TravelerEastWest

 It sounds like you are doing a good job with your homework and this forum is a good place to get ideas.

As for advisors you may want to find a good specialized tax CPA (Chartered Accountant in the UK?)

I find general lawyers and accountants (such as what you will typically find in the type of businesses that you mention) are not qualified to give the best advice for situations such as yours.

Perhaps if you look around you can find a small firm that was started by a CPA that was trained in one of the large firms all of which have (real - smiling) offices in London. I mention the large firms because they have "alumni" lists and you may be able to get a small firm referral.

Best of luck with your new venture.

I am curious why will you be setting up a company?

If you have a sole proprietorship you may possibly save a huge amount of money in taxes.

A Thai wife can do this, Americans also should be able to and possibly someone from the UK.

If liability is an issue you could get insurance.

I would consult a good CPA specializing in taxation, later you can talk to a lawyer. Paperwork for setting up companies is fairly simple. The tax aspect of your venture may be the most important for setting things up.

An expert CPA will be expensive but probably worth it.

As for your house and car it is perhaps possible that you could use the value as part of your capitalization if you go the company route.

Keep in mind that Thailand does not have subchapter S corps or a Thai version. Which basically gives you a corporate entity with the ability to sell shares and have limited liability without double taxation.

So with a corporate business you will be taxed twice - once at the entity level and then again personally.

Also trading as a sole proprietor you will likely be able to avoid an annual audit as well as detailed record keeping for tax deductions.

if your car is brought over as a depreciating asset for your business you might do well and be able to afford the fees of one of the large shipping companies that use licensed brokers as part of the import team.

I know that when we moved to Thailand duty free importing of house hold goods was very easy with no bribes needed. what was needed was a detailed listing of what was imported.

If your company will be good sized and you need to go that route BOI approval could be helpful in terms of tax breaks and helping you with licensing.

Again a really good CPA can work wonders for you.

Good luck with your move.

Your daughter should leave the country using the US passport on which she entered to 'clear' her arrival record. She is on overstay, but is no big deal as children under 15 are not fined for overstay. TM6 departure card will be removed and a small overstay stamp will be put in her passport, but has no real consequences for her.

On return to Thailand using Thai passport for entry there may be a query at immigration as to why she does not have TM6 arrivals card stapled in passport (ie, how did she depart Thailand). Explain to them she was born abroad and has dual nationality and show them the US passport. If necessary, do not be afraid to politely ask the immigration officer to call over the supervisor who will take care of matters. Is not a problem, but sometimes immigration officers have not seen before.

I assume your wife entered Thailand using her Thai passport (or will be on overstay).

I like the idea of clearing my daughter's passport! A very good suggestion - thank you sir.

I am good at speaking softly and clearly so I will be able to handle confusion.

Yes, my wife entered Thailand on her Thai passport although she has recently gotten a new Thai passport which by the way is easy to get, but unlike America you have to go down to an office to get it. My last passport or two in America was gotten through the mail - very easy...

Thanks all - I think that it will be smooth sailing.

Now if anyone has advice on keeping 2 and 4 year-olds occupied on 12 hour flights please speak up - smiling!

Note, a buddy with small kids who travels has advised investing in a portable DVD player. I shall but my kids are quite wild and will likely drop the player or lose it...

My daughter a (now) 4 year old dual citizen entered on an American passport when she was 1 and did not yet have a Thai passport.

We will be going on vacation to Europe for 2 weeks this year.

Dual citizen mother and an American father living in Bangkok.

We plan on exiting Thailand with mom and daughter's Thai passports and using the American passport when landing in Paris and the reverse when returning to Thailand.

My question is do we need to clear up the daughter's American passport now or ever for Thailand? She has an arrival/departure card from when she was 1 and an expired visa. Note she has not left Thailand since she arrived.

The local Thai post office manager and a nearby business owner both said 26 days a month very quickly.

As their staff have 6 day weeks and there are more than 4 weeks in a month on average.

52 weeks times 6 day weeks divided by 12 months gives you 26 days a month.

I have used PayPal for business and personal problems never a problem.

I think that their fees are slightly high but it is my choice to use them or not.

I also understand that if you have a problem they have a low end almost completely automated customer service problem.

Again my choice to use them or not. We also use Visa, MC, Discover and AmEx.

WarpSpeed makes good points.

In the end PayPal's shortcomings are quite public so why use them if you are not willing to accept the headaches that come from dealing with them?

The post office cause more problems for our business than PayPal - way more - yet they are the only game in town so I accept them. I also grumble from time to time - smiling....

