General Reports

[QUOTE=Phordphan; 1425408]Really? PK mentions grammar and now he's a hidden racist? WTF? Methinks thou doth protest too much. Seems to me you brought up racism and race. Perhaps you have an inferiority complex?

I will say I don't understand the moderation of this thread. I make a sarcastic comment to a member and my posts get nuked and I get a warning. You make threats against other members and nothing?

But that is neither here, nor there. Let's leave race out of this. You really don't want to go there. [/QUOTE.

Where I'm from when a guy brings up and questions in his post regarding that I'm a American but write as if I'm not which of course you don't get it either is a racist comment. His comment is no different when I use to travel to North Carolina and I'm standing in line at Big Mac and a small white kid looks at me like he never seen a Asian before and ask " are you from here?"

If you are able to read between the lines he did his little research and saw that I was a American because he didn't understand my comments and didn't like the way I was writing or my grammar therefore now it isn't my first langauge? Let leave race out of this? I will go where it needs to go and that includes you. Race is everywhere on this board! I'll make sure the next time you take you white sheets to the laundry that they come back nice and iron for you to wear. You perceive whatever threats you want to make of it personally I don't care one why or another.

Do me and yourself a favor don't respond and put me on your ignore list.

[QUOTE=Daddy07;1425360]I am in Thailand on a non-immigrant retirement visa which means that I am not an immigrant or resident of Thailand, but only a GUEST in the country like I explained to you before.[/QUOTE]From my reading it seems that it matters not what type of visa you have or no visa at all since, if you spend more than half a year in Thailand, then for tax purposes you are considered a "resident of Thailand" and also subject to paying taxes on your worldwide income, including income from another country. As many Thai legal & accounting sites state the following or its equivalent:

"An individual who lives in Thailand for more than the period or periods totaling at least 180 days in any tax (calendar) year is deemed to be a resident of Thailand. He is subject to tax on all assessable income derived from sources within the country, whether paid within or outside Thailand."

[url]http://www.siam-legal.com/Business-in-Thailand/thailand-income-tax.php[/url]

A couple exceptions to the above are indicated as follows:

"Thai residents are taxed on their foreign source-income only if the income is brought into Thailand in the year it is derived (repatriation in later years is exempt from personal income tax)."

[url]http://www.taxrates.cc/html/thailand-tax-rates.html[/url]

So the type of visa one has is entirely irrelevant to whether or not an individual is subject to paying Thai taxes.

[QUOTE=Daddy07; 1425360]Guests such as tourists and retirement expats are not subject to paying Thailand income taxes because our income is solely derived from our home countries.[/QUOTE]Incorrect as per that stated above. Moreover a retired expat living in Thailand could be recieving an income from various countries, including Thailand, rather than "solely from their home country", and do so without working or being employed in Thailand or elsewhere. All such incomes would be subject to Thai tax if brought into the Kingdom in the same year it is earned, obtained or paid out, such as for example a pension, annuity, rental income, investment earnings, etc.

Even a "tourist" may be subject to paying Thai tax on foreign (non Thai) income if he spends more than half of any calendar year "touring" in Thailand. It makes no difference if he considers himself a "guest" to LOS, uses tourist visas, any other type of visa or no visa at all.

BTW as regards your often use of the term "guests" to Thailand, in having read dozens of Thai tax law sites I've never seen one of them use that word. Perhaps you should define it & document from Thai legal sites and Thai tax law what you are referring to. If you are a lawyer of Thai or other law, that would be helpful in trying to support your case and explain clearly what you are talking about, so that it might be credible.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx; 1425378][QUOTE=LittleBigMan; 1425367]. No, Paul, it is you who completely misunderstand MY post because. /QUOTE]Have only read the above post, not the previous to-ing and fro-ing. LBM seems to be talking sense. Am I right when I say, looks like if you are in Thailand to SPEND money your not involved in tax considerations. If your in Thailand to MAKE money, then there is involvement with Thai tax collectors?

