We (Thai wife and I) are going back to live in Australia. We are both Citizens and that was why we lived in Australia for a few years, waiting for my Pension eligibility date to arrive, and for the Wife could be come a Citizen. There are three main reasons we are leaving - Medical Services and Costs - Immigration - Taxation.

For those unaware the the emergency Medical Services in Hospitals and Clinics in Australia are free for Aust Citizens, and for those who are retired, the vast majority of other Medical Services and Medications are heavily subsidised. This hit home to me about here (Quality and Costs) when I had to suddenly go to a Thailand Private Hospital (going to a Public one means stabilisation and transfer to a Private Hospital - that is the 'directive' here). The costs were horrendous - way more than I ever anticipated - and the quality was poor (compared to Australian Hospitals). Both my Parents were medical professionals and one of my daughters is a Theatre Nurse - I know a fair bit about all that stuff (quality and costs). I wont name names but I have so far paid 450K Baht - I complained and appealed but it was a complete waste of time - they refused to negotiate. I pointed out that I could buy a box of 100 of certain item in Australia and yet you charged me 6900 Baht - their response to that and all others I raised was 'that is charge we charge' - they should have truthfully added 'to all Foreigners'.

I had always intended to return and live in Australia when I was in late 70s - the prospects of going through the 'end game' of life in a country where medical services are at best problematic outside of the main Bangkok Hospitals and at worst are just backward, was never in my plan. Plus having to burn through a large share of my money (being the Wife's inheritance) was never going to happen, if I could avoid it. I have seen it happen to 2 Aussie Expats, and they both 'wasted' millions of Baht, that would otherwise have gone to their wives - one wife has had to go back to work and she is in her 60s (daughter at Uni).

I had always planned that the 'Expat Deposit' mandated to stay in a Thai bank account would be my 'insurance fund' if anything serious happened to my Wife or I - that has now all gone and some more. For a medical service and treatment that would have been free in any high quality Australian Hospital (yes they are all top notch), and would have cost up to $10,000 AUD (250k Baht) at a top private hospital. I know Yanks etc cost more - but for Aussies the Math does not add up.

The constant grind of reporting to the local Police every 3 months, and the annual extensions processes and their constant changes and crackdowns, and all the other Immigration rules and laws has worn me down - I have been sick of it for many years. I was putting up with it and now I am leaving I am extremely relived not to have to go through it again and again and again. I am extremely pleased never to have to be given another 10-15 minute lecture (in Thai) inside my house by some tinpot general about how lucky I am to be allowed to spend over a million baht a year in Thailand and live with my Thai wife.

IMO it is very clear that Thailand is implementing a new Taxation System, such that most people (Thais and Foreigners) will have to lodge a tax return. Their target is the unpaid taxation of those Thais who earn a lot of money through businesses and investments but never lodge a tax return, and the untaxed foreign income earned by Thai Tax Residents overseas. For those unaware, foreign income earned by a Tax Resident in Thailand is not taxable unless it is remitted into Thailand, and it is also tax exempt if it is remitted into Thailand more than 12 months after being earned. That will all change under the new system, such that income earned anywhere in the world by a Thai Tax Resident will become taxable income. This is the standard tax arrangement for most countries - and it is a part of the changes being implemented by Thailand to become 'OECD Compliant'.

I strongly recommend all Aussie Expats at least plan for an alternative living situation - just in case a new Thai tax system is implemented and Expats are included - Govt Pensions, Superannuation, Savings, Investments will all be targeted. IMO they will screw it up and they dont give a rat's rear about retired Expats - the Thai Govt will play on the Xenophobia. IMO Philippines or Vietnam are the current best bet for Aussie Expats. Both countries exempt foreign income earned overseas if it has been subjected to that country's taxation system - there has been no indication by Thailand that they would follow that same exemption. If the TRD does not give that exemption then IMO get out before they demand a tax return. For those saying it wont happen, I truly hope you are correct, but I would refer you to recent articles in the media - especially the one that states that the TRD and Immigration are working together to 'better manage' all long term Expats living in Thailand (not published here). And with the drive by Thailand to become OECD Compliant (for Trade benefits) this will mean a massive change to their taxation system and it will impact Expats.

5 minutes ago, XRules said:

This hit home to me about here (Quality and Costs) when I had to suddenly go to a Thailand Private Hospital (going to a Public one means stabilisation and transfer to a Private Hospital - that is the 'directive' here).

That's not accurate or location dependent, if govt hosp doesn't offer the service needed.

I had a cardiac event, stent placement, (NON emergency/life threatening) and stabilized at local govt hosp, and transferred to another govt hosp, 100 kms away for the stent placement. Where there are a couple private hosp. located, but taken to govt hosp, as 'we requested'.

Get the choice though, of almost free home country care, if accessible when wanting. If I had not been off the USA govt med plan for so long, I might consider the return myself, but the premiums for the pharmacy part, are quite high, whether I use or not.

Along with the housing back in USA, if starting over again. Combined, still cheaper for me here, along with minor things are seen instantly, and cheaper than the deductibles if having insurance in the USA. No practical reason to return, unless needing constant expensive maintenance.