Do You Love Thailand?

[marstons]

I love the life I’ve made for myself in Thailand, my family, my farm, the climate, the greater freedom to just do stuff without oppressive bureaucracy. I DID love Thailand for my first 10 years (here over 18 years to-date), or so, but no longer: I did so in the sense that I always said I would be willing to die protecting the country in the event of war but no longer.

Shame as the locals would not be up to protecting the country unless odds 10-1 infavour

Felt exactly the same 15 years ago but gradually worn off. as for the OP girls and girls again, just dont get that one anymore either.

Edited December 9, 2012 by marstons

[Semper]

[Travel2003]

Suck cynicism! I am cut to the quick..... Is it unreasonable of me to do some background reading and research before posting? Or maybe you think that I have no knowledge of Thailand? Does one have to post count into 5 figures to achieve the ability to have an opinion? I am quite sure that there are many seasoned expats who either do not post on TV, or choose to do so infrequently....and there are those who use TV as a source of information rather than a playground in which to pass thinly-veiled infantile posts such as the OP did.

In my case, I can assure you that there is no "lurking", nor any of the connotations that one may ascribe to such an activity. I have a life outside of Thaivisa that means I find much of the content rather puerile and trivial. I have been fortunate enough to have had the benefit of an education which allowed me to read extensively: even so, it does not take an Einstein to see that threads of this type have been done over and over again....and coincidentally almost exclusively by "newbie" posters. ....or maybe not so coincidentally. personally, it seems to me that these "posters" could well be reincarnations of those who I think you call 'trolls'.

I agree with CobraSnakeNecktie's point that being in Thailand allows one to experience the more positive aspects, such as buddhism and its tenet of tolerance.

You just shot down OP and at the same time added some wonderful sarcasm, in order to make sure he/she was embarrassed, and now you complain because you received the same?

[lemoncake]

How cant you love the place.

No income tax, freedom from clip board holding jobsworths, entrepeneuarial spirit, want to open a food stall, just do it, no need for applications, Health & Safety, do a manufacturers course, wheres your license.

Not paying tax to support foreign wars of dubious legallity, no paying for foreign occupiers to prop up a corrupt regime.

Not paying tax to support tax dodgers or failed quasi socialist or de facto commie countries.

Not paying tax to support illegal immigrants or economic migrants.

Not paying tax to give some dozy cow 16 year old and her sprog a free house and welfare benefits.

Paying 20 baht per month in the moo baan I live in instead of 6,000 baht per month in the UK.

Need I go on?

no income tax? how exactly do you do that?

Get your accountant to explain Thai tax laws to you.

yes you pay 20 baht/month in the moo baan, but you also earn 1/10 of what you do in UK, plus in your moo baan hardly anything gets fixed, looked after or done, not to mention you do not even own it

Where did I say I own a house, suggest you visit some of the moo baans in Bkk before passing comment on the state of the moo baan I live in.

For earnings, I wouldnt get out of bed for less than 200k per month. You?

I have a feeling, you are retired and getting your information from the forum alone, instead of the real life.

Wrong yet again, real life is Bkk where I have lived for the last 7 years.

Rest assured, if you are a foreigner working in Thailand, you do pay personal tax along with many other things

What many other things would that be?

Yeah, i am yet to find an accountant which can explain how NOT to pay tax on 200K per month, thats the amount you earn right? as you said.

So with 200K salary, you pay 20 baht for moo ban? and you do not own it, so its rent? you pay 20 baht rent per month

Real life in BKK with 20 baht /month rent for a house? do post the name, i am sure people will be flying over and offering to pay 100

If you live your REAL Live in BKK earning over 200K per month, no doubt you would know what other things to pay

[BlackPuddingBertha]

no income tax? how exactly do you do that?

Rest assured, if you are a foreigner working in Thailand, you do pay personal tax along with many other things

If you are working, and it's a big if.

I'm retired. I dont work here. As such I dont have any tax to pay here, even though my income elsewhere is vastly higher than any Thai or UK or EU or US tax threshold.

This is thanks to what can only really be described as an aberration of the Thai tax code which will probably be removed one day.

Thailand is certainly not a place I would want to work in, if I was still working. I would be lucky here to get 20% of what I could earn in Europe for the same job, and with much better working conditions.

[lemoncake]

no income tax? how exactly do you do that?

Rest assured, if you are a foreigner working in Thailand, you do pay personal tax along with many other things

If you are working, and it's a big if.

I'm retired. I dont work here. As such I dont have any tax to pay here, even though my income elsewhere is vastly higher than any Thai or UK or EU or US tax threshold.

This is thanks to what can only really be described as an aberration of the Thai tax code which will probably be removed one day.

Thailand is certainly not a place I would want to work in, if I was still working. I would be lucky here to get 20% of what I could earn in Europe for the same job, and with much better working conditions.

why is it a big if? do you think most expats living in Thailand are retired?

Do you pay income tax on pension back in your home country?

In Thailand, by LAW, you also have to pay tax on your investments and yes you may not do that, and may well get away with it, but you may also get caught and end up paying 5 times what you suppose to pay, because Revenue Department just slaps any amount they feel like and then its up to you to negotiate or pay.

[Hedghog]

I love myself,

So wherever I am I love.