LBM, am I right? Thanks.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan; 1425434]

Where I'm from when a guy brings up and questions in his post regarding that I'm a American but write as if I'm not which of course you don't get it either is a racist comment. His comment is no different when I use to travel to North Carolina and I'm standing in line at Big Mac and a small white kid looks at me like he never seen a Asian before and ask " are you from here?"

If you are able to read between the lines he did his little research and saw that I was a American because he didn't understand my comments and didn't like the way I was writing or my grammar therefore now it isn't my first langauge? Let leave race out of this? I will go where it needs to go and that includes you. Race is everywhere on this board! I'll make sure the next time you take you white sheets to the laundry that they come back nice and iron for you to wear. You perceive whatever threats you want to make of it personally I don't care one why or another.

Do me and yourself a favor don't respond and put me on your ignore list.[/QUOTE]

Well, you certainly are a big man when behind a keyboard.

But if you think that crying victim and playing the race card will suddenly stifle all criticism, you have another think coming.

It's hard to imagine the horror you must have felt when some dopey kid asked if you were from there. The pain, the ignominy, the humiliation. I'm surprised you were able to function at all for the rest of your life.

It may surprise you to know, but many of us have also been on the receiving end of racist remarks. Oddly enough, in my case, it's been mostly by Asians. I live in a heavily Chinese area. I eat at a lot of very authentic Chinese restaurants. You would not believe the looks and funny comments a lone white guy gets when he's the only one in the place. I've had people stop me and ask me if I was lost. But, you know what? Instead of pissing my pants I smiled, ate, enjoyed it and, after a couple of visits there was never another hint of a problem. BTW, have you ever been denied admittance to a place because you were white? I guess that sort of racism is OK because it's practiced by an Asian?

When my kid was going to school he had many run-ins with racist Asian kids who didn't like white kids and made no secret of that fact. After he punched a couple of them, and showed he wasn't a pussy, the problems stopped and they got along fine.

The point is, we could all just collapse in a whining quivering pile of jelly, or (in your case) walk around with a giant chip on our shoulder. Or we can toughen up a bit and learn to get along.

[QUOTE=Phordphan; 1425459]Well, you certainly are a big man when behind a keyboard.

But if you think that crying victim and playing the race card will suddenly stifle all criticism, you have another think coming.

It's hard to imagine the horror you must have felt when some dopey kid asked if you were from there. The pain, the ignominy, the humiliation. I'm surprised you were able to function at all for the rest of your life.

It may surprise you to know, but many of us have also been on the receiving end of racist remarks. Oddly enough, in my case, it's been mostly by Asians. I live in a heavily Chinese area. I eat at a lot of very authentic Chinese restaurants. You would not believe the looks and funny comments a lone white guy gets when he's the only one in the place. I've had people stop me and ask me if I was lost. But, you know what? Instead of pissing my pants I smiled, ate, enjoyed it and, after a couple of visits there was never another hint of a problem. BTW, have you ever been denied admittance to a place because you were white? I guess that sort of racism is OK because it's practiced by an Asian?

When my kid was going to school he had many run-ins with racist Asian kids who didn't like white kids and made no secret of that fact. After he punched a couple of them, and showed he wasn't a pussy, the problems stopped and they got along fine.

The point is, we could all just collapse in a whining quivering pile of jelly, or (in your case) walk around with a giant chip on our shoulder. Or we can toughen up a bit and learn to get along.[/QUOTE]We all have life experience but as for the dopie kids it didn't bother me because it was taught by his dopie dad. You can't blame the kid for that.

I'm not going to debate with you as to whether you had a worse upbringing than me but I'm not the one bringing in the race card it was brought up in a way P. K. But I guess in your hurry to defend him or be offended by the so call race card you miss it but I guess it needs to be spelled out to you! In all the conversation or debate I ask you " what the hell does my race or the implication as to how I come across or write have anything to do with me being a American? Look at his past post where in any of the conversation in difference in point of view, where in any of my post regarding how I feel about so call taxes has anything to do with being a American?

