What is the purpose of the 90-day reporting requirement for expats in Thailand?

When in Rome comes to mind.

Online

To ensure we’re not dead yet?

Your LTR saves you from 90 day reporting though. No need

Yes, it has always puzzled me too. Once a country grants you a visa, they have already decided that you can stay for the duration of the visa. Any form of monitoring in between serves no purpose, other than make the involved officials look productive.

However aren't you on that new LTR visa? If so, it's only a once yearly reporting requirement..also, if like many of us you travel internationally a lot, no reporting is necessary as long as make at least one exit and re-entry per 90 days (or 12 months in your case).

Do you mean to say "I've had long stays in other countries and there was NO equivalent of 90 day reporting"? Well, you'd be right. Not even Communist Laos, Communist Vietnam and Communist China require this. However, all three do require something similar to a TM30 to be done. In China, reporting must be done each time you come back from abroad, even if you don't change your address. Not reporting your address in Beijing can lead to refusal of re-entry on your next visit.

In the past, reporting requirements for foreigners traveling or living in Communist countries were even more cumbersome, but they've now been greatly simplified.

It's all about BIG brother is watching you all the time as is the tm30 just a waste of time

It’s a throw back to the Jurassic era where there were no computers or phones and immigration wanted to know you were still where you said you were.

Complete waste of time for all involved. But TIT.