Hm, I wouldn't call the fees reasonable, but it's what they charge. And as you apparently MUST have it counter signed by this authorized thing you don't have a choice but to pay. :shrug:

File under "This Is Thailand"?

With basically no activity you should be able to have a Thai CPA in a small office take care of it for 10,000 maybe slightly less.

Yes, I agree. it is very easy to import as an individual. As a practical matter the courier or broker etc can very easily take care of the paperwork.

When doing repeat orders you should have your ID kept on file.

I am still not clear what Raro is mentioning when he says that you need to be a company. Perhasp he is talking about an old law?

What I mean is...as a Thai national it is not a big deal to import on commercial scale as you can run a sole proprietor business in your name.

As a foreigner you cannot import on a commercial scale as you need a registered company to obtain a workpermit.

My assumption is that you are a foreigner.

As for different channels of clearance I think that all the import laws remain the same. Formal clearances may require an extra day or so but nothing really changes.

One thing I have noticed is that some large UPS type organizations tend to not have the best and brightest staff in their import clearing department. so if you are importing something very valuable or unusual a clever licensed customs broker is always good to have on your team.

It would surprise me if a customs broker has access to the parcel service channel that UPS style organizations use.

Have the laws changed?

A Thai sole proprietorship used to be able to hire foreigners and provide a work permit 

And Americans and (possibly other foreigners with the correct paperwork) I thought could have a sole proprietorship on their own.

The OP sounds like he is talking about Thai nationals as I am also... But as a practical note most foreigners will have a Thai wife as the sole proprietor and work permits should be easy to get. But you never know in Thailand - smiling...

As for my licensed broker comment - I meant that brokers typically have more expertise when it comes to clearing in terms of which duty rates apply- treaties and so on... there are always exceptions of course.

Timing-wise pre-clearing electronically may actually be faster than going through parcel channels. so not having access to parcel channels should not be an issue.

It is getting to the point in international trade that electronic clearing can be done even by businesses on their own. A certain volume is typically needed to make the learning curve worthwhile.

I tip those who do their job well without causing me aggravation or extra money.

Here that is hard to find, that's why I do it.

Well said!

Example:

If I get in a taxi and he takes me where I want to go, drives safely and is polite he gets a tip.

My old post office forwards mail to me - although they do not need to by post office policy - they get a gift basket at New Years. I used to give a bottle of Scotch to the manager but have changed to a healthy gift basket for the whole office.

Valerian,

"No money acctually entered or left Thailand."

Interesting that no money left Thailand possibly this may trigger a tax obligation....

You need the advice of a good tax accountant not forum members for this type of question.

Note you need a tax specialist not a small office CPA, preferrably with international transaction experience.

"If importing under your personal name, then you will need to provide a copy of your passport (picture, visa, entry stamp pages). If a Thai national, then they will need to send a copy of their ID card. Your broker will also need local address and telephone number."

CWMcMurray,

Yes, I agree. it is very easy to import as an individual. As a practical matter the courier or broker etc can very easily take care of the paperwork.

When doing repeat orders you should have your ID kept on file.

I am still not clear what Raro is mentioning when he says that you need to be a company. Perhasp he is talking about an old law?

As for different channels of clearance I think that all the import laws remain the same. Formal clearances may require an extra day or so but nothing really changes.

One thing I have noticed is that some large UPS type organizations tend to not have the best and brightest staff in their import clearing department. so if you are importing something very valuable or unusual a clever licensed customs broker is always good to have on your team.

 I have had usually had no problems with the doctors at Samitivej if I politely ask them to write down the medications.

Yes, there will be some midications that end up on the bill but a simple polite request to remove them does the job quickly.

 What you quote from your site makes sense and in my experience really good transportation people can make themselves valuable by their advice and experience even more than seeking good rates. But your web page does not answer my question at all:

1) As for freight forwarders I am not clear what you mean - are you saying that there are special laws in Thailand when you use them or only that they prefer to work with registered companies?

".....parcel service and freight forwarder use different channels in the Thai customs process and cannot access the channel of the other group."

I am not sure how this applies to the law? Are you saying that freight forwarders are required by law in Thailand to only deal with registered companies? If so this is good to know.

"Something else comes to mind...if the receiver is a private person, and let's assume the OP is not a Thai national, how can he obtain a work permit without company and VAT registration?"From the OP he is sending items, quite likely those who are receiving are Thai nationals with no need for a work permit. But that is only a guess.... Anyway Thai Customs typically does not ask for work permits so it is a nonissue.

