@Ralphy ****

??

What are they?

Do you mean border runs etc…..

Not required on retirement visa!

@Nick ***********

because the onus is in US to prove it is tax exempt (a hard and tedious task for me) it is very possible that the government will instruct all banks to retrospectively or actively in all remittances to simply deduct a taxable amount on all incoming funds until it is proven to have been already had tax paid by the owner. No hassle for the government or banks but lots for the account holder. 🤷‍♂️

I have bought 2 cars brand new here….. and was recently looking at a new 3 mill car to replace my older one, that’s NOT going to happen for sure now.

Bare minimum for me in Thailand from now on and moving the rest back out.

@Nick ***********

yeah sometimes you get lucky…..

but we had an absolute pain in the butt this time renewing my retirement/family visas.

I think they were doing it deliberately.

Unbelievably bad experience with the jobsworths there!!!

@Alan *****

I just did.

Tourist in another country abroad in October last year. I opened an account and I am already transferring money there now ready for when I move and leave Thailand. 🤷‍♂️

Much easier laws - Much stricter due diligence….. but if all legitimate (as I am) it was simple!

Better retirement rules. And better visa rules for retirees and working visas too….

There ARE other countries that actually WANT your money and will encourage you to move there. Many!!!

@Nick ***********

I thought this might happen on a large scale…..

Well , I stopped all transfers in to Thailand in Dec 2023.

I have paid tax abroad, I have sold my cars and properties. My money is sitting in bank and savings accounts and I have been retired for years…..

Since moving here over 12 years ago I have bought homes in Thailand, cars, employ gardeners and pool guys and maids etc etc etc. - but I am NOT bringing any more money IN to Thailand until I can see how this is all going to work out.

The Thai government has put the onus on to the foreigner to prove he has paid tax in another country….. not as easy as it sounds when I left the UK 20 yrs ago and lived elsewhere before settling in Thailand.

I have enough money to live on here but sick of them moving the goalposts and wanting to tax me on money that they freely allowed me to move in years ago and until recently was still allowed and ongoing….

Even if just a little bit, if 1000s of foreigners stop bringing lots of money in to Thailand because of these changes - which are a huge inconvenience - it MUST affect the Thai banks bottom-line some where, somehow.

The reverse for me actually, I am actively moving money back out of Thailand whenever I can. 🤷‍♂️

Just renewed my long-term visa this week and it is painfully obvious at immigration and the attitudes there that they don’t want me or my money here anymore, so I am looking to sell up and move after 12 years of loving this place.

There really are plenty of countries that make it easier to retire or move to than Thailand. (It has been great but enough is enough now!)

I get my glasses in China . Have bought many over recent years. Very good prices, light/colour changing - even varifocals. Much cheaper than UK. Very quick service and collect within a couple of days. 🤷‍♂️

I’m in Thailand but the prices here for similar glasses seem high in comparison

But to answer the OP question, I have to say that I don’t really know the comparison process to the UK any more but definitely cheaper and quick in China. Good tests and good quality.

I do know that the varifocals I had Magee there last year (my first!!) were super good value compared to UK because I asked some friends. 🤷‍♂️

Hopefully someone else can give you a more up-to-date reply.

Spot on.

Have said the same myself (but in a much more ‘colourful’ way!)

If the guy or girl you deal with on arrival is in a “i hate my job” or worse “I hate foreigners” mood you are screwed!

I have so many stamps in my passport I am yet again running out of pages in my passport.

3rd passport in about 4 years!!

Last entry, I asked the ‘lady’ (I generously use that term as she was no lady!) to please stamp in a used page that had spaces… and she glared at me and stamped in the middle of my few new/empty remaking pages. I complained and she was just itching for a reason to get me busted…. So I smiled and walked away!!!

Bitch!!!!

Welcome to Thailand. First impressions can leave a lasting memory 🤷‍♂️

So you see…. 🤷‍♂️

@Ben ****

that would do it 🤣

What’s the requirements for a DTV??

🤷‍♂️

@Frank-Steven **********

there’s talk of a global taxation (similar to USA) from 2025…. Just talk but who knows. Then they try to take a slice of everything if they can 🤷‍♂️