US tax preparer

[Mekong Bob]

is there a local Chiang Mai tax preparer for US tax returns?

 

suggestions, please

[luther]

There is not to my knowledge. I looked into this a few years ago, followed several leads, but didn't find anyone. My taxes were complicated that year (sale of house, small inheritance, etc) Since then I have used Turbotax. I'm not touting it, but it has been relatively easy. There are tons of expats on the forums (quite a few in Thailand) who answer questions/compare notes straight away.

[elektrified]

Any updates? Joe Krebs former partner appears to be in C.M. but is apparently no longer doing tax work.

[noise]

20 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Any updates? Joe Krebs former partner appears to be in C.M. but is apparently no longer doing tax work.

That is true, he is not.

[NancyL]

American International Tax Advisers operates out of Bangkok, but they have many clients in Chiang Mai and come here from time-to-time.  In fact, they'll be here this weekend to meet with some clients.  They aren't cheap and if your situation is simple, you might be better off figuring out how to use Turbo Tax.  However, it wouldn't hurt to meet with them when they're here:  http://aitaxadvisers.com/   because there are some little-known provisions in the Thai-U.S. tax treaty that could be of benefit to you (and others, especially Thailand-based U.S. retirees with private pension income from 401k, IRAs and corporate pensions.)

[jeffandgop]

2 hours ago, NancyL said:

American International Tax Advisers operates out of Bangkok, but they have many clients in Chiang Mai and come here from time-to-time.  In fact, they'll be here this weekend to meet with some clients.  They aren't cheap and if your situation is simple, you might be better off figuring out how to use Turbo Tax.  However, it wouldn't hurt to meet with them when they're here:  http://aitaxadvisers.com/   because there are some little-known provisions in the Thai-U.S. tax treaty that could be of benefit to you (and others, especially Thailand-based U.S. retirees with private pension income from 401k, IRAs and corporate pensions.)

Please shed a little light on how the tax treaty affects pensions or 401K income which derives from the US, taxes are levied by and paid to the US; and no taxes or filing is paid to or required by Thai tax law. I’m not aware of benefits I may have missed. Thanks. 

[elektrified]

Some of the American accountants in Bangkok charge outrageous fees. One particularly greedy CPA recommended in the Bangkok forum wanted 58,000 Baht for 3 years. I think Dr. Krebs charged around 2500 Baht per year as I recall.

[JimGant]

On 2/17/2019 at 7:33 PM, jeffandgop said:

Please shed a little light on how the tax treaty affects pensions or 401K income which derives from the US, taxes are levied by and paid to the US; and no taxes or filing is paid to or required by Thai tax law. I’m not aware of benefits I may have missed. Thanks. 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1008555-tax-specialist-in-chiang-mai/page/2/

 

Read this thread, beginning with #26. Study closely the Swiss example -- and how the saving clause applies both to Switzerland and Thailand.

 

However, you could save a lot of money by hiring Thomas Carden to do your taxes, while you cash in your IRA's while a resident of Thailand. You won't be caught -- the IRS has no money for auditing small fry, especially when the language in question is treaty, not tax code, language. No GS7 is ever going to try and interpret what all that legalese means. Yeah, maybe a search would find the Swiss example, which is pretty ironclad for most tax treaties with the US. But, hey, if you're found out Carden, not you, will take the fall. So, go for it -- it's only your integrity at stake -- how much is that worth?

[Mapguy]

As Jim Gant suggests:  "it's only your integrity at stake -- how much is that worth?"

 

I don't think it has actually been mentioned, but Krebs has been inactive for some years, probably in the USA and maybe deceased.  He lived in a Mae Jo moo ban and had a Thai friend he lived with whom he might have been training, but I haven't heard anything about that for years.

 

And TurboTax is quite good for practically any return except exotic situations.

Edited February 24, 2019 by Mapguy

[DrPhibes]

Found this thread way later than I should have but it was tax season and I was in the US working.

 

Unfortunately, Joe Krebs passed in the US on July 30th 2016.  I had been in contact with him about a year earlier about possibly purchasing his business knowing we were moving to Chiang Mai and he had already gone through the hassle of setting up the practice.  When we arrived, I tried to look him up only to find he had passed a month earlier and his partner had dissolved the business.  "Missed it by that much" as Maxwell Smart would say.

 

Please PM me if any questions.

[JimGant]

On 6/13/2019 at 8:43 PM, DrPhibes said:

Found this thread way later than I should have but it was tax season and I was in the US working.

 

Unfortunately, Joe Krebs passed in the US on July 30th 2016.  I had been in contact with him about a year earlier about possibly purchasing his business knowing we were moving to Chiang Mai and he had already gone through the hassle of setting up the practice.  When we arrived, I tried to look him up only to find he had passed a month earlier and his partner had dissolved the business.  "Missed it by that much" as Maxwell Smart would say.

 

Please PM me if any questions.

Are you, therefore, available for doing taxes for Americans here in Chiang Mai? Not crystal clear on the "PM me" implication.....

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 2/20/2019 at 7:15 PM, JimGant said:

So, go for it -- it's only your integrity at stake -- how much is that worth?

 

I pretty much figure, when it comes to U.S. federal tax matters, my integrity ought to be pretty much on the same level as that of the federal government I'm paying those taxes to...

 

Thus at the moment, I'd say that would rate an integrity rating of something like "minus 5."  Hence, my integrity is pretty much for sale to any bidder!  Any any price... Any time.... Make me an offer!