Work permits are somewhat off topic but you have me curious are you saying that a family business cannot provide for a work permit as in a sole proprietorship that is not a company? VAT I always thought is triggered by sales volume (with small sales not requiring registration) has this changed?

.......Still, your customers need to have a registered company and VAT registration to be able to import commercially. Otherwise, send by regular post, that one slips through most of the time.

Raro,

You can import using FedEx or UPS very easily without VAT registration if you are below the limits. And individuls in business without a registered company can also import commercially without a problem.

Unless there are special restrictions for clothing imports perhaps?

It would not work if you import via a freight forwarder. As for parcel services I don't know, completely different business.

Freight forwarders are not needed for such a simple situation.

As an example UPS picks up, does the paperwork in Bangkok charges 1284+ baht as well the VAT and duty could not be easier.

Customer pays the driver upon delivery unless above a certain amount - again very easy.

No need for a registered company unless I am misisng some special rules for clothing imports?

As for freight forwarders I am not clear what you mean - are you saying that there are special laws in Thailand when you use them or only that they prefer to work with registered companies?

.......Still, your customers need to have a registered company and VAT registration to be able to import commercially. Otherwise, send by regular post, that one slips through most of the time.

Raro,

You can import using FedEx or UPS very easily without VAT registration if you are below the limits. And individuls in business without a registered company can also import commercially without a problem.

Unless there are special restrictions for clothing imports perhaps?

A child was snatched recently in a Northeastern province and apparently (only hearesay from the locals) this happens as it is easy to whisk them over the order into Laos and then they can be sold. True or not, I know I wouldn't take the chance. It's your kid, don't let it out of your or your families sight, I dont think it is acceptable for it to be with strangers or other kids at that age.

As for the "Thai Men" comment, I agree about drunks but some of the women are just as bad as the men.

Protect your kid at all costs, if you step on a few toes so be it. Better to be looking at her than looking for her.

Agreed.

Although kids are probably snatched and abused as much or more in the big city.

Better safe then sorry.

I also would never consider for a second letting a baby on a motorcyle which is possibly a bigger problem?

What a thoughtful and wonderful post - many thanks.

I started out with my 2 small kids going to the nicest preschool that was within a 15 minute drive. It is a small friendly Thai school. Are the standards what I want = no. but the teachers are kind.

Now a friends kid goes to a very nice school in the Sukhumvit 31 area which would probably take me a solid 30+ minutes to get to with light traffic in heavy traffic 2 hours?

Even with the traffic I am thinking about changing schools.

I just got my almost two year old son a Thai passport in Bangkok.

Very easy except getting him to sit still for the photo.

For all to go smoothly you need the Thai parent's ID card and house card. Plus passport of the non Thai parent.

Sounds like you'd be better off just getting a 50 Baht business license for her and setting up a small shop(20k).

Hello Science Guy..are u saying i can Legally get a business licensed for my gf regardless of the type of business for 50bht and a small shop for her would be around 20k bht ....I plan on opening a reasturant with a good amount of capital and teach her how to manage this type of business as this is my expertise. Also, there will be other employees and taxes and social security will have to be paid...can I still do this on a 50bht lic( sound like sole proprietor here in the states) or do I need a thai corporation.

Regards - Kcore

Yes, your girl friend can operate as a sole proprietor and you need to double check for her type of business but possibly she will not have to keep receipts for tax deductions as many small businesses in Thailand are allowed to simply deduct "X" percent - depends on the type of business.

Liabilty is always another issue...

"And if you keep going the way you are going the Thais will expect 15% as the minimum!

Look, I do tip. But I tip the people who go above what they are paid to do. The security guard downstairs who is paid to 'whistle' cars into their allocated parking spaces does not deserve a tip when he does just that. But when i come home from Tesco with my young baby and 8 bags of shopping and he helps me with my bags to the lift, then that does warrant a tip. Those people who keep saying tiping is all in the heart, take my challenge. next time the people who you say help you, dont tip them and see if they will help you next time. Then tel me its from the heart."

I am with you - well put.

I do not tip automatically but am happy to pick for extra service or kindness.

We give a bottle of JW black each New Years to a manager at the old post office were we used to live who is a nice guy and who has helped us above and beyond the call of duty many times he still forwards old mail to us now - which is important as we still get formal tax mail etc there (We own the old house and it is on the wife's house book).

I tip taxi drivers small amounts if they are friendly and drive safely.

