40 minutes ago, John207 said:

My personal speculation is that the main obstacle right now isn’t technology, but rather resistance from powerful vested interests who benefit from the current lax regime. That may be why Thailand isn’t quite ready to fully enforce worldwide income taxation yet, though, as another poster recently pointed out and speculating in the forum, we might not be too far off either.

 

In any case, worldwide income taxation for residents is clearly the direction most countries are heading. Even Cambodia introduced it years ago, and several African nations (Kenya, Tanzania, etc.) have followed suit on paper. Of course, as far as I know, actual enforcement in many of these places remains almost non existent for now. Still, as a resident, I personally wouldn’t want to bet on them never starting to enforce it.

You're underestimating the dreadful consequences of strict tax laws enforcement in developing countries. IMO the main reason why it's not enforced is because the wealthy and foreign money will flow out the day they get taxed more than 15% (and even less), as they can get much better value for their tax bucks elsewhere.

 

Legacy direct tax systems with high rates on individuals are inefficient. Indirect taxation is the way.

One more in the group. I picked up my WP Visa today  Thanks to everyone who contributed to the forum

4 minutes ago, Doug Mofoz said:

One more in the group. I picked up my WP Visa today  Thanks to everyone who contributed to the forum

Congrats!   

 

How long did it take from application submission till endorsement (i.e., notice of approval...please make an appt for issue of visa).    I realize you may have scheduled an "issue to/stamp into passport" later date.

 

And were there any detours, speed bumps,  requests for additional docs during the application review process?   

 

Congrats again!

2 hours ago, Pib said:

Congrats!   

 

How long did it take from application submission till endorsement (i.e., notice of approval...please make an appt for issue of visa).    I realize you may have scheduled an "issue to/stamp into passport" later date.

 

And were there any detours, speed bumps,  requests for additional docs during the application review process?   

 

Congrats again!

Thank you. I submitted my application on 13 November. With my application I submitted 1099 for 2023 and 2024 and a letter from my insurance company stating my  coverage. On 17 November, they requested an IRS form 1040 for 2024 which I uploaded the same day On 18 November they requested the full insurance policy with table of benefits.
I uploaded the PDF of my coverage, which is probably 70 or 80 pages long. On 18 December, they asked for a copy of my 90 day report and they approved my application about 30 minutes later. I made an appointment that very same day and picked up my visa stamp today 22 December.

On 12/21/2025 at 8:18 PM, Yumthai said:

You're underestimating the dreadful consequences of strict tax laws enforcement in developing countries. IMO the main reason why it's not enforced is because the wealthy and foreign money will flow out the day they get taxed more than 15% (and even less), as they can get much better value for their tax bucks elsewhere.

 

Legacy direct tax systems with high rates on individuals are inefficient. Indirect taxation is the way.

Its not IMO, its very factual. Its already been seen in Thailand with wealthy Thais and remittance for investment. The TRD are walking back that one with draft exemptions to encourage money to be repatriated. We all know the uber wealthy Thais are significant to the economy, the TRD can't afford to lose their participation in tax receipts.

On 12/16/2025 at 3:41 PM, oldcpu said:

With regard to this new BoI interpretation of the Royal Decree 743, ...

Why new? IMO it was clearly spelled out, from the onset.

39 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

Why new? IMO it was clearly spelled out, from the onset.

Yes, it appears that what it boils down to. If a person gets confused as to what "previous" tax year means they just need to think "what is today?....whatever today is the "current" tax year. So last year and earlier years is a "previous" tax year.....the year you are currently breathing in is the "current" tax year.

Examples:

- today is 31 Dec 2025 which is the "current" tax year...the "previous" tax year would be 2024, 2023, etc.-
- if we fast forward a little bit and it was 1 Jan 2026 that would now be the "current" tax year...the "previous" tax year would be 2025, 2024, etc.
- if we fast forward again and it was 31 Dec 2026 that would be the "current" tax year....the "previous" tax year would be 2025, 2024, etc.

Bottom line it's the "old" rule. And since the old rule was not thrown out (unless having a LTR visa) until 1 Jan 2024 and LTR visa first came into effective 1 Sep 2022 then that means the LTR tax exemption advertised with great fanfare wasn't really a benefit at all since the old rule was still in effect for everyone.

1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

Why new? IMO it was clearly spelled out, from the onset.

It was the BoI interpretation that was new.

OK. BoI interpretation. I placed that in BOLD as you seem to have missed reading those words.

BoI were queried at the start of the LTR visa and at that time they noted ALL remitted foreign income for LTR-WP, WGC, WFTP was tax exempt. OK?

Again, BOI interpretation. OK?

Further, the logic was, one does NOT pay tax in the current tax year, unless it is withholding tax (or unless one is remitting semi-annual tax return). If one is submitting annual tax returns, it is always the YEAR after the income is remitted that the tax return is submitted. Hence this makes such income "derived in the previous tax year" and hence the interpretation was that it was tax exempt.

