, or if they can be dispensed for offsite medication or only onsite consumption (the law is vague here). I have a meeting monday to address this but frankly no one has a clue (more on this in a monent). There are no guidelines or guidance for what grounds there are for prescription and zero understanding of theraputic use, preparation, set setting and integration. The risks in this style of launch are huge and this should not be handled as cannabis was in a 'let it happen and see what happens' the risk for patient harm is too great. 

I have already set up video meetings with MAPS in the states and am in comms with the Beckley foundation in the UK for assistance. 

7 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Yes, OK, agreed. A minor but not pedantic point on this is that not all UK fixed assets are taxed at source, property rental income can be received gross of tax under the Overseas Landlord Scheme, mine is. All of which confirms yet again, how difficult it is to make a single statement about tax rules anywhere and that there are always exceptions.

Had not heard of that scheme, will have to have a google and read. I recall my good friend of some years back actually sold his uk letting apartments in large part because of the continual tax obligations and reporting. 

But the point about pensions is the key part, the idea that somehow pensions are always UK source income and always taxed at source in the UK isnt correct. Most British citizens resident in Thailand will be able to qualify for 100% tax relief, via the P85 and NT code structure and pay no UK taxes on UK pensions (and as usual some niche cases will have to, Armed forces etc).