Worldwide Taxation Coming for Foreign Residents?

one thing nobody's mentioned yet is how this affects retirement visa holders specifically. if you're on a non-o extension based on retirement with the 800k baht in the bank method, that money is technically assessable income when you bring it in. some of the older expats at the jomtien complex were freaking out about this last month but the immigration folks there basically said they're not gonna start auditing people who've been compliant for years. still might be worth having a chat with someone at sunbelt or one of the law firms on sukhumvit soi 4 if you're planning to renew soon

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The real issue that doesn't get enough attention is how this interacts with the double tax agreements Thailand has with other countries. If you're paying tax in your home country on that foreign income already, you won't get taxed twice here, but you have to file the paperwork to prove it. The RD office on Soi Phahonyothin 7 is actually pretty helpful if you walk in with your foreign tax returns and ask for the DTAC unit specifically. Most of the panic is from people who haven't looked at whether they're already covered by a treaty.

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honestly this has been floating around for a while but i think people are overreacting a bit. the draft rules are vague and mostly target high net worth individuals who've been hiding offshore accounts. if you're a regular expat with a salary and a basic savings account in your home country, the RD is prob not gonna come knocking. that said, i'd still move any big lump sums into thailand before the end of 2024 just to be safe. sawang road has a couple tax advisors who'll do a consult for like 2k baht, worth it for peace of mind

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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