Regardless, of your story I support way it happen I don't dispute any of it and racism is racism no matter what color. I myself grew up having the same thing happen to me but my response to him not you was not brought up at anytime by me.

As for the hiding behind a computer and being a big man. It works both ways I'm not the only one writing behind the computer! If it bothers you and this isn't a threat and but you brought it up and I hope Jackson or the moderator understands the position I'm taking. I live in Thailand, two or three times of the year I make trips home to the California and I will be making trips soon to Burma, Mai Sai area north of Thailand and into Hong Kong and China!

I live otherwise mainly in Pattaya and have no problem coming into Bangkok or any area you live or travel to personally resolve this matter if you feel I'm hiding behind the computer. I haven't made any direct threats to anyone on this board but only saying I have no intention of paying any type of tax as suggested by other posters and if taxes are to be collected from me here my assumption is that they will be Thai? I came here to live with the best intention but it hasn't worked out as I planned. I didn't built this chip it was done by the Thais that I have encounter and I have put up with more shit from them and still I don't hate them but if they want their taxes that is another thing?

I have no problem with you but you are defending a statement made by another poster I made a responds to a remark I felt was racist since the discussion had nothing to do with me being a American or Not! You also missed his jab to others who disagree with his view regarding " Intelligents " I admired your fortitude for defending the guy but the ball is in your court as to whether you want to defend him further?

The ball is in your court just let me know.

[QUOTE=Paul Kausch; 1425395]Hobbyist2,

You can read for yourself Sunbelt Legal Asia's answer, compare it to what some forum members are saying and draw your own conclusions. As for me, when the time comes I am going to talk to a good Thai law firm with expertise in Thai tax law.

Good luck.

Paul[/QUOTE]Thanks, but I will just check with the Thai Consulate. I hope to contact them today. Also, I don't make decisions of that type based on info from internet forums. I prefer to go straight to the source. At least D 07 is actually there on a retirement visa so I would be more likely to believe his story.

My interest in the retirement visa would be for convenience, so I could visit for numerous months without making visa runs. I qualify for it, but I have no intention of living in Thailand on a permanent basis. Although that could be an option at some point down the road.

[QUOTE=Hobbyist2;1425515]Thanks, but I will just check with the Thai Consulate. I hope to contact them today. Also, I don't make decisions of that type based on info from internet forums. I prefer to go straight to the source. At least D 07 is actually there on a retirement visa so I would be more likely to believe his story.[/QUOTE]I think you are very wise to check with the Thai Consulate. I think it would be very helpful if you were to post what you learn. I would also check with a Thai tax specialist. Would you talk to the US State Department about a US tax matter? The Thai Consulate is run by Thailand's equivalent. If I was dealing with a US Consulate that had an in-house tax specialist, I'd still talk to an experienced CPA with income tax expertise.

I hope Daddy07 is correct; however, his opinion seems to be contradicted by Sunbelt Legal Asia's answer to the man living in Thailand on a retirement visa. Knowing the man has a retirement visa, the first issue they raise is the number of days in the year a person stays in Thailand (180 days). [B]They then state that everyone who passes this threshold is required to file taxes in Thailand. [/B] Sounds like a person staying in Thailand on a series of tourist visas by making frequent boarder runs is subject to filing Thai taxes if he stays in Thailand for over 180 days; however, this person may not owe any Thai taxes. They go on to add that a pension is considered taxable income. Note here they write,"You will then need to consider the type of funding used to apply for your [B]retirement visa[/B]." They close by stating owing taxes is determined by whether you pay taxes in your home country and your country has a double taxation treaty.

Their answer is clear to me. So now the question is whether Sunbelt Legal Asia knows what they are talking about. They are a Bangkok law firm who represent themselves as having Thai tax law expertise. Daddy07 says he is an attorney with many years of legal experience. Where was his legal practice? In Thailand? Is he also a Thai chartered accountant? Does he have formal knowledge of Thai tax law? He may know what he's talking about. However, every week Sunbelt Legal Asia answers legal questions in Stickman's column. Would he have them as a regular section in his column if they did not know what they are talking about?

