Perhaps ex-pats should be given a bit more credit, in this formula? We do bring in alot of stable income.  Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income is from expats. Countless business employing many. To say it is insignificant, is a blatant misunderstanding of Thai economics. Thousands of hotels, restaurants, countless airlines and many tour companies, also benefit. By comparison, an average ex-pat spends how much per month? I would say alot of us spend 50,000 to upwards of 100,000 baht a month. I know I do. No value in that? I know some live on less. However, since the average monthly GDP of the nation is around $600, that means about 20,000 baht a month?

 

I think xenophobia is utterly rampant, in all segments of the government here, from the feds right on down to the local amphur. However, I do not think most Thai people are that way. I think most either like us, or are indifferent to us. Which I can handle. 

 

I think ex-pats should be treated with the kind of respect and acknowledgement we deserve.I would love to hear an apology from them:

 

1. We have decided to change our policies, and we now realize how much you guys bring to the table.

2. An immigration officer will now come to your home to renew your visa, to show our appreciation, of your continued support.

3. You will only be required to sign one form, and we will give you a five year, multiple entry visa. Free of charge.

4. And we will include a 10,000 baht voucher, good for any hotel in the country, for one year. 

5. Princely treatment. Thank you so much for helping to rescue our economy and our people.

6. We appreciate it, and aim to show it for a change! We are past the era of thugs like the big joke, Thaksin and Prayuth. 

And we apologize for all of his abuse.

 

We realize we have been moving the country backwards. 

And Covid has given us all some time to reflect.

 

We are going to start changing things, and attempt to move the nation forward, instead of backwards.

 

LOL. 

In a few months at most it will all be back to normal and taxes go quiet again, as they realize the country goes empty quickly if doing both. It's been the same flip flop show ever since 2014-2015. A decade by now. Can't even bother to worry about it anymore but it does motivate me to leave.

33 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Perhaps ex-pats should be given a bit more credit, in this formula? We do bring in alot of stable income.  Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income is from expats. Countless business employing many. To say it is insignificant, is a blatant misunderstanding of Thai economics. Thousands of hotels, restaurants, countless airlines and many tour companies, also benefit. LOL. 

Long stayers are good for like 500-750 million dollars a month at least. This is quite a significant number specially if realizing that the long stayers are also kind of the glue and often backbone for a lot of tourism industry businesses. Both as customer between seasons as well as owners while this figure not even includes the business revenues itself. Thailand can't afford to damage that so they flip flop repeatedly.

 

It's quite insane if you think about it as that is like 10-15% GDP of Cambodia without any tourists. Digital nomads globally alone represent around 1 trillion dollars annually hence DN visa's pop up everywhere, yet it's easier to get one in Europe requirement wise than it is here (just 1200 euro a month VS 15000 euro in a bank to get it here).

37 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

In a few months at most it will all be back to normal and taxes go quiet again, as they realize the country goes empty quickly if doing both. It's been the same flip flop show ever since 2014-2015. A decade by now. Can't even bother to worry about it anymore but it does motivate me to leave.

During covid my woman and I went a little stir crazy and we thought about leaving, so when things eased up we checked out Mexico, Spain, Italy and a few other spots as alternatives. I've been to Vietnam and I would never consider living there, spent a lot of time in Cambodia I would never consider living there, Laos is completely out of the question. A friend of mine just spent 6 months in Sarawak, and he loved it. Possible? I like the Malaysian people but I find the country kind of boring so there are no local alternatives around here, certainly none that are affordable and appealing, so after spending a couple months looking around we decided that we would stay and Thailand, which still seems to be a pretty good fit for us. As far as I'm concerned every day in Thailand is a good day, and despite all the issues and an incredibly ineffective and xenophobic government, I really love it here. 

 

If you are wealthy or have very significant monthly income there are dozens of countries that are possibilities, but if you're living on a relatively limited income one can live quite well here, and that can't be said of most other nations. 

 

So until the time comes when I am no longer able to stay due to visa issues, I'm staying put. 

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

As I understand it all monies remitted to Thailand that have already been taxed in the native countries are not subject to taxation here, as Thailand does not insist on double taxation, like Spain and some other nations, and will acknowledge taxes paid in one's native country. 

 

It's a mine field for sure.....I've just read that UK state pensions and government pensions will not be taxed, but occupational and private pensions will be?

17 hours ago, Will Iam Not said:

I shall have to serach this Personal Compliance Report, never mentioned before. 

I already have had a TIN for three years, and not paid a satang in tax. But I am only a poor boy.

