
turgid
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About turgid
- Birthday 02/23/1959
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With google translate i'm trying to fill in a tax return. It looks a bit hard because some of the translations dont quite make sense. I did try and find the example tax return but the link seems to be dead. Single - over 65 For 2024 my only income was dividends (I've deferred my pension to later this year until i understand the rules and how i'm going to take it) . Can someone who has done a Thai tax tax return comment on this. Below numbers are ballpark rounded examples. My understanding of my 2024 Thai allowance is 30K (Personal Single), 150K (Tax free), 190K (Old git allowance) = 370K . Valid ? I remitted UKP 60K in savings/ inheritance to Thailand in 2024. If required I can demonstrate that money existed before Jan 1 2024 and where it came from. I dont intend to declare it or expect to pay tax on it. Valid ? I earned UKP 60K (approx THB 2.6M) in UK / Europe dividends across 10 companies held under one European brokerage account . I unwisely remitted about 54% of that from the brokerage account in two payments . It turned into 1,400,000 THB after fees and conversion My understanding is I only pay tax on what I earned in 2024 AND remitted in 2024 So I expect to declare and pay tax on 1.4M THB minus allowances. Valid ? A question is do i have to detail, list and currency convert pro-rata the dividends from each of the 10 companies or can I just list one Thai Baht remittance from the brokerage account for the whole THB 1,400,000 and explain it later if I have to ? I understand its fully my responsibility etc. but would appreciate some feedback on the validity of my assumptions.
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What I got for the fibre termination was a Huawei 2.5Gbs optical interface, 1Gbs X 4 Port HG8245H wired only Router. Despite saying multiple times before install that I wanted the termination under the TV in the living room they wanted to install it on top of the fridge because that was the closest point to the riser with any available power. After "robust" discussion they spliced and tacked a black fibre round the top of the white hall and living room walls. I ended up pulling it down and putting it in the thinest white trunking I could buy from Thai Watsadu. I stripped the copper reinforcement off and the laser beam seems to go round 3 right angle bends OK . Took 48 hours to actually get it working which I suspect given the splicing that took place in the riser was due to mislabelling of the building fibre. Performance is great compared with DSL - on most network testing I consistently get 975 Mbs down and 600 mbs up with 1Gbs occasionally and the latency is significantly lower in single digits. My config is AIS Fibre ---1Gbs ----- HG8245H ----1Gbs wired-------BE800-------10Gbs wired---------BE800 The TpLink BE800 is a WiFi 7 router with 4 x 2.5Gbs ports and 2 x 10Gbs Ports one of which can be used as SFP+ First BE800 serves 2 TVs, 2 x WiFi 6E** Phones, IOT, VR headset. The second AP BE800 serves a NAS, Desktop and streaming for a VR headset. I have two BE800 in a Main - access point configuration. Mesh was hopeless both in performance and the ability to turn off some Wifi bands or configure anything on the second router. The BE800 has SFP+ ports so I wanted to explore the possibility of buying a PON direct optical interface. After some hopeful discussions that was a very hard no on support from AIS. The performance impact is negligible but I do see double NAT issues sometimes and am I looking at Bridging the HG8245H but haven't progressed this so far. I'm interested in (and willing to waste time and money playing around with ) this stuff but anyone looking at WiFi 7 for performance currently I really wouldnt bother. The performance drop off is really dramatic and more than about 2 Metres away I get the same or better performance on WiFi 6. I tried a WiFi 7 backhaul about 4 metres away through the bedroom wall and it was under 1Gbs. Also the components are clearly still evolving. Every firmware upgrade on the BE800 improves one part of performance and breaks another part, every vendor blames the other end of the link for the problem. **The global marketing says the Samsung S24U is a WiFi 7 phone but it only displays 6E in Thailand and seated on the couch i get better throughput on WiFi 6. She likes to see the 6E logo though.
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Got following notification from SCB 12th Feb 2025. "To enhance mobile banking security in line with government policy. The mobile phone number linked to your bank account is registered under a name that does not match your SCB Easy App. Please visit your mobile network service center by April 30, 2025 to update your information. Failure to do so will result the inablity to use the SCB EASY App". Checked both statements - they do match Visited AIS who very kindly agreed to print out the current details if I deposited money - they do match Visited SCB who checked and said they do appear to match and told me not to worry about it. I asked for confirmation on don't worry about it - bemused they put me onto the call centre who said dont worry about it. I said will you be confirming that in writing because you have explicitly and clearly told me in writing that based on current stored data you will debank me in May? Perhaps if you dont want to contact everyone personally, reissue the message saying "please check your details " instead of "your details dont match, we're going to debank you" They said lot's of foreigners have asked a very similar question - No we wont and (inferred) we think it's kind of funny that you ask. I'm 99% sure this a lost in transalation issue but as always in Thailand there is that tiny nagging doubt that they've told me something and when I get cut off they'll tell me they told me and it's all my fault.
