Expat woes

[jivvy]

 Reduce the import taxes on all imported foods and drink

[info]

Yes Tees "SIN TAX" don't help.

Repent you sinners “sin taxes” levied on goods that are deemed harmful to health by the Thai government, are part of the Excise Tax Act 2017,
the new tax rate takes into account both value and quantity. Based on the new tax rates on liquors, 45% will be collected based on a products value, and 55% from the degree of alcohol in compliance with the World Health Organization

Yes jivvy anything i like seems to be expensive, what next jt tax 

Winemakers may shift bottling out of UK post Brexit, MPs warned

[Robert]

Another one, maybe?

Abolish the need for re-entry permits for those staying on one year visa/extension.

[info]

There's one we overlooked, which is .......

Forms to fill in & more forms & even more forms & then there is always one more, Oh! and don't forget to sign them sigh

[Kev]

How about being allowed to make home brew beer?

[info]

It says -To get a beer-making licence, Thais must be able to produce 100,000 litres a year and have $400,000 in the bank, which effectively shuts out small players. That's a lorra beer KEV

abc.net.au

[info]

Although Thailand is named in top ten places in the world to retire reports say, Thailand loses its ‘cheap living’ reputation Many of Thailand’s most popular tourist and retiree destinations are becoming the most expensive places in Southeast Asia to settle down, being beaten by Malaysian and Indonesia counterparts.
 
SO ... on that note - lets widen the scope - most of you guys have been here a long time and seen some changes take place - apart from the immig. what changes have effected you or your living standards. good or bad (if any) example of changes listed below, feel free to add or comment.

1) immig.
2) cracking down counterfeit goods
3) ................

So here's my comment, in the little corner of my world right up north, my noodles i eat has just been increased by 5 bht. WOW! it's a whopping 25 bht now, with an iced drink i'm full up for under a pound for the two items. how bad.

Cheap As Chips or even cheaper, wonder how much a bag o chips is now in the UK.

[info]

For Some Expats Thailand is No Longer an Affordable Paradise

Changes to immigration laws and the rising Baht over the past several years is persuading many expats it’s time to move on.

For decades, the lure of Thailand’s Land of Smiles drew both working and retired expats in droves to its warm weather, glorious beaches, friendly locals and laid-back lifestyle.

Many of those attracted by Thailand’s cheap cost of living, easy long-stay visas, traditional culture and friendly locals were single, elderly men looking to bring a new sparkle into their lives.

Many met and married their dream girls and found themselves fathers at an advancing age, but did their best to look after their new families as well as a good number of their new wife’s relatives. Thailand was also popular for older couples from the West, with Americans and the British especially attracted by the lure of reliable weather and inexpensive housing.

Fast forward some 15- 20 years or so and things are now very different, The weather still ranges between hot and very hot, and the chance of getting a second try at being a husband and father is still there, but changes to the retirement visa and the Thai Bahts appreciation over the past several years is persuading many expats it’s time to move on.

The expat community itself is fragmenting fast and, although many long-stayers don’t want to leave, the choice in the future may not be theirs. Life isn’t as laid-back as it was, with at least ten good reasons for aspiring expats to choose another Southeast Asian destination.

One of the major difficulties for expats nowadays is the formerly user-friendly visa system, which all but wealthy expats now see as a pain in the proverbial due to frequent, punitive changes. Rules are regularly tightened, and are aimed both at retirees and at those with Thai wives and children.

Another infuriating issue in this internet world is the Thais’ love of paperwork, with expats believing there are massive warehouses somewhere stuffed full of totally useless forms unable to be thrown away. Online document storage hasn’t hit home yet, in spite of the fact that young Thais spend 23 out of the 24 hours a day on their smartphones.

The USA NGO which quoted Thailand as the best Southeast Asian country for start-ups must have been joking, according to those who’ve tried and given up. Massive red tape, totally unreasonable rules and requirements plus visa hassles make this the worst idea since time began.

Another truly annoying norm in the Land of Smiles is the dual pricing applied to foreigners at national parks, tourist area restaurants and many other venues. In spite of this, it’s a cardinal sin for an expat to lose his or her cool and give the offending Thai a piece of his or her mind.

Whatever is said, nothing will change, and the fact that very, very few Thais can speak or understand English makes voicing displeasure a total time-waster. Walking away is the only answer to this and many other modern-day problems in this formerly popular country.