Small tips again to friendly staff when we go out to eat.

In America tipping is completely different in restaurants it is part of their pay to get 15% for basic service which I think is fine as long as you understand this. Better than automatic tips in Europe.

"How slow are you talking about when you say that Thunderbird is slow? On a typical email that contains no attachments and now photos, are you getting a delay of a few seconds or a few minutes to view a newly arrived email?

Also, as an experiment, have you tried using POP3/SMTP with GMail & Thunderbird instead of IMAP to see if that might be faster?"

Original Poster,

Good questions -

Text email typically only has a few seconds delay.

A 5 mb file will be a couple of minutes with a Thunderbird client compared to 7 seconds in web based Gmail for the same file.

For some reason I seem to recall Pop as being faster - but my emails are mission critical for my life so I need IMAP as a safety measure.

I had a very nice talk with a true tech today and the bottom line is that I will need a web based email for now so I shall I try the basic free version of GMail.

Crushdepth,

After exploring all my options the standard free version of GMail powering Thunderbird it will be.

Ads seen while I am traveling are ok.

Hopefully within Thunderbird/Gmail I can still get return receipts.

I do not use them for personal email but have some business letters that really do need them - if for no other reason than seeing that the emails were received.

It sounds like you might be over-analyzing this. GMail doesn't cost anything regardless of whether you use it's web interface or a standalone client such as Thunderbird or Outlook. Ads are only present when you use the web interface, not when you use Thunderbird or Outlook. Speed of reading a new email with Thunderbird or Outlook might be slower than reading with the web client if the email has attachments because the web client doesn't need to dowload the attachments for you to be able to view the body of the email, whereas by default most standalone clients connecting via POP3 or IMAP will download the entire email (complete with attachments) before you can read any portion of the email other than the header.

Original Poster,

Thank you for letting me know that there are no ads when I use a Thunderbird client - good.

I assume you are talking about the standard version of Gmail as looking on their site Google there is a $50 per email charge for their higher level service - more storage etc.

Which I can pay but sadly they charge for every user and I only need the service for one of email addresses.

In my case the current speed problem is like night and day - very slow with Thunderbird IMAP on its own and very fast with standard gmail.

This is true with or without attachments.

I have given up on the Opera option for feature reasons.

I am talking to True support but they seem to know not much more than I do about (and sometimes less)the internet which is scary.

I am trying to find out why I have this problem as the account is lightning fast in the USA and as I mentioned Gmail works fine for downloading photos etc.

Thank you very much for the replies!

First, at the moment I am using Gmail for 90% of my emails that I send. I need to use Thunderbird for things like "Reply receipts" which Gmail does not seem to have - unless I am missing where it is?

Also I do not like Gmails advertisments - annoying and taking up space.

My mail is fowarded to Gmail so I have a copy on my local computer which I want for safety and a Gmail copy.

Now as for combining Gmail and Thunderbird that may be a good idea.

1) Will I still have the ads taking up space?

2) Is the basic version free - seems to be but I am not sure.

3) If I need to pay $50 a year for no ads that may be a good solution but I have more than one email address on mydomain.com and paying $50 per address would not be ok.

Am I misunderstanding? Can I pay $50 for [email protected] and then keep my several other addresses on my local Thunderbird client?

4) I am exploring opera's email and it is a little difficult to use but seems to have no ads and the same speed as Gmail. Anyone tried using Opera with IMAP?

5) Are there any Bangkok ISP possibilities that do not throttle email ports? Possibly change my modem?

Best email ISP provider for Bangkok?

Currently I use True 12 down 1 up in Bangkok and my VOIP and internet surfing is 90% ok but my email using Thunderbird as my client and a US IMAP webhost is very slow.

Using Gmail my email is just fine and I can download photos and large files at a good speed.

It seems that True is throttling the ports that I use for my IMAP account and not the webmail for GMail.

I think...

1) Does my conclusion sound correct?

2) Is there a way to still use a local email client like Thunderbird and my US IMAP account yet get good speeds like when I use Gmail??

As a side question when you need to make a stop on a round trip what are the rules for the meter?

As an example I start with a taxi from my house in the morning with my kids and then I drop them off at school and return home.

I always pay the meter and if the driver is friendly a small tip. On rare occasions the driver will ask for the meter to start again on the way back from school as this makes the total fare more expensive. I always politely say no and if need be get another taxi.

For those who are not familiar with Bangkok taxis the first kilometer is the most expensive and after a while the rate is much lower - hence the interest in drivers to have the meter start again.