Finally, I also found an online article by CNBC on retiring in Thailand. The article was in part based on information from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. In one section, here is what CNBC wrote. [I]"An individual is considered a Thai resident, and therefore subject to taxation, if they're in the country for at least 180 days during the calendar year."[/I] So this article also states that the number of days is the deciding factor.

Regardless, when the time comes, I'm going to talk to a Thai chartered accountant who deals with such matters.

[QUOTE=Daddy07;1425360]No, Paul, it is you who completely misunderstands MY post . I am in Thailand on a non-immigrant retirement visa which means that I am not an immigrant or resident of Thailand, but only a GUEST in the country like I explained to you before. Guests such as tourists and retirement expats are not subject to paying Thailand income taxes because our income is solely derived from our home countries.[/QUOTE]Finally, a credible post on this topic. Makes perfect sense.

[QUOTE=Duniawala;1425540]Finally, a credible post on this topic. Makes perfect sense.[/QUOTE]Are you sure this is credible or are you just hopeful? Read any of my posts that quote word for word what a Thai law firm with tax law expertise has to say on this matter. They seem to completely contradict what Daddy07 is saying. A little while ago I spent about 30 minutes looking online for information on this topic. I found information that corroborates various parts of the Sunbelt Law Asia answer to this question and contradicted nothing they stated. I did not find one other source that corroborates any part of Daddy07's claim. I am not an expert on this matter. I do not think Daddy07 is an expert on this matter. Notice that in their answer Sunbelt law makes specific reference to section of the Thai Revenue Code. Does Daddy07 provide any corroborative evidence for his assertion?

I'll repeat myself. I hope Daddy07 is right and I am getting worked up over nothing. I just cannot reconcile what he says and what Sunbelt Law says.

All I know is that I am going to talk to the Thai Consulate and a Thai law firm that deals with this stuff before I begin executing any plans to retire in Thailand.

This is too important a matter for me to rely on what anyone on this forum (first person included) has to say. I'm going to talk to real experts.

[QUOTE=Paul Kausch; 1425530]I think you are very wise to check with the Thai Consulate. I think it would be very helpful if you were to post what you learn.

I hope Daddy07 is correct; however, his opinion seems to be contradicted by Sunbelt Legal Asia's answer to the man living in Thailand on a retirement visa.[/QUOTE]I tried to contact the same consulate that I communicated with in the past and all I get is recordings that describe the process, but no option to talk with a real person. I will try again and also see if there is an email option.

Of course I will share any info I get. I know there are contradictions from seemingly notable sources here. That is why there is more homework to do to give me the confidence I need so I can make the correct choices. Since Daddy07 is there with the retirement visa, I give that extra credibility.

Thanks for your efforts and I hope we settle this to satisfy all of our concerns.

[QUOTE=Hobbyist2; 1425584]I tried to contact the same consulate that I communicated with in the past and all I get is recordings that describe the process, but no option to talk with a real person. I will try again and also see if there is an email option.

Of course I will share any info I get. I know there are contradictions from seemingly notable sources here. That is why there is more homework to do to give me the confidence I need so I can make the correct choices. Since Daddy07 is there with the retirement visa, I give that extra credibility.

Thanks for your efforts and I hope we settle this to satisfy all of our concerns.[/QUOTE]Getting a real person on the telephone at a consulate can be a problem. Good luck.

I don't have the expertise to sort through the contradictions; and I hope Daddy07 is right. I don't care if I'm right or wrong. I just want to know the answer.

A few hours ago I sent an email to Stickman detailing the contradictions and asking him to get Sunbelt Legal Asia to comment. On their website they claim to be Thailand's largest legal and business service network and to have been in operation in Bangkok since 1979. Immigration and taxes are two of their practice area. I may get no response, but if I learn anything I will share in a future post.

[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1425530]I think you are very wise to check with the Thai Consulate.[/QUOTE]What is stated in your post is pretty uch common to many countries, ie the 180 day rules, the reciprocal taxation or avoidance of double taxation etc etc First of it is all pretty much common sense, it is meant to avoid somebody slips out of control getting into nowhere land.