Content chiangraitimes.com

Source emigrate.co.uk

[Hector]

That's an interesting article from the Chiangrai Times.  Just to add my two penn'orth: Why do we choose to retire here?  Put under a few traditional headings:
The climate is good:  Well maybe, if you like hot, very hot or hot and wet!  In fact, the climate has been all over the place recently.  But in general, yes, it’s better than that in the country we left, although I personally miss the spring and the changing colours of autumn.
The people:  Hmmmm, I suspect the personal circumstances of all of us are different; some of us have married a Thai and maybe have children, some of us are still single, but I suspect few are misogynist enough to live completely alone and most of us support Thai families in one way or another.  Those of us who have been here some time understand that there is a serious undercurrent of violence that lies not far beneath the Thai smile; the Thais don’t think in the same way as a Westerner; ‘face’ and ‘kreng jai’ are alien concepts to us, but critically important to Thais.  There are many ways in which we can offend them, but most of us with any sense take the trouble to find out what they are and avoid them.  We can't change them, so we change ourselves just a bit.
Money: Our pensions go further.  In general, this is true; petrol and the overall cost of living is cheaper than in the UK in spite of recent increases.  Right now the pound has fallen badly, so we have all lost out.
The country is less PC:  This is true, and Thailand is still less overtly Big Brother than the UK as far as farang are concerned, in spite of petty and idiotic rules regarding immigration, ownership of land, houses or businesses and employment restrictions.  In general each of us is pretty free to live as he or she wishes and - apart from Immigration - there is little bureaucratic interference.  Thai bureaucracy is caught in a time warp and the less we as farang have to do with it the better.
So – we can’t do anything about the weather or the people; the social circumstances here are beyond our control and  I doubt the Thais as a whole have any hidden agenda to make things more difficult for us.  In sum, apart from the money aspect, which may well drive some of us away and is outside our control anyway, I don’t see things changing a great deal for us here - even after the election!

[info]

Hector well written post, (the spring and the changing colours of autumn) so much is taken for granted when you live there, bit like things here i suppose. Yes there are things i miss back home. but i have better life here.

Thailand is like a broken drum - but you just can't beat it

[info]

i wonder, the people that continually moan about the thais all the time, how bad Thailand is. most of us know the score, but do they moan because they are unhappy here. .... Let's ask dan.

If you moan about Thai people maybe the problem rests with you June, 2018

It is quite often I will moan about a Thai person, it could be a member of staff forgetting to do something or it could be the bad service I had at a restaurant. In fact, the topic of a Thai persons failings is something I hear other expats discuss on a weekly basis. Maybe I am in a business meeting and the client is discussing how his Thai staff are unable to make simple decisions on their own, or it could just be a friend telling me that ‘Thai excellence in service’ is the biggest myth of all timei (which I actually do agree it is though). The point is there is always some rant as to why a Thai person has not come up to expectation.

Thai people can be infuriating

Thai people can be infuriating. This I cannot deny and if you have lived in Thailand long enough I am sure you agree with this, how can you possibly not?!

So then, how does my title marry up with the opening couple of sentences? Well, it does, you see I think we need to take ourselves off our ‘Western pedestal’ that assumes because things and people are not doing things the ‘Western’ way that somehow this makes them a lesser person. Because one culture is fundamentally different to our own, does not mean it is worse.

I have to correct myself on this all the time.

This negativism is why we get conflicts between countries, religion and the likes. If we do not understand the other person, we look at them as unequal and somehow less of an individual than ourselves.

There are times when I admire the Thai laid back, family centric attitude. We could die tomorrow and in a moment our position in society is worth nothing, however you view your position or status in society, that moment your inhale your last breathe everything disappears with it.

I think I have personality habit flaws, that others would say is a strength. For example,I worry too much about things. I keep a schedule planner on my phone with reminders for not just appointments but tasks still pending. I have two lists on my desk with ongoing task reminders and tasks that need completing for each day. When I am home and have my kids eager for my time, chances are I am on my mobile replying to emails or making notes about a new project I may be considering. It is too much, but in the Western world my dedication to business and my career is often applauded.

If I pushed you for an answer to choose what is really important to you in your life, would you really put work ahead of family? Would you rather have a life full of fun and happiness or one that is structured and discipline? As these are some of the cultural differences I see between Thais and Westerners.

Yes of course, there is more to the story here…

Of course there is a bigger piece here, but I don’t think it impacts too much on culture. Good education is still a problem in Thailand for example. I am also quite sure this topic of Thais and Westerners can be opened up and explored much more than my blog will today, but today I am going to choose my family over work. I have two choices as I sit and finish this article, I can wrap up for the day and go back home and take my kids to the beach or I can sit and research the subject and provide a far more thorough discussion.

I am going to choose my family and that decision may very well be based on all my years of living in Thailand and, in some small way, a little bit of Thai culture rubbing off on me.

Just remember next time you are having a moan about a Thai person that the problem could very well sit with you just as much as the person you are ranting about! And also remember maybe – just maybe -we can all learn from Thai cultures and benefit from having the opportunity to experience a different culture to our own.

danaboutthailand.com

[Tiggs]

Thai government to tax all income from abroad for tax residents starting 2024

Interesting thread here .......... I doubt if it will ever happen, but you never know. from TV.

so does this mean all incoming money transfers from abroad, if so will they will be taxing pensions as well when they .....

https://aseannow.com/topic/1306896-thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/

https://www.thaienquirer.com/50744/thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/

[Hector]

Yes, I saw that one, but reading the Thai Enquirer article it says:  "Also exempt will be those who have been taxed in a foreign country that has a standing Double Tax Agreement with Thailand."  As the UK is listed as such, we may be OK.  I can't believe that the Thai govt could tax already taxed pensions.... but TIT!