 

Same here....555

28 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

During covid my woman and I went a little stir crazy and we thought about leaving, so when things eased up we checked out Mexico, Spain, Italy and a few other spots as alternatives. I've been to Vietnam and I would never consider living there, spent a lot of time in Cambodia I would never consider living there, Laos is completely out of the question. A friend of mine just spent 6 months in Sarawak, and he loved it. Possible? I like the Malaysian people but I find the country kind of boring so there are no local alternatives around here, certainly none that are affordable and appealing, so after spending a couple months looking around we decided that we would stay and Thailand, which still seems to be a pretty good fit for us. As far as I'm concerned every day in Thailand is a good day, and despite all the issues and an incredibly ineffective and xenophobic government, I really love it here. 

 

If you are wealthy or have very significant monthly income there are dozens of countries that are possibilities, but if you're living on a relatively limited income one can live quite well here, and that can't be said of most other nations. 

 

So until the time comes when I am no longer able to stay due to visa issues, I'm staying put. 

In like Montevideo / Paraguay etc they even offer 0% taxes for the first 10-12 years, then like 11% max after + residency with passports in under 3 years for married families moving there while just requiring 2000 euro a month income.. Then it's nowadays one of the safest countries to be aside of having free and good public education, healthcare and more. Just one example of many out there, with today's cost of living and lack of options work wise / mortgage wise and school costs even southern europe starts to be cheaper already.

I have a friend with a Thai girlfriend that has a Schengen digital nomad visa too, she just needed to show like 6-12 months income on 1200 euro or more, around 50k baht. For people with children it's even 5 years at the time without any income requirement as long the child registers in EU and goes to school there. 

 

In terms of SE Asia, I like Vietnam for holidays but long-term would only be if there is no alternatives nearby as it still also offers easy 90 day visa's for the Thai misses, my son has both passports, this mainly complicates things with also options like Malaysia, as they only get 30 days at the time. 

I have lived in Cambodia in the past for a good 6-7 months and was there recently, it changed in a positive way big time, way more shops and malls, brand new roads, many condo's etc too, still cheap and just 300 dollars hassle free visa.. But as long Thailand still works for me not doing that, I would consider trying it for a few years if things just stay crappy as they are today, or get worse.

 

It's a really nice and free feeling where nobody bothers you, no paperwork at all, always this 300 dollar visa for a year done trough a random restaurant/bar agent. Then still cheap beers and all in USD currency, somehow making me still more aware of spending, more savings overall too or the fact you can really just do a business and work in it without any hassles.

I used to have this feeling in TH when prices were still way lower, exchange rates way stronger, visa or staying 'forever' no concern at all. The freedom feeling is just gone I guess, specially when you never know if they tomorrow suddenly do start to demand taxes on top of it all. Makes it difficult when still looking at a 10-40 year future window. Sometimes it seems easier to then just start all over elsewhere.

Seems strange that only Chiang Rai has these "new rules"! 🙄

20 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

It's a mine field for sure.....I've just read that UK state pensions and government pensions will not be taxed, but occupational and private pensions will be?

For sure the people in charge have absolutely no idea what they're doing, the general rule thumb throughout history is that when governments become completely dysfunctional and are lacking talent and people with creativity, the go-to remedy is to raise more tax revenue. It is the polar opposite of creative thinking. 

"For more than 300,000 long-term visa holders, the changes have a retroactive twist. By 31 December 2025, every foreign resident who has stayed more than 180 days in a year must file a new Residency Compliance Report through the e-Visa portal. The report will link their presence in Thailand to records at the Revenue Department (...)"

 

Is this for real?? 😯 

I do not see anything yet. Sit and wait, the panic appears to be premature.

12 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"For more than 300,000 long-term visa holders, the changes have a retroactive twist. By 31 December 2025, every foreign resident who has stayed more than 180 days in a year must file a new Residency Compliance Report through the e-Visa portal. The report will link their presence in Thailand to records at the Revenue Department (...)"

 

Is this for real?? 😯 

When  I go to the site the warning says it is only for those not actually in Thailand

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

During covid my woman and I went a little stir crazy and we thought about leaving, so when things eased up we checked out Mexico, Spain, Italy and a few other spots as alternatives. I've been to Vietnam and I would never consider living there, spent a lot of time in Cambodia I would never consider living there, Laos is completely out of the question. A friend of mine just spent 6 months in Sarawak, and he loved it. Possible? I like the Malaysian people but I find the country kind of boring so there are no local alternatives around here, certainly none that are affordable and appealing, so after spending a couple months looking around we decided that we would stay and Thailand, which still seems to be a pretty good fit for us. As far as I'm concerned every day in Thailand is a good day, and despite all the issues and an incredibly ineffective and xenophobic government, I really love it here. 

 

If you are wealthy or have very significant monthly income there are dozens of countries that are possibilities, but if you're living on a relatively limited income one can live quite well here, and that can't be said of most other nations. 