Just as lots of people think that buying through internet will avoid local taxes (and also the sending country taxes) : government are there to collect taxes and money. Customs are the arm of this procedure. Still people says it is cheapre to buy from internet, till the parcel arrives in "his" customs office and an import duty bill is reaised. There are indeed things slipping out of control but often based in false declarations.

[QUOTE=Bionicman; 1425663]What is stated in your post is pretty much common to many countries, ie the 180 day rules, the reciprocal taxation or avoidance of double taxation etc etc First of it is all pretty much common sense, it is meant to avoid somebody slips out of control getting into nowhere land.

Just as lots of people think that buying through internet will avoid local taxes (and also the sending country taxes) : government are there to collect taxes and money. Customs are the arm of this procedure. Still people says it is cheaper to buy from internet, till the parcel arrives in "his" customs office and an import duty bill is raised. There are indeed things slipping out of control but often based in false declarations.[/QUOTE]You seem to know what you're talking about regarding the 180 days rules and tax agreements. I've never had to deal with either, but have known people who have, all in the context of work. I don't know that much about retirement yet. The Sunbelt legal answer also made sense.

It would be nice if Daddy07 is right, but I'll be very surprised if he is. What he is claiming would be a huge loophole that does not benefit the sort of people government revenue agencies try to favor.

[quote=pinkpearl; 1425448]as many thai legal & accounting sites state the following or its equivalent:

"an individual who lives in thailand for more than the period or periods totaling at least 180 days in any tax (calendar) year is deemed to be a resident of thailand. he is subject to tax on all assessable income derived from sources within the country, whether paid within or outside thailand."

[url]http://www.siam-legal.com/business-in-thailand/thailand-income-tax.php[/url]

a couple exceptions to the above are indicated as follows:

"thai residents are taxed on their foreign source-income only if the income is brought into thailand in the year it is derived (repatriation in later years is exempt from personal income tax)."[/quote]so this "law" you quote provides that a resident is subject to tax on income derived from sources within the country; but then you quote an exception which provides that tax on foreign source income is assessed only if the income is brought into thailand, etc.

plainly, these two provisions contradict each other and as such this so-called "internet source law" makes no sense.

all the money i have in thailand is derived from sources in my home country. the thai authorities know how much i bring in to the penney. i report it every year and they get a copy of my bank account ledger so they know exactly all the details of my finances. yet these thai government authorities have never required me to file a thai tax return nor have they ever assessed thai income taxes against me. and i've been living here continually for almost 6 years now; thats a bit more than 180 days by my calculations.

am i supposed to ask them whether they want me to pay income taxes?

i have never heard of a single instance in which a thai expat holding a nonimmigrant retirement visa, much less a tourist, has been required to pay a thailand income taxes and i know there are some very rich expats and tourists who have been her for years.

yes, i'm a lawyer but i certainly don't claim or pretend to know everything there is to know about thai law. i wasn't trained in thai law so i admit i could be wrong. i do know that i have had extensive dealings with the thai immigration authorities. i report to them every 90 days. i provide complete financial information to them every year, yet not once has the subject of thailand income taxes ever been mentioned; not a peep about it.

i also know that i don't go around looking for opportunities to pay more taxes. i file a tax return every year in the usa my home country. if i didn't file one they would come after me and force me to do it or put me in jail. i've never filed a tax return in thailand because i'm not required to do so. if i was, the authorities would come after me. after all, they know where i am and how much money i bring into their country. they know everything!

it would be different if i were receiving money from sources in thailand. i said that before. but in order for me to get a job in thailand or establish a business here to earn money in thailand i would have to change my immigration status and i would no longer be considered just a guest here.

so i think that all this hysterical bullshit about expats and tourists having to file tax returns and pay income taxes in thailand if they are here more than 180 days on money they receive in their home country is just not based upon reality but speculation, rumor and conjecture instead.

it's a lot of worry over nothing.

btw -- pinky, old man; i know you've lived in thailand for a fairly long time, and seem to know all about thailand tax laws judging from your quotes above.

did you file your thailand income tax return this year? how about last year? have you ever filed one?

