General Reports

[SubCmdr]

Hate to cloud all this speculation with some hard cold facts. Ever check out property ownership laws in the Kingdom. I have read translated versions of them from law firms based here in Thailand. If you are married to a Thai national you can jointly own land with your spouse. But let's say your spouse passes away and you inherit the land. Do you know what you position is then? You can apply for an exemption to the rule that not Thai nationals cannot own land. The provision exists in the law. But has never been granted in the history of the Kingdom. So, reality is, you have one year to dispose of that land. If you don't the Kingdom will take of it and sell it for you and charge you 5% for their services.

Tell me more about the type of exemptions that might be provided to someone married to a Thai national.

Your Hard Cold Facts are Wrong. Hahaha.

According to section 93 of the Land Code Act a foreigner who acquires land as statutory heir can have an ownership in such land upon a permission of the Minister of Interior. Note that section 93 Land Code Act only refers to foreign land ownership under a treaty and not for example to foreigners inheriting land from their Thai spouse. A foreign spouse of a Thai national can inherit land but cannot register ownership of land and has to sell the land within one year from the date of acquisition.

[Banana Boi]

Thai banks really like their bills crisp and in like new condition.

Never had an issue with this but I exchange money at money exchange places and not Thai banks.

I see you've never been to Cambodia. Even the smallest crease an eye can barely see in the corner of your bill makes it invalid at most places. Make sure no one gives you back a ragged bill it's yours until you leave Cambodia. Yet their own Riel are almost torn to shreds.

[SubCmdr]

I wonder if Thailand will tax you on what's in your pocket when you walk off the airplane? I brought $6000 to Thailand once, but made the mistake of folding it down the middle like a stripper dollar to fit in my money belt. Thai banks really like their bills crisp and in like new condition.

Right now all the rumors are saying the new taxes will be tied to some period of stay in the Kingdom. 180 days is the number being thrown around my some people.

Money changers are indeed very picky about the USD that they take. They prefer new / like new condition, crisp and in the denomination of 100. You get a lower exchange rate if you have the denomination of 20. Even lower if they are 5's or 1's. They reject any marks on the currency or tears in the currency. Even micro ones due to use on the edges. My base currency is USD, so I have not tried to exchange any other currency type. Although there are booths that have LCD screens with the longest list of different currencies I have ever seen in my life.

Live long and prosper gentlemen. And may the pussy be with you, always!

[Explorer8939]

I'm not sure why I always forget that the one constant in life is "change", otherwise I'd still be fat and happy living off those 18% interest earnings on money market from back in Jimmy Carter days. LOL.

I wonder if Thailand will tax you on what's in your pocket when you walk off the airplane? I brought $6000 to Thailand once, but made the mistake of folding it down the middle like a stripper dollar to fit in my money belt. Thai banks really like their bills crisp and in like new condition.

Your tax status is a function of your visa status and whether you reside in Thailand for 180+ days a year.

[Explorer8939]

If you are a US citizen you will still be required to file an income tax return in the US. You get to deduct any taxes you pay in Thailand so you are not double taxed. But remember all those new auditors the IRS wanted to hire last year. I would be more worried about the IRS reaching out to Thai tax authorities and wanting to "compare notes".

There is a tax treaty between Thailand and the US, so its not really worth it for IRS auditors to worry about Thai tax issues.

The low hanging fruit are the US billionaires who don't pay taxes. I don't think that applies to anyone here.

[TooDirty]

I'm not sure why I always forget that the one constant in life is "change", otherwise I'd still be fat and happy living off those 18% interest earnings on money market from back in Jimmy Carter days. LOL.

I wonder if Thailand will tax you on what's in your pocket when you walk off the airplane? I brought $6000 to Thailand once, but made the mistake of folding it down the middle like a stripper dollar to fit in my money belt. Thai banks really like their bills crisp and in like new condition.

[Raj Patela]

Hate to cloud all this speculation with some hard cold facts. Every check out property ownership laws in the Kingdom. I have read translated versions of them from law firms based here in Thailand. If you are married to a Thai national you can jointly own land with your spouse. But let's say your spouse passes away and you inherit the land. Do you know what you position is then? You can apply for an exemption to the rule that not Thai nationals cannot own land. The provision exists in the law. But has never been granted in the history of the Kingdom. So, reality is, you have one year to dispose of that land. If you don't the Kingdom will take of it and sell it for you and charge you 5% for their services.

Tell me more about the type of exemptions that might be provided to someone married to a Thai national.

Your Hard Cold Facts are Wrong. Hahaha.

[Mr Enternational]

One would think their would be an exemption regarding this for expats that are married to a Thai woman.

This is Thailand. They will probably have to pay more.

[SubCmdr]

One would think there would be an exemption regarding this for expats that are married to a Thai woman. I kind of get the government's thinking regarding the average, single expat but I don't think that should be applied to an expat married to a Thai.