[Tiggs]

Thanks for the reply Hector -  Risky when they can n do change the goalposts on a regular basis.  Bit more here if you not already seen it.

The Thai Revenue Department’s recent announcement to impose taxes on funds entering the country from abroad sent ripples through the elite society and financial sectors over the weekend. In a nation where such a taxation scheme is unprecedented, the buzz was loud enough to compel newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavasin to issue a statement, stressing the initiative’s aim to narrow the wealth gap. However, the government’s opaque approach and questionable execution raise several red flags.

First and foremost, the private banking industry is unambiguously unsettled by the announcement. Banks, after all, are gatekeepers to the capital flows that keep an economy robust. Their clients, many of whom have already moved funds out of Thailand, are now confronted with a policy quagmire that could have been avoided with clearer guidelines. While PM Srettha Thavasin speaks of an equitable society, the current ambiguity seems more likely to generate confusion and economic instability.

The banking sector’s alarm has cascaded down to individual clients who now face a predicament about the future of their investments. Without clear directives on how the new tax structure will be implemented, the government risks inciting a fiscal exodus or, at the very least, a chilling effect on future investments.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/50755/opinion-thailands-ambitious-plan-to-tax-incoming-funds-risks-falling-flat-due-to-lack-of-clarity/

[Roger]

Tiggs good to see you posting as ever 

And thanks for highlighting this gem - I'm guessing that the proposal won't go very far but nevertheless, I wish they were NOT discussing it at all   

ATB

[Tiggs]

Tiggs good to see you posting as ever 

And thanks for highlighting this gem - I'm guessing that the proposal won't go very far but nevertheless, I wish they were NOT discussing it at all   

ATB

Thank you Roger
I wish they were NOT discussing it at all

37 pages since monday

https://aseannow.com/topic/1306896-thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/page/37/#comments

[Roger]

(Yes Tiggs - Asean is notable for TOO MANY responses and the whole thread disappears into total confusion usually ! I've posted myself there before but have largely given up on it, for that reason. At least on K-F, IF you do get a reply, it's usually well considered and relevant.)

Coming back to 'Expat Woes' - I noticed this in the DT today.

"Expats who bank with Barclays are to be stripped of their accounts in a move that could leave some customers unable to access their savings and pensions. British people living abroad will no longer be able to hold a Barclays UK current or savings account, the lender said. The bank began a review of its international offerings in 2021 and is now writing to customers with a six-month warning" . . . .

. . . . "Professor David Barker, 89, said he set up his Barclays account more than 60 years ago, when he lived in Surbiton in Greater London, and that he moved with his wife Catherine to Australia in 1988. He uses the account to collect his English pensions and book royalties, as well as to pay direct debits to the Royal Artillery Club and two Cambridge colleges, on top of charitable donations and gifts for grandchildren.

The couple were shocked when they received a letter in April telling them their account would be closed. Prof Barker said his wife was told by Barclays staff when she travelled to Hertfordshire that they would be able to re-register with their daughter’s UK address. But earlier this week, he received a phone call from the bank explaining that the advice he had been given was wrong and that his account would be closed after all" . . . . .

. . . . . "A Barclays spokesman said: “We will no longer be offering personal current or savings accounts to retail customers with addresses registered with us outside of the United Kingdom, subject to limited exceptions. “We are contacting impacted customers to give them advance notice of this decision and explain the next steps they need to take.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/banking/barclays-to-debank-all-british-expats/

I am not with Barclays in the UK but IF my own UK bank a/c was taken away, it would cause a major problem for me - I guess that applies to others.

My own 'tactic' on this will be to keep my head down 

[Tiggs]

Yes Roger it happened to me without any notification, first i knew when my replacement card never arrived.
I contacted them email, i got this in reply.
https://www.barclays.co.uk/important-information/living-outside-the-uk/#EEAresidents

about a month ago i got a phone call from them at night time, i was asleep, they said security questions before we can talk, mothers maiden name, i replied do you know what time it is. he said wrong answer and the phone went dead.

been with them 50 yrs always had problems, i moved my dosh over to another bank as they made my account dormant years ago for none use. took ages to get it reopened.

I find when phoning i just get moved around, not cheap either, so let them have my 100 quid.

BFN

[Roger]

I'm really sorry to hear that Tiggs - what a drama ! 

I see from your link, closures apply to the credit card, current a/c, savings a/c, ISA, Home insurance, Bonds/deposits and loans. Could be a shocker all round.

And you'd been with them 50 years 

I suppose the best way to avoid this is to base an a/c at a Family/Friend's address, but even then, if they were bloody minded, it could be spotted from the a/c activity, or lack of.

Glad you're set up now anyway. ATB

Sorry - just to add this - the DT report says Barclays intend to close ALL expat a/c's.

[Tiggs]

Sorry - just to add this - the DT report says Barclays intend to close ALL expat a/c's.

Deposit more than £100k (for Barclays) and be treated like a millionaire, is that right

https://investguiding-com.ngontinh24.com/article/banking-what-are-you-doing-barclays-closing-accounts-for-uk-expats-blog-proact-partnership-expatriate-advice