Show me one person who submits a tax return in the very same year in which it was earned.

However BoI are now NOT using the words 'previous' tax year. The BoI interpretation is now 'remitted income from an other tax year different from the year in which the money is earned' is tax exempt. THAT is the new BoI interpretation.

Again, my post was specific - BoI interpretation, where BoI have changed their interpretation.

What part of Boi changing their interpretation do you not understand?

1 hour ago, oldcpu said:

It was the BoI interpretation that was new.

OK. BoI interpretation. I placed that in BOLD as you seem to have missed reading those words.

BoI were queried at the start of the LTR visa and at that time they noted ALL remitted foreign income for LTR-WP, WGC, WFTP was tax exempt. OK?

Again, BOI interpretation. OK?

Further, the logic was, one does NOT pay tax in the current tax year, unless it is withholding tax (or unless one is remitting semi-annual tax return). If one is submitting annual tax returns, it is always the YEAR after the income is remitted that the tax return is submitted. Hence this makes such income "derived in the previous tax year" and hence the interpretation was that it was tax exempt.

Show me one person who submits a tax return in the very same year in which it was earned.

However BoI are now NOT using the words 'previous' tax year. The BoI interpretation is now 'remitted income from an other tax year different from the year in which the money is earned' is tax exempt. THAT is the new BoI interpretation.

Again, my post was specific - BoI interpretation, where BoI have changed their interpretation.

What part of Boi changing their interpretation do you not understand?

Wow !🤩

2 hours ago, Pib said:

Bottom line it's the "old" rule. And since the old rule was not thrown out (unless having a LTR visa) until 1 Jan 2024 and LTR visa first came into effective 1 Sep 2022 then that means the LTR tax exemption advertised with great fanfare wasn't really a benefit at all since the old rule was still in effect for everyone.

Yes, but when they removed the "old rule" it dawned to me that RD.743 had been anticipating changes that were to come a year later. Also IMO no further changes would be needed if global taxation was introduced.

3 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

Yes, but when they removed the "old rule" it dawned to me that RD.743 had been anticipating changes that were to come a year later. Also IMO no further changes would be needed if global taxation was introduced.

Indeed. And so it has turned out (after POR.161/162) re: the separate and current BoI/RD interpretation re: LTR tax exemption.

I don't have any predictions as to what may or may not transpire if, (major 'if' ) global taxation is ever introduced. I suspect there are some very wealthy and even more influential Thai who are opposed to any such change from remitted to global.

As for those of us on the LTR visa, I suspect for many of us, the current DTAs between Thailand and our source income country may mean any potential/possible future change from remitted to global taxation won't have much of an impact on us (and for some others there could be an impact).

But for now, the LTR-WP (at least in my case) is pretty good.

Interesting statistics

15 minutes ago, K2938 said:

Interesting statistics

Yes, interesting indeed.

I'm a little surprised to see the number of USA Wealthy Pensioners being a lot greater than any other country (I thought some other countries would show high numbers of pensioners also) but I expect that high USA number is assisted greatly by the high number of military retirees in Thailand.

And how Japan leads the Highly Skilled Professional by a huge amount....I'm going to guess that's due to Japan having many factories/investments in Thailand.

I also expected the China numbers to be a lot higher....but maybe they opt for the Elite visas.

5 minutes ago, Pib said:

I'm a little surprised to see the number of USA Wealthy Pensioners being a lot greater than any other country (I thought some other countries would show high numbers of pensioners also) but I expect that high USA number is assisted greatly by the high number of military retirees in Thailand.

Explained also because US retirees earn on average more than other countries' pensioners.

29 minutes ago, Pib said:

but I expect that high USA number is assisted greatly by the high number of military retirees in Thailand.

What rank do you need to have had to get a pension of at least 80k USD in the U.S.?

Just now, K2938 said:

What rank do you need to have had to get a pension of at least 80k USD?

It's not that any military pension exceeds $80K unless maybe a general officer but since military retirees typically retire in in their 40s they have time to start another career...maybe earn another pension before reaching old age. And then Social Security Pension comes along in their 60's. And some military retirees may get a separate pension (versus just a tax reduction) from the Veterans Administration if they have a 50% or more disability rating when retiring form the military (a career in the military is rough on the body for many specialties). And let's not forget IRA/401K/TSP and other retirement savings during multiple careers. Let's just say a military retirement pension can makeup a very significant portion of the 80K requirement.

3 hours ago, Yumthai said:

Explained also because US retirees earn on average more than other countries' pensioners.

My work pension is a little over $80k and qualified me for my LTR. I was a mid-level engineering manager at a Dept of Energy laboratory operated by the University of California, Berkeley. That was back in 2011. I worked for UC Berkeley for 30 years. I always thought that anyone of my generation who was professional and/or a manager and stuck with a large employer could easily enjoy a pension of $80k+, especially if they add Social Security to that. Of course, the subset of those people who want to retire in Thailand is probably very very small.