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I'll repeat what happened to me when i extended my annual visa in November. The officer reviewing my papers went through my bank statement and highlighted the balance and all incoming transactions. Never really looked at anything other than the balance before. I have bank accounts the UK and two investment accounts offshore in Europe they've all asked for TINs in December as has Kbank in Thailand with a threat of being debanked if I dont comply. All have given me an extension to get a TIN but i doubt it is as open ended as the original poster suggests.
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I've had 75Mbs/25 DSL for a long time at 500 Baht a month and am now thinking about upgrading to 599 1Gbs/500 Fibre BYOD (i provide the routers and network). I dont know how fibre works with regards to home networking so be gentle. The Fibre installation fee is 4800 Baht but they absorb it if you contract for at least 12 Months. However the sales folk are very vague about what installation includes. I live in a two bed apartment. At the moment i have a wired TV, NAS, Desktop PC. Scanner Printer, various phones, appliances and main bedroom TV on WiFi. There is a wired backhaul from the under the TV DSL ASUS WiFi 6 router to an Archer BE800 WiFi 7 router in the spare bedroom / office. I have the WiFi 7 router which i use to stream my Desktop PC to a VR headset but WiFi 7 speed drop off is brutal at about 5 Metres so I need to ideally have the WiFi 7 router wired in the centre of the apartment. I've tried mesh networking but I have an agricultural noisy NAS banished to the office room and the only way I could get stutter free performance was with a wired backhaul. I understand from the internet that the incoming fibre usually terminates to something called an ONT or optical network terminal fibre to ethernet adapter which ideally I want to be in the middle of the apartment but i suspect will be drilled through the utility riser in the corner of the hallway. Anyone have practical experience of AIS Fibre, what the installation provides and what the actual Fibre to Ethernet termination is ? I'm guessing i will have to run 40 metres of Cat 7 cable around the apartment from the hall to under the TV but i'd really rather not.
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I bought a Pico 4 Ultra VR headset. It is fun but really uncomfortable to use with glasses. I tried to order some custom prescription inserts from Germany but they were blocked in Thai customs as medical devices. The agent clearly wanted a "service fee" which i refused to pay (supplier refunded). I found a cheap Chinese supplier online but the lens are like milk bottles and they dont have a high index option. I have bought a couple of sets of the lens frames on shopee but need someone locally to make the lenses. I've tried both the importer of the VR device and several opticians but nobody wants the job or can point me anywhere useful. Anyone had any success anywhere with VR inserts or lens only orders? Perhaps replacing lenses in an existing frame?
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K bank E-mail with Tax Forms attached ?
turgid replied to offset's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Well done but I suspect that like all things Tax and Visa related this will vary by office but eventually everyone will catch up. The Kbank call centre position (and pretty much the whole point behind CRS) is you must be Tax resident and if eligible pay tax somewhere. The way it works in the UK is every Bank in October submits a CRS report of money in money out and balance which is tagged with a account number, ID code, tax residence and tax ID number. If the Tax residence and ID is blank or invalid they will eventually debank you along with tagged for a Tax audit.. If it's not blank its shared with every tax residence who signs up for CRS. -
K bank E-mail with Tax Forms attached ?
turgid replied to offset's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
MIne was in junk mail so thanks for the heads up. I spoke to the Kbank call centre this morning. Weary but kind. Everyone must complete. Non US citizens/ residents/ tax payers only need to complete part 2 of the form . The email said it must be returned by 20th Dec 2024 I pointed out that a TIN is mandatory on the form but i've been unable to get get a TIN even though I am resident for Thai Tax purposes. I've been told that i can only get a TIN in Q1 2025. She started down a holier than though track of you've had an account for 10 years how is that possible. I responded with how many times have you asked and we agreed there might be some procedural problems related to administration and tax changes They are going to call back later on whether i can wait until Q1. -
Tax Id Number
turgid replied to Confuscious's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Some years ago I had a UK HSBC account suspended due to a new compliance manager not liking my profile. Single, retired too young and dont own property. I got my account reinstated after a month and they gave me £100 as compensation but given the whole Tax stuff and life generally I've got concerned that i'll lose access to funds either through some ID hack or some new compliance hoop so I've diversified all my accounts. I now hold 900K in Kbank to meet the annual Visa and go bag requirement, and hold spending money plus go bag in SCB. I opened the new account with SCB last month. No TIN requested. Using facial ID for large transactions though. -
Samut Prakan and Mueang Samut Parkan offices outright refuse and the TRD helpline still doesn't answer the phone. I dont have a pink ID. My understanding was you can only get one if you own a property and have a yellow book . Is that true ? Context: I rent. Long term OA visa holder on basis of retirement (10+ years) Not married. Swissquote where i hold about half of my investments just asked me for the pink card in lieu of a TIN - now in a deep tizzy because I can provide neither a TIN or a Pink ID. I told them to read this forum and for my protection i've just opened an Interactive Brokers account if they decide to debank me. I'll perhaps get another year for the TRD to get it's ducks in a row. According to the TIN instruction page you must go to your local office to get a TIN but should also be able to go to any office. Has anyone tried out of territory registration in the main Bangkok TRD or any other office?