 

So until the time comes when I am no longer able to stay due to visa issues, I'm staying put. 

I was dating a woman back in SF from Sarawak in 2015. She was comparing both Thailand and Sarawak requirements as far as long stay in each and was convinced her country was the best chioce.

24 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"For more than 300,000 long-term visa holders, the changes have a retroactive twist. By 31 December 2025, every foreign resident who has stayed more than 180 days in a year must file a new Residency Compliance Report through the e-Visa portal. The report will link their presence in Thailand to records at the Revenue Department (...)"

 

Is this for real?? 😯 

Went to thaievisa.co.th, and couldn't get anywhere even with my VPN set to UK.

But surely, a Residency Compliance Report is the same as TM47, 90 days, whereas the e-Visa portal is for visitor to apply for a visa before entering Thailand. 

9 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

When  I go to the site the warning says it is only for those not actually in Thailand

 

Meaning for e-Visa applications, I suppose, and for 'residents' who have stayed, or planning to stay 180 days within a tax year. (Personally, I will not bother to apply for an e-Visa if this is the case, to avoid future negative repercussions...)

3 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

I was dating a woman back in SF from Sarawak in 2015. She was comparing both Thailand and Sarawak requirements as far as long stay in each and was convinced her country was the best chioce.

 

Westerners can travel to Malaysia for 90 days. This has been the case for the past three decades; no flip-flops...

15 hours ago, OJAS said:

And/or the TM30?

 

The TM30 is for someone else telling where you live, the TM47 is for YOU to tell them.

1 minute ago, Will Iam Not said:

The TM30 is for someone else telling where you live, the TM47 is for YOU to tell them.

Eh no, it is for property owners to report foreign guests staying there so it could be yourself too, I do my own TM30 reports. TM47 is the 90 day report.

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Westerners can travel to Malaysia for 90 days. This has been the case for the past three decades; no flip-flops...

I was meaning the requirements for Retirement Visa's.  Not a short term stay.

4 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Westerners can travel to Malaysia for 90 days. This has been the case for the past three decades; no flip-flops...

Yeah would been great if that applied to Thais as well, I would been living there already for at least 6 months a year.

3 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Eh no, it is for property owners to report foreign guests staying there so it could be yourself too, I do my own TM30 reports. TM47 is the 90 day report.

So can you register and submit a TM30 for yourself, at your own home?

1 minute ago, Will Iam Not said:

So can you register and submit a TM30 for yourself, at your own home?

Yes of course if you are the property owner or condo owner.

7 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

I was meaning the requirements for Retirement Visa's.  Not a short term stay.

 

Okay, there Thailand is a bit 'easier' with lower funds to put onto the table...

 

"Malaysia's retirement visa is now primarily through the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, which has three tiers with different financial requirements and visa durations, and requires a fixed deposit and property purchase (...)"

 

 

Personally, I haven't bothered to check out the details, as living in Malaysia long-term never appealed to me.

1 minute ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Yes of course if you are the property owner or condo owner.

I did my first one myself as my Landlord was not up to speed with the law. Paid his fine but did this myself in the CM office.

19 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Meaning for e-Visa applications, I suppose, and for 'residents' who have stayed, or planning to stay 180 days within a tax year. (Personally, I will not bother to apply for an e-Visa if this is the case, to avoid future negative repercussions...)

As far as I can make out, it is only for e-Visa applications from outside Thailand. I read that you can do it at the airport BEFORE Immigration. Nothing about residents wanting to stay. Correct me if I am wrong please.

6 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

I did my first one myself as my Landlord was not up to speed with the law. Paid his fine but did this myself in the CM office.

 

You probably paid your fine. 😉 

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

You probably paid your fine. 😉 

As already posted here, this is for the owners responsibility

Interesting the Owners can do this at thier local Police station

1 minute ago, Will Iam Not said:

As far as I can make out, it is only for e-Visa applications from outside Thailand. I read that you can do it at the airport BEFORE Immigration. Nothing about residents wanting to stay. Correct me if I am wrong please.

 

I'm pretty sure that all Thailand visa applications can only be done outside of Thailand. But this 'tax registration' thing is new and sounds pretty confusing...

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I'm pretty sure that all Thailand visa applications can only be done outside of Thailand. But this 'tax registration' thing is new and sounds pretty confusing...

That is not true

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I'm pretty sure that all Thailand visa applications can only be done outside of Thailand. But this 'tax registration' thing is new and sounds pretty confusing...

Certainly seems that way. I have a Visa from 2009, retirement extensions for past 8 years, TIN number for 3 years with no tax to pay. I hope I have my ducks in a row.