Tax residency in Thailand and taxing overseas income

[Big Boy]

Yes, I got in and saw something similar, but nothing new there. I was simply the numerous scans that were needed to get in, and needing laptop and smartphone working together. Very clever, but quite scary when never done before. I was quite impressed that my phone could scan the chip inside my passport.

[Dannie Boy]

Well at least it has a UK Government Crest on it - that might impress the Tax Office


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[Big Boy]

My existing paperwork has a crest as well, but I was the only one impressed

They want a signature and either an official rubber stamp or sexy seal. I can't see that happening from any tax service in the UK.

[PeteC]

This all borders on the ridiculous now. One of those "you couldn't make it up" events.

Next time in the tax office mention "taxation without representation" and see the blank look on their faces. Started a few wars, one big one I can recall.

Seriously, we're taxed, inconvenienced by having to report to our parole officers every 90 days, and now apparently not able to open a bank account as a foreigner.

They want foreign tourists here now, not foreign residents as they offer nothing that is welcoming at all.

[sateeb]

So all other tax offices that aren't asking for verification of documents produced, are all wrong? That's really key to UK expats (at least) and our relationship with the tax office. If that requirment isn't actually a requirement and it's evident it isn't in use elsewhere, then everything would be easy.

Yes, I think until more people actually present them with the same problem, I'm going to be a winging old Brit with a one-off problem. It was when I promised them hundreds of others in a similar situation that they started listening, and the problem was pushed up the chain. They actually lessened the requirement, and would have accepted something a bit more official (signature and official stamp), but Civil Service Pensions are proving to be as useful as a chocolate fireguard. Faced with a >฿118K tax bill, I did not want to take any chances whilst waiting for Civil Service Pensions, and took the additional 'expensive' route that I did. For today's meeting, apart from the original Civil Service Pensions document that was not acceptable, the only proof I had was the Gov.UK approved solicitor/Thai Embassy, London document. I still don't know if my document is acceptable i.e. because of an administrative error, my appointment was deferred until Monday.

BB I do not understand why you have not shown HH tax people your annual HMRC Tax calculation this is an original document giving all calculations and ones tax details?? together with their covering letter addressed to you here. -There would be no need for rubbish like validations etc etc?

From this one might assume you have been to the HH office and presented that document and it has been accepted without any validation??

[PET]

BB I do not understand why you have not shown HH tax people your annual HMRC Tax calculation this is an original document giving all calculations and ones tax details?? together with their covering letter addressed to you here. -There would be no need for rubbish like validations etc etc?

From this one might assume you have been to the HH office and presented that document and it has been accepted without any validation??

Why you should assume that god only knows!!
I shall show it to HH tax office as and when required.

[sateeb]

BB I do not understand why you have not shown HH tax people your annual HMRC Tax calculation this is an original document giving all calculations and ones tax details?? together with their covering letter addressed to you here. -There would be no need for rubbish like validations etc etc?

From this one might assume you have been to the HH office and presented that document and it has been accepted without any validation??

Why you should assume that god only knows!!
I shall show it to HH tax office as and when required.

Why would you assume that a piece of paper from HMRC would be accepted at HH without any validation above an official P60 issued by a pension(in my case from one of the emergency services) provider. One could assume you haven't been following this thread closely.

[Big Boy]

I've no idea what the response will be, but I will be making a BIG point about how much my validation has cost me this year when I go to the Tax Office tomorrow, and I will ask what evidence other Brits have been presenting to offset their tax bill as part of the treaty. There have been a lot of Farangs passing through the office now, and I can not be the only one with the problem. There is only one person dealing with Farangs at Hua Hin Tax Office, so she should know.

[sateeb]

/\ As I understand it some/most? Embassies in the EU validate documents but the Brits don't.

[Big Boy]

The British Embassy have e-mailed me to confirm they will not play Thailand's silly games. E-mail did soften the Hua Hin Tax Office requirement, but they still require a signed document (P60s are not signed) and an official stamp or seal.

My route has been via a UK (Gov.UK approved) solicitor, who has taken my documentation to the Thai Embassy in London to have it validated. It has cost slightly more than having a document validated by the British Embassy, but hopefully it has been done this year, and when Thailand actually realises the impractability of doing this, they will hopefully devise an easier/cheaper method for the future.

[Dannie Boy]

Or more likely they’ll use you as the precedent!!


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[sateeb]

/\ my concern as well.

[Big Boy]

Or more likely they’ll use you as the precedent!!


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This is why I'd hoped more would have come forward sooner.

I went down the costlier route, whilst waiting for Civil Service Pensions as a precaution. It was just as well, because Civil Service Pensions have been as useful as the proverbial chocolate fireguard. The solicitor route was very professional - I've been able to talk (during UK business hours) throughout the process, and even the tracking of the document to Thailand was excellent.

[Big Boy]

OK guys, it is job done, and in the end, quite painless.

I'll start with the elephant in the room - validation of my P60. The good news - it was accepted (with my validation). I enquired how other Brits were validating their P60s, and she said same. I asked if it would be the same next year, and she confirmed it would. This was an important question because it cost me £50 to have it couriered here from the UK. Now that I know it has to be done, snail mail will do next year i.e. I can request validation much sooner.

The actual process was very easy, as I'd suggested previously. I produced my bank letter, and we went through the transactions showing foreign income. I then had to differentiate between savings and actual income from pension. This was done on a trust basis, and no queries made. Because I could tell the truth, with no doubts raised, I knew I would be within acceptable (to me) thresholds. I think my tax due came to just over 68K.

I then produced my P60 and was asked to convert £s to ฿ myself. I used a conversion rate of 42.4฿ (which was right the last time I looked earlier this morning). I don't think anybody would worry about a few Satang here or there. What I'd already paid in the UK far exceeded what I had to pay in Thailand, so my Thai tax bill was 0฿. A lot better than the 118,000฿ they were asking for 2 weeks ago.

Throughout this process I have found the staff at Hua Hin Tax Office very helpful and fair. I'm sure you guys know me well enough to call a spade a spade if I felt otherwise. I hope once they become more familiar with the P60, the need for validation will be dropped. I did get the impression they hadn't processed many Brits yet (just a gut feeling - no evidence to back that up).

So that's it guys - any questions?

[caller]

Well done, but what was the total cost of getting the docs notarised then sent from the UK?