The other day I entered Thailand and filled out the TDAC. The TDAC asks for your visa number. I looked at the visa stamp and entered what I thought was the number but I really have no idea. At the top of the stamp in the rectangular box is says

NO 010 / 66

That didn't seem right.

Below the rectangular box is a stamp with

ที นร /1325 / ก / ลง (and a string of numbers)

Anyone have an idea what our LTR visa number is? I also didn't see it in any of the LTR application letters.

25 minutes ago, Martyp said:

The other day I entered Thailand and filled out the TDAC. The TDAC asks for your visa number. I looked at the visa stamp and entered what I thought was the number but I really have no idea. At the top of the stamp in the rectangular box is says

NO 010 / 66

That didn't seem right.

Below the rectangular box is a stamp with

ที นร /1325 / ก / ลง (and a string of numbers)

Anyone have an idea what our LTR visa number is? I also didn't see it in any of the LTR application letters.

"010 / 66" is the visa number. 66 being the year they stamped it in your passport.

14 hours ago, K2938 said:

What rank do you need to have had to get a pension of at least 80k USD in the U.S.?

An O6/Colonel retiring in 1990 with 22 years of service -- would have received, in 2025, slightly less than $84,000 in retirement income.

2 hours ago, Martyp said:

The other day I entered Thailand and filled out the TDAC. The TDAC asks for your visa number. I looked at the visa stamp and entered what I thought was the number but I really have no idea. At the top of the stamp in the rectangular box is says

NO 010 / 66

That didn't seem right.

Below the rectangular box is a stamp with

ที นร /1325 / ก / ลง (and a string of numbers)

Anyone have an idea what our LTR visa number is? I also didn't see it in any of the LTR application letters.

This is not a mandatory field in the TDAC. Just leave it blank. No need to waste time on optional fields.

During COVID, I applied for and received an LTR-P visa, using a friend’s address in Phuket. That friend no longer lives there, and I have not been residing in Thailand—although I do travel to Thailand once or twice a year. Should I expect any issues with my visa because of this?

6 hours ago, stickymango said:

During COVID, I applied for and received an LTR-P visa, using a friend’s address in Phuket. That friend no longer lives there, and I have not been residing in Thailand—although I do travel to Thailand once or twice a year. Should I expect any issues with my visa because of this?

You could ask BoI on this, but I don't see any reason why there would be an issue, as long as you continue to meet the financial and insurance requirements.

18 hours ago, stickymango said:

During COVID, I applied for and received an LTR-P visa, using a friend’s address in Phuket. That friend no longer lives there, and I have not been residing in Thailand—although I do travel to Thailand once or twice a year. Should I expect any issues with my visa because of this?

Zero issues. Having an LTR visa does not require you to spend significant time in Thailand....come and go as you please....stay as long as you like....one day each year, zero days each year, or full time.

I received an email today from the BOI inviting me to a meeting of LTR visa holders on Feb 6 (2026): "LTR Community Day: How to Maintain and Maximize Your LTR Visa’s Benefits".

Anyone gonna go to this? I'm on the fence.

9 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

I received an email today from the BOI inviting me to a meeting of LTR visa holders on Feb 6 (2026): "LTR Community Day: How to Maintain and Maximize Your LTR Visa’s Benefits".

Anyone gonna go to this? I'm on the fence.

Never heard of such a day. Sure it's really from BOI? Or maybe really from some visa agency company? Maybe post a redacted copy of the email you got.

On 1/27/2026 at 9:22 AM, Martyp said:

The other day I entered Thailand and filled out the TDAC. The TDAC asks for your visa number. I looked at the visa stamp and entered what I thought was the number but I really have no idea. At the top of the stamp in the rectangular box is says

NO 010 / 66

That didn't seem right.

Below the rectangular box is a stamp with

ที นร /1325 / ก / ลง (and a string of numbers)

Anyone have an idea what our LTR visa number is? I also didn't see it in any of the LTR application letters.

As noted by @John207 , the visa number is 010/66. The long alphanumeric string is the number of your BoI approval/endorsement letter.

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Never heard of such a day. Sure it's really from BOI? Or maybe really from some visa agency company? Maybe post a redacted copy of the email you got.

I agree. There's no mention of this on the LTR Facebook page or the BOI Facebook page, and they also send out everything they post on Facebook on their Line as well, and nothing there either.

I would assume this is from an agency and not the BOI unless proven otherwise.

I got the email as well and it came from the BOI email address (which i dont seem to be allowed to post)

so,on the face of it, it seems genuine.

1 hour ago, wordchild said:

I got the email as well and it came from the BOI email address (which i dont seem to be allowed to post)

so,on the face of it, it seems genuine.

You can post email addresses if you "disguise" them with [at] rather than using the @ symbol. Posting with an @ will trigger a mod review, your post should appear after a while if you do nothing.

It's so that private emails don't get scraped by search engines etc.

I'm totally sure that the modern engines are perfectly capable of scraping those too, but them's the roolz.

https://aseannow.com/forum_rules/