Hate to cloud all this speculation with some hard cold facts. Every check out property ownership laws in the Kingdom. I have read translated versions of them from law firms based here in Thailand. If you are married to a Thai national you can jointly own land with your spouse. But let's say your spouse passes away and you inherit the land. Do you know what you position is then? You can apply for an exemption to the rule that not Thai nationals cannot own land. The provision exists in the law. But has never been granted in the history of the Kingdom. So, reality is, you have one year to dispose of that land. If you don't the Kingdom will take of it and sell it for you and charge you 5% for their services.

Tell me more about the type of exemptions that might be provided to someone married to a Thai national.

[AggieDad1]

I really doubt they can figure out if they do require a filing if what you say is accurate. At least what your real income is. They maybe can figure out what you bring over to Thailand minus CC charges but they have no access to your income records outside of Thailand. I don't have a clue about other countries but in the USA the IRS isn't going to send information to the Thai gov't. And they'd have to do on an individual basis. Meaning to track a US citizen's information they'd need a social security number. If the IRS gives out SS#'s then identity theft would be running rampant with all the holes in the Thai gov't. And US citizens wouldn't put up with it. They would all be running for the exits. Does anyone even know if they have joint returns or everyone files an individual return?

If you are a US citizen you will still be required to file an income tax return in the US. You get to deduct any taxes you pay in Thailand so you are not double taxed. But remember all those new auditors the IRS wanted to hire last year. I would be more worried about the IRS reaching out to Thai tax authorities and wanting to "compare notes".

[CaliGuy33]

Moving around SEA might be an option for some who just come here a few times a year, but some of us have lived here for a long time, have set up our home here, have property, have a family, so moving away is not an option. So we have no choice other than to negotiate the regulations imposed on us (by Immigration, etc.) as best we can.

One would think their would be an exemption regarding this for expats that are married to a Thai woman. I kind of get thr government's thinking regarding the average, single expat but I don't think that should be applied to an expat married to a Thai.

[Raj Patela]

I really doubt they can figure out if they do require a filing if what you say is accurate. At least what your real income is. They maybe can figure out what you bring over to Thailand minus CC charges but they have no access to your income records outside of Thailand. I don't have a clue about other countries but in the USA the IRS isn't going to send information to the Thai gov't. And they'd have to do on an individual basis. Meaning to track a US citizen's information they'd need a social security number. If the IRS gives out SS#'s then identity theft would be running rampant with all the holes in the Thai gov't. And US citizens wouldn't put up with it. They would all be running for the exits. Does anyone even know if they have joint returns or everyone files an individual return?

Imagine having to give Somchai my TURBOTAX ID and corresponding password to authenticate my Attestations of USA taxable income. LOL.

Actually this would be EZ. Only need 1st 2 pages. But is Somchai qualified to know this.

The other 258 pages are just documentations.

[TConor]

And now it looks like Thailand is going to make expats file income taxes each year after Jan 1, 2024? Maybe tax savings that you bring into the country too? Sell my house in the USA and buy a condo in Thailand for a million baht, pay their gov't 300,000 baht for the privilege? Still cheaper than living in un-america, but ack! F to fixing income inequality by redistribution. They like inheritance tax too.

I hope Thailand decides these are some really bad ideas. Only positive for me would probably be radical drops in Thai property prices, kind of reverse of the sleepy joe policies creating radical increase in my USA property price.

I really doubt they can figure out if they do require a filing if what you say is accurate. At least what your real income is. They maybe can figure out what you bring over to Thailand minus CC charges but they have no access to your income records outside of Thailand. I don't have a clue about other countries but in the USA the IRS isn't going to send information to the Thai gov't. And they'd have to do on an individual basis. Meaning to track a US citizen's information they'd need a social security number. If the IRS gives out SS#'s then identity theft would be running rampant with all the holes in the Thai gov't. And US citizens wouldn't put up with it. They would all be running for the exits. Does anyone even know if they have joint returns or everyone files an individual return?

[SiamMan]

When I first started working in China in 2007 there were a lot of expats working and living there. Some had families and properties and owned businesses there. Then in 2012 things started changing. They are almost all gone now. Things change and governments can do stupid and unwise things because they are under the mistaken belief that they can get rid of the expats and all of the money will stay behind. Thailand is not China, so I do not expect Thailand to get as bad as fast as China did. Still it would be wise to have a backup plan. I only stayed in China one time for more than 183 days in a calendar year. Never did that again.

That is good advice, I know. Thank you. But things would have to get a lot worse before I had to activate Plan be.

[AggieDad1]

Moving around SEA might be an option for some who just come here a few times a year, but some of us have lived here for a long time, have set up our home here, have property, have a family, so moving away is not an option. So we have no choice other than to negotiate the regulations imposed on us (by Immigration, etc.) as best we can.

When I first started working in China in 2007 there were a lot of expats working and living there. Some had families and properties and owned businesses there. Then in 2012 things started changing. They are almost all gone now. Things change and governments can do stupid and unwise things because they are under the mistaken belief that they can get rid of the expats and all of the money will stay behind. Thailand is not China, so I do not expect Thailand to get as bad as fast as China did. Still it would be wise to have a backup plan. I only stayed in China one time for more than 183 days in a calendar year. Never did that again.