Leaving Thailand.

[Phil_in_Thai]

I havnt actually moved to Thailand at all yet so this question might seem a little premature.

The requirements for a foreigner to live in Thailand vary according to age. The one common, and not unreasonable, demand is that you show a minimum amount in the bank and/or a stable income. Fair enough.

Ive just been told that the Thai government will tax you heavily if you try to remove those funds when leaving the country permenantly.

Can anyone confrim this?

[tintin]

I can't help you with that, but if this is true, it is a shame!

Buuuuuut, I don't understand this. If you have money on a account, you can just go to the bank, take it off or wire it wherever you want!

Then, you could leave a small amount on the bank, and not be officially gone!

But are you sure it is not to tax on your INCOME. As you will be living there, you also have to pay taxes on your income, so if you leave, your taxes could be higher!

I don't see how they could impose you on your own money!

But ...I could be wrong, same-same but different, Thailand is!

[andy50]

ask on thai visa .com ,they are the experts on this subject

[LivinLOS]

Tintin, you are mistaken, you cannot simply move money around globally into and out of countries as easily as you belive, there are maximum amounts that can be transfered and withholdings are not uncommon (hence my reluctace to go for the 3 mil investment visa)..

When you bring money into Thailand (large amounts) you can get a Tor Tor 3.. This document allows you to remove that money again later legally. The idea is to stop a farang coming here making a load of money and leaving without paying income taxes, as many (most) dont really register or pay income taxes it does have some basis of sense.

AS to VISA's if you are over 50 you can geta non imm o by showing 800k or 65k per month or a combo of the two. If under 50 and married to a Thai you can get the same visa showing 400k per annum or 35k per month (IIRC)..

If under 50 you are SOL and its getting much harder to be a 30 day walker or live on tourist visa's.. Local SE Asian embassies are not being nearly as sympathetic to issueing multiple entry tourist visa's and it is a odd situation for those of us under 50 and retired.

Basically a few years ago it was easy.. I had a B visa issued just because I wanted to 'look' for work (not very hard) or investigate the biz climate. Now all these avenues have been shut yet no alternative legal avenues have opened.

[tintin]

Jezus, luckally it is not so bad here! As a Belgian living in France that would be hard to cope with!

I am very interested how this figures out!

Livin Los, I will never live in Los for sure!

[Phil_in_Thai]

Thanks for the replies.

My plan to move to Thailand is very much at 'dream stage' at the moment but is an early retirement option if I do.

Id only keep the minimum possible in a bank if it wasnt earning interest. The rest would be kept working wherever it pays the most. Im nowhere near rich but the cost of living in Asia is such that the capital needed to 'retire' is considerably less and I dont want to lock myself in to a situation where I couldnt afford to get back home permenantly if I needed to.

Professional advice methinks. Thanks again for all your input.

[tintin]

Phil, life in "douce France" is indeed more expensive!

But here in provence there are other advantages, most of it you know the "where abouts".

I would if ever you do make your dream come true, thinking about contacting French, who are allready there! Ask them OTHER problems they encounter! Too much sad stories about people taken away they hard working cash.

If you go on holliday, try to find a french association or something. Normally they have pubs, café's where the come together. They can surely advice you about many different matters, in your own language!

[Phil_in_Thai]

He he, Tell me about it Tintin!

But the cheapness of living in parts of SE Asia is (in my opinion) going to be short lived given the way people are waking up to some of the things we have in the West.