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]so this "law" you quote provides that a resident is subject to tax on income derived from sources within the country; but then you quote an exception which provides that tax on foreign source income is assessed only if the income is brought into thailand, etc.

plainly, these two provisions contradict each other and as such this so-called "internet source law" makes no sense.[/quote]point taken, but you should have read a little further into the article where it states:

"tax is levied as follows: pensions and retirement pay brought into thailand."

that is the unanimous opinion of all the thai legal sites i've seen on the subject as well as the thai tax law itself, which i've read and previously quoted recently in this thread with a link. you might try reading it sometime, eh?

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]all the money i have in thailand is derived from sources in my home country. the thai authorities know how much i bring in to the penney. i report it every year and they get a copy of my bank account ledger so they know exactly all the details of my finances. yet these thai government authorities have never required me to file a thai tax return nor have they ever assessed thai income taxes against me. and i've been living here continually for almost 6 years now; thats a bit more than 180 days by my calculations.

am i supposed to ask them whether they want me to pay income taxes?[/quote]you should talk to or refer to tax authorities about tax matters, not immigration people. why should immigration people baby you about matters that don't concern them? when you go to your barber do you seek medical help?

you should know the laws re your responsibilities before you enter a country or ignorantly break those laws, such as what may happen to you if you speak uncouthly about the royalty of the kingdom or your responsibility to file a thai income tax return.

are you aware of the extremely heavy penalties if you do not file in siam, owe taxes there & are caught?

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]i have never heard of a single instance in which a thai expat holding a nonimmigrant retirement visa, much less a tourist, has been required to pay a thailand income taxes and i know there are some very rich expats and tourists who have been her for years.[/quote]have you asked any of them if they filed a return or owe taxes? perhaps not because it is none of your business. but if you did ask them, what did they say? if they filed a return they may have not owed any tax because they did not bring any, or enough, monies into thailand in the year it was earned to owe anything. very "rich expats" would probably have little trouble avoiding paying thai taxes since they would likely be able to bring into los monies and live off of the same monies that were not earned in the same year they were brought in. iow monies that were not taxable. so they owe no income tax to thailand.

i'd suggest you should speak to some thai tax lawyers & accountants & see how many expat retirees they have helped to file or pay their thai taxes. they will tell you that by law you are required to file a thai tax return since you are a tax "resident of thailand". i'll look forward to you reporting back here what they tell you, though i'm sure it will not surprise me.

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]yes, i'm a lawyer but i certainly don't claim or pretend to know everything there is to know about thai law. i wasn't trained in thai law so i admit i could be wrong. i do know that i have had extensive dealings with the thai immigration authorities. i report to them every 90 days. i provide complete financial information to them every year, yet not once has the subject of thailand income taxes ever been mentioned; not a peep about it.[/quote]you & thousands of others. yet immigration grunts are not tax authorities. why should they care about your responsibility to file a thai tax return & pay any taxes to thailand that you are owing? it isn't their job any more than your mps job to help you pay your taxes. the only thing on their mind is what they are going to eat for their next meal, spicy som tam or a bug sandwich.

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]i also know that i don't go around looking for opportunities to pay more taxes. i file a tax return every year in the usa my home country. if i didn't file one they would come after me and force me to do it or put me in jail. i've never filed a tax return in thailand because i'm not required to do so. if i was, the authorities would come after me. after all, they know where i am and how much money i bring into their country. they know everything![/quote]you are required by thai law to pay taxes, as i've amply proven.

the thai tax authorities do not "know everything". if you've never filed a tax return, they may not even know you exist. who is going to tell them? someone you blabbed to in a bar, perhaps? an angry ex tgf who knows about your financial situation? then you may be fucked. are you willing to risk it, with the severe penalties involved, and the comforts of a friendly thai "hilton" in lumpini reserved for you? see the stickman article i posted for more info on this.

knowing "how much money you bring into their country" would not equate to thai tax authorities knowing if you owe any taxes to them. they would also need to know when it was earned & brought in. furthermore, if a person declared a much lesser amount than they actually brought in, it might be difficult for them to prove otherwise. how would they know how much money you brought in? do they keep track of all your atm, bank, travellers check, etc, transactions in siam? how would they know how much cash a guy brings across the border, let alone what tax year it was earned in?

