Thai American lawyer advises that it is illegal for non-Thais to give Thai tax advice

[jayboy]

8 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

That means that very few of us understand what accountancy and tax infrastructure already exists here, because we've never needed to or bothered to find out

 

Actually I knew pretty much exactly what the accountancy/tax infrastructure was - as would anybody with decades of Thailand business experience.

 

I admit to being sceptical about firms that emerge out of nowhere and are mainly focused on retirees.Some may be okay but much care is needed.

 

10 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

we have come down critically on the "industry" because it contains some farangs who speak to us in our native language....shock and horror that. 🙂

 

Sorry, don't really understand your point here.

 

Can't comment on ExpatTax without further knowledge/study but seems on basis of website to be well organized (though not entirely encouraging to see. -  " If you have foreign-sourced income, you must obtain a tax ID number and file an annual tax return" -  prominently displayed.

[Sydebolle]

Just wondering how many better-to-do retirees from the dirty farang countries are leaving over all this mess, confusion and tax collection idea without any counter value? 

What the semi-divines in the finance ministry did completely forget is, that ALL those have moved once already to Thailand and there is little which would prevent getting the household movers back in action again. 10+ closer friends have packed/are packing for Sri Lanka, Bali and the Philippines.

Your call 😉 

[dinga]

2 hours ago, BruceWayne said:

 

Guy comes across as a stereotypical waffling blowhard yank.

He just spent 12 mins saying nothing of value so if you pay him by the hour be careful.

Fake reassurances, come to Thailand, use my services blah blah blah.

 

No thanks pal.

 

 

 

True - he'd still be talking under 6 feet of concrete

 

[Lorry]

15 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

, it is foreign tax lawyers who have tried to sell the idea, to the Thai authorities, of taxing remissions from abroad

Could you tell us how you know this?

[Dan O]

23 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

I repeat, it was foreign (American) lawyers who suggested to the Thai authorities that taxing remissions from abroad would help to reduce the Thai govt's deficit.

Can you post a link showing that as it would be interesting reading

[EVENKEEL]

On 10/23/2024 at 6:05 PM, Thingamabob said:

Further, and slightly contradictory, it is foreign tax lawyers who have tried to sell the idea, to the Thai authorities, of taxing remissions from abroad. They are, basically. grubbing around for business. They are not on the side of those of us who live in Thailand. Never forget that.

I wouldn't doubt that for a second.  There was a few posters on here who early on was really pushing this tax scheme as it was the gospel. And, anyone who questioned anything either had posts removed or chastised by our local tax gurus.

 

I  would never hire a foreigner (farang) here for anything.

[chiang mai]

On 10/24/2024 at 8:05 AM, Thingamabob said:

Further, and slightly contradictory, it is foreign tax lawyers who have tried to sell the idea, to the Thai authorities, of taxing remissions from abroad. They are, basically. grubbing around for business. They are not on the side of those of us who live in Thailand. Never forget that.

What utter tosh this is! The idea of taxing other than the native population is not a new concept, it's something that EVERYONE who works in tax above a medium level will understand. It didn't take some pesky American lawyer to whisper in the ear of the TRD to reveal this hidden secret, guess what, they will have thought of it all by themselves!

 

And then you chose to group all tax experts into two groups, Thai's and foreigners and if they're foreigners, they are all to be regarded as the enemy for gods sake. My question of you is, what's wrong with you!

[biggles45]

'Saremongering post.' 

 

Gotta protect that revenue stream! 

[Andycoops]

On 10/23/2024 at 9:55 AM, topt said:

You will probably find that they all have a resident Thai lawyer under who's auspices any "advice" rather than an opinion is given.

 

Unfortunately The Pattaya Mail has published at least 2 articles supposedly written by Thai tax "experts" that were at best misleading and in one case factually incorrect.......

And you as a Thai educated lawyer would know that...

[black tabby12345]

So those  accounting firms sending expats Information Session invitation are deemed Organized Crimes?

[SingAPorn]

Of course it's illegal.

 

More and more legal hassles  or formalities put up in Thailand, that can be more and more a nightmare (tax, immigration etc) All these can be a jackpot for all the specialised lawyers who see big opportunity to make more money. Obviously another job "reserved for Thai" and the falang is only expected to pay the huge fees and nothing else...

[chiang mai]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

And you as a Thai educated lawyer would know that...

Yes he would, as would anyone else who has studied the subject even moderately.

[kiwikeith]

On 10/23/2024 at 8:28 AM, Jingthing said:

This seems to me to be a big deal.

Tax advice given by non Thais is basically what we've been seeing online, here, youtube, facebook, etc. in the wake of the TAX HYSTERIA unleashed by the announcement of one change in Thai tax law about timing of transferred funds.

I tend to believe that information is true -- that it is illegal.

So all of you that have been swept up in the hysteria -- it seems to me you've mostly been listening to illegally given advice.

Sure personally I'm paying some attention to news about tax situation going forward, but I'm also concerned about what seems to me a budding huge industry in selling advice about an only possibly changing situation that nobody really knows enough about to be an expert about, foreigner or Thai.

On the other hand, I think there might be something to getting advice on structuring your finances proactively with consideration to how this might all eventually shake out.

 

 

I always found that the lawyer Dan about Thailand interviewed never answered questions that you could understand and Dan never asked him obvious questions in all his interviews

[couchpotato]

27 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

I always found that the lawyer Dan about Thailand interviewed never answered questions that you could understand and Dan never asked him obvious questions in all his interviews

Dan's interviews are paid/sponsorships, so no awkward questions are asked.

Usually a waste of time.

[kiwikeith]

10 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Dan's interviews are paid/sponsorships, so no awkward questions are asked.

Usually a waste of time.

Yes I think Dan would have to present him with a question list b4 interview proceeded.

[chiang mai]

On 10/25/2024 at 8:55 AM, EVENKEEL said:

 

I  would never hire a foreigner (farang) here for anything.

Would you hire Crossy for electrical work, assuming of course you could afford his fees?

[EVENKEEL]

28 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

Would you hire Crossy for electrical work, assuming of course you could afford his fees?

Who is Crossy? He sounds expensive.

[jayboy]

2 hours ago, couchpotato said:

Dan's interviews are paid/sponsorships, so no awkward questions are asked.

 

He is a man who quickly gets out of his depth if any kind of analytical ability is needed.He's basically a salesman geared to the low end Pattaya market.

[CallumWK]

1 hour ago, chiang mai said:

Would you hire Crossy for electrical work, assuming of course you could afford his fees?

I thought Crossy does community service

[chiang mai]

4 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Who is Crossy? He sounds expensive.

Moderator and lead on all things electrical in forum.......have you been living in a cave!

[EVENKEEL]

5 hours ago, chiang mai said:

Moderator and lead on all things electrical in forum.......have you been living in a cave!

Will I get a discount if I drop your name?