Denied the METV-visa, because I'm not employed.

[JackThompson]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

...

BTW, I suspect we'd have a lot fewer digital nomads residing here if they actually did have to pay Thai income tax... Like the rest of us working in Thailand.

 

On this last point:

• Doing the 3-country-per-year routine to avoid taxes must get old for nomads after awhile (doesn't apply to Americans like me, who have to pay someone).  A steady-visa is a comfortable thing to have.
• Also consider that paying taxes opens up the door to permanent-residency, which would be a strong incentive.

[impulse]

13 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

On this last point:

• Doing the 3-country-per-year routine to avoid taxes must get old for nomads after awhile (doesn't apply to Americans like me, who have to pay someone).  A steady-visa is a comfortable thing to have.
• Also consider that paying taxes opens up the door to permanent-residency, which would be a strong incentive.

 

Yup, American here, too.  I'd have retired many years ago if I carried most other passports and had the same work and salary history...

 

I get the sense that technology is improving (??) to the point where more and more governments are going to insist on consistency in tax and immigration policies.  I wouldn't be surprised if there is (or will be) pressure on Thai embassies from countries that realize issuing a long stay visa is allowing their citizens to legally dodge taxes by being out of the country for over 180 days while cultivating their digital empires.  But I freely admit I'm a wingnut conspiracy fan- and wandering off topic.

 

And as stated, I'd also be curious to see just how appealing living in the 3rd world (okay, 2-1/2) would be if they still had to pay taxes like us...  And (you can hate me for this) I would love to see the look on their faces if they got pulled aside at Thai departure immigration and presented with a tax bill based on their length of stay and the amount of money they took in worldwide while they were here.  I know that's just meanness on my part, but mark my words, that technology is coming.  Immigration and tax authorities will figure out how to collect revenue in the digital economy.

Edited January 21, 2017 by impulse