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Thai small business owner friend of mine says she goes into a local revenue office once a year, shows her bank book. They take all the incoming transactions and tell her how much tax to pay. Never seen a tax return form. Up until two years ago she didn't know she had to pay tax. I dont think a lot of the regional offices have any idea what is going on and the whole process is ramping up across all tax segments. My guess is there is an attempt by some smaller offices to keep the transactions going through the door to keep staff employed and perhaps gain some off book "service charges". If they give me a TIN and you can do an online tax return they'll never see me again in that Tax office again. This method forces me to put the money through their office. Online banking is closing down bank branches, online tax paying will do the same.
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I suspect for most UK drinkers over a certain age there was a point where they did and now they dont. In the UK the attitude changed sometime around the late 70's from you were unlucky to get caught, and you might get a warning and your boss would cover for you , to it being socially unacceptable and a guaranteed ban with possible jail time and you'll probably get fired.. Hasn't stopped it altogether but people you know dying, peer pressure, and law enforcement works on most people. Thailand has yet to make that transition. I was in a 3 car convoy in Laos from Vientiane to Luang Prabang and I was the only person not drinking while driving. They all thought it was hilarious.
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Tax Id Number
turgid replied to Confuscious's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
"Seriously interested" might be overstating it. Has anyone navigated this helpline successfully to talk to a person ? Can you advise the option route ? The route we took was option 111, option 7, option 3. 3 Is Tax ID for foreigners and apparently gives a list of documents required for getting TIN. It then hangs up. There is no "press Zero to speak to a person" at any of those options as far as I can determine through my interpreter. We could not find any way to break out of any menu to speak to a person. If anyone from the tax authority is reading this it would be very helpful to have a "what to do if your local office wont issue a TIN" FAQ. Also respectfully since the only people requiring a TIN are likely to be foreign and presumably you really want them to have a TIN this is one of those cases where offering other language support would be be as helpful to you as us. -
7 Overlooked Health Risks for Male Expats Living in Thailand
turgid replied to CharlieH's topic in The Wellness Zone
+1 for parasites. You can get them from undercooked or overstored food or the poor sod selling street food all day in diapers with zero hand or untensil washing facilities , touching or coughing on it. Also as an STD if they kiss, cough or fart in bed. Albendazole is very cheap and your friend. -
I recently did my 1 year OA retirement extension at Samut Prakan . All was discussed elsewhere except I was required to get my TM30 endorsed separately (I rent) ,and I noted that she went through my 800K proof bank statement in very fine detail and highlighted all the incoming transactions. This could be nothing at all or it could be incoming transaction checking for 2024 Tax . I've been fobbing my European investment account and UK Bank off for a couple of years with a passport number. The EU Investment account has now demanded a TIN in the next 90 days or they will suspend the account, the UK bank has been making similar noises. Given everything going on in Thailand the writing seems to be on the wall and I've accepted I need to get a TIN (Tax Id Number) and pay some tax. Downloaded and completed LP.10.1 I visited the almost empty main Samut Prakan Revenue office to get a TIN. They efficiently checked my documents, said they were in all order but I needed to go to a smaller branch revenue office in my local admin area. The branch office was empty but after dealing with a friendly but hopeless officer we had to wait for the boss to come back from lunch. They both agreed they cant Issue a TIN without me paying some 2023 tax. He suggested given that all foreigners must have at least 800K THB , that 20K for Tax year 2023 would cut it. If not I can wait until 2025, go in they'll calculate the 2024 tax and give me a TIN when I pay the 2024 tax. They also seemed to have zero awareness of any changes to foreigner tax treatment in 2024. In summary no Tax paid , no TIN. My remittance in 2024 has been about 3M THB , a mixture of tax paid savings, tax paid inheritance, and untaxed investment and interest returns. Yes i could have made my life easier by doing all from one place - I didn't. I gifted 1.6M THB to buy a hectare of land and a motorcycle in Laos - the rest I've squandered on rent, food, travel, healthcare and toys. My expectation was I would get a registed Tax ID ,and then in Q1 2025 a tax form or online link would be sent to me. I would then with the aid of Google translate complete the tax return, pay tax on the investment returns, not pay tax on the savings, argue over the gifts, and then pay the tax for 2024 in Q1 2025. If requested I would provide bank statements proving where everything came from and went to. Paying tax basically. So i have a few questions. Is this the same at other tax offices? Can I get a Tax ID now without paying tax ? How? The online services seem to say yes (for 7K THB). My personal experience has been no. I'll pay the 7K for someone else to fill the form if that's the only way to get a TIN now but i'd really rather not especially if it turns out they also suddenly need 20K for 2023 Tax or suddenly need to sell me a tax service to get it in Q1 2025.. Is the Thai tax return a paper document, or online form that I complete in advance or do i really have to visit the branch office and squabble with someone who doesn't seem to know, understand or care about remittances or the difference in treatment for savings and investment returns ? Is anyone going to care about the difference in savings and investments or are they really just going to brute force based on remittance?