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]it would be different if i were receiving money from sources in thailand. i said that before. but in order for me to get a job in thailand or establish a business here to earn money in thailand i would have to change my immigration status and i would no longer be considered just a guest here.[/quote]plenty of people in your position work "under the table" in thailand without changing their "immigration status". but that is another issue. but know this, under thai tax law you are not considered a "guest" in the kingdom, but a "resident of thailand", and therefore required to file a thai tax return and pay any monies owed, just like any thai born citizen who has lived in the country his entire life. anybody who denies this simply hasn't read or understood what every thai tax lawyer & the thai tax law itself unanimously say. go research it yourself if you don't believe me. i've already cited several authorities and paul kausch added a few more re the 180 day rule.

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]so i think that all this hysterical bullshit about expats and tourists having to file tax returns and pay income taxes in thailand if they are here more than 180 days on money they receive in their home country is just not based upon reality but speculation, rumor and conjecture instead.

it's a lot of worry over nothing.[/quote]i think if you end up in the "thai hilton" you'll be singing another tune.

it may be unlikely to occur, but i wouldn't rule out the possibility of it happening, or the possibility that it has already happened to some expats. i have yet to research it, but thai tax lawyers may know of some cases. it's there in the law, so thai authorities can enforce it should they wish to do so, whether it's to get revenge on someone or get tea money or both.

i suggest that they may have little interest to do so. my theory is that they want to encourage human atms like you into the country. enforcing the tax law on all expats, many of whom owe taxes to los but are not paying them, would result in a mass exodus of said atms from the kingdom to tax friendly havens elsewhere. moreover it would be a hell of a lot of work to sift through the haystack of expats seeking to find those who owe taxes, prove it, and make them pay. what would stop caught tax evaders from catching the next bus across the border? proving the amount of finances brought into los by an individual could be difficult, let alone those monies earned in the same tax year & therefore taxable. if i were governing los, i would not bother pursuing these people, realizing that not going after them for taxes feeds a lot more monies into thai pockets than would result from the opposite course of action.

a much better way to empty these atms is to first get them into your country. then they'll be pumping into the nation monies for various things like accomodations, food, women. they'll be investing & depositing 800k for retirement, which sometimes mysteriously disappears from thai banks like kasikorn. of course the bank can't do anything about it & won't recompense your stolen baht. this is how to get the farangs monies, not taxes. or get him into the country, marry a tg, then mysteriously slip off a high balcony. there are many ways a tg can drain a farang's "assets". and thai men are in on the game too.

[quote=daddy07; 1425689]btw. pinky, old man; i know you've lived in thailand for a fairly long time, and seem to know all about thailand tax laws judging from your quotes above.

did you file your thailand income tax return this year? how about last year? have you ever filed one?[/quote]unlike you i am a true "guest" to thailand, as i visit the kingdom for less than half a year in each 365 day calendar. therefore i have both no obligation to pay taxes or even file a return.

guests such as you call yourself, who live in siam ft, are subject to paying thai taxes on non thai income brought into the kingdom in the year it is obtained. it makes no difference what visa you have, no visa, if you are the prince of kazikstan or the reincarnation of mother teresa.

bottom line. lbm is correct, as anyone who's spent years in los should know, that various laws are not enforced. or enforced on a whim, when & where & to whom thai authorities wish. usually to farang atms, not poor thais. like the uturn law in pattaya that was landing people there in jail. lbm said he'd never heard of this & often did uturns without a problem. soon after that post he disappeared for several months. i guess he learned that sometimes thai laws are enforced, even if you don't know about them or believe they exist. lol.