Presently Thailand

[Soutpeel]

Thailand is certainly not a place I would want to work in, if I was still working. I would be lucky here to get 20% of what I could earn in Europe for the same job, and with much better working conditions.

Really ?....I work in Thailand and get paid quite a bit more than I would be getting paid in Europe, US or UK... on average I am up about 35% more and pay less income tax to boot.

[Soutpeel]

I'm retired. I dont work here. As such I dont have any tax to pay here, even though my income elsewhere is vastly higher than any Thai or UK or EU or US tax threshold.

This is thanks to what can only really be described as an aberration of the Thai tax code which will probably be removed one day.

Technically speaking if you are resident in Thailand more than 180 days a year, you are possibly liable for Thai tax even if you are retired, at present they dont peruse this as they assume retiree's are paying at source...but one day that may change...

[rgs2001uk]

Yeah, i am yet to find an accountant which can explain how NOT to pay tax on 200K per month, thats the amount you earn right? as you said.

I said I wouldnt get out of bed for less than 200k per month, I didnt say thats what I earn.

So with 200K salary, you pay 20 baht for moo ban? and you do not own it, so its rent? you pay 20 baht rent per month

See above didnt say I earn 200k, yes I pay 20 baht per month for services, not rent, correct I dont own it.

Real life in BKK with 20 baht /month rent for a house? do post the name, i am sure people will be flying over and offering to pay 100

See above, 20 baht per month for service such as getting the bins emptied every second day.

If you live your REAL Live in BKK earning over 200K per month, no doubt you would know what other things to pay

Yes I live in Bkk, I did not state what my earnings were, please tell me what other things to pay, I am at a loss.

BTW please read this thread,

[rgs2001uk]

no income tax? how exactly do you do that?

Rest assured, if you are a foreigner working in Thailand, you do pay personal tax along with many other things

If you are working, and it's a big if.

I'm retired. I dont work here. As such I dont have any tax to pay here, even though my income elsewhere is vastly higher than any Thai or UK or EU or US tax threshold.

This is thanks to what can only really be described as an aberration of the Thai tax code which will probably be removed one day.

Thailand is certainly not a place I would want to work in, if I was still working. I would be lucky here to get 20% of what I could earn in Europe for the same job, and with much better working conditions.

why is it a big if? do you think most expats living in Thailand are retired?

Do you pay income tax on pension back in your home country?

In Thailand, by LAW, you also have to pay tax on your investments and yes you may not do that, and may well get away with it, but you may also get caught and end up paying 5 times what you suppose to pay, because Revenue Department just slaps any amount they feel like and then its up to you to negotiate or pay.

In Thailand, by LAW, you also have to pay tax on your investments,

read up on LTFs.

[rgs2001uk]

I'm retired. I dont work here. As such I dont have any tax to pay here, even though my income elsewhere is vastly higher than any Thai or UK or EU or US tax threshold.

This is thanks to what can only really be described as an aberration of the Thai tax code which will probably be removed one day.

Technically speaking if you are resident in Thailand more than 180 days a year, you are possibly liable for Thai tax even if you are retired, at present they dont peruse this as they assume retiree's are paying at source...but one day that may change...

I believe its to do with reciprocal agreements the Thais have with your country of origin, hence one of the reasons UK pensioners living in Thailand dont recieve an annual pension increase.

I am not a pensioner so cant comment, but for some the UK pension may be well below the Thai tax threshold.

I also beleive you will not be liable for Thai taxation if the money is brought into Thailand after the tax year in which it was earned in your own country.

Best I head over to the finance section where the gurus hang out and update myself.

[Soutpeel]

I believe its to do with reciprocal agreements the Thais have with your country of origin, hence one of the reasons UK pensioners living in Thailand dont recieve an annual pension increase.

I am not a pensioner so cant comment, but for some the UK pension may be well below the Thai tax threshold.

I also beleive you will not be liable for Thai taxation if the money is brought into Thailand after the tax year in which it was earned in your own country.

Best I head over to the finance section where the gurus hang out and update myself.

Your correct on the 1 tax year thing...and mostl likely correct on the other stuff, but the key thing at the moment the Thai tax man doesnt ask, and this may change one day and they will start want proof of what tax is being paid where etc etc if people are claiming residency in Thailand, even with double tax treaties in plac, one or both countries want proof....ie say for example you are working in Thailand as an Aussie, the Aussie tax man want proof you have paid your tax in Thailand, they dont just accept it as such because there is a dual tax treatly in place..

[lemoncake]

Yeah, i am yet to find an accountant which can explain how NOT to pay tax on 200K per month, thats the amount you earn right? as you said.

I said I wouldnt get out of bed for less than 200k per month, I didnt say thats what I earn.

So with 200K salary, you pay 20 baht for moo ban? and you do not own it, so its rent? you pay 20 baht rent per month

See above didnt say I earn 200k, yes I pay 20 baht per month for services, not rent, correct I dont own it.

Real life in BKK with 20 baht /month rent for a house? do post the name, i am sure people will be flying over and offering to pay 100

See above, 20 baht per month for service such as getting the bins emptied every second day.

If you live your REAL Live in BKK earning over 200K per month, no doubt you would know what other things to pay

Yes I live in Bkk, I did not state what my earnings were, please tell me what other things to pay, I am at a loss.

BTW please read this thread,

http://www.thaivisa....-side-thailand/

what does that thread have to do with question at hand?