@Martyn **********

Martyn Rollinson Nope. There ARE taxes for foreign retirees in Thailand. Really all, but retirees are part of that. But you’re being honest about why you don’t pay them. It isn’t at all about not receiving notice, tho receiving one might change your mind. It’s all about the odds of being caught. Refreshing. We all play the risk/cost-benefit game. Cheers.

@Martyn **********

“None.. Don't listen to the idiots volunteering to pay tax.”

Really means: “If you follow a law that isn’t being enforced and it costs you money, you’re an idiot.” There. I’ve made your statement honest, lol. And the first word (None) was a flat lie.

@Martyn **********

Of course I know how taking advantage of the system works in many countries. I’m not judging you for it. I might even do the same thing. Virtually nobody is a rule- or law-slave. But I won’t represent it as something else, publicize that I’ve done it, or recommend that others do it.

@Martyn **********

Sure it is, but it amounts to the same thing. The difference is just a matter of degrees. You either follow Thai law or you don’t. What you meant when you said “until they make me” was really “until you get caught.” At least say it like it is.

@Martyn **********

Yep. Because I said exactly what you did. Just wondering how far your logic extends.

@Martyn **********

Funny. They won’t make you not rob a bank. Does that mean you’re going to do it?

@Karl ********

From everything I’ve read, US government-sourced retirement income is not taxed. Not sure if that means US thrift savings plans or not. And those that can be taxed are only done so in the amounts actually brought into the country.

@Michael *******

This is the best advice, as certain types of income are exempt by tax treaty, like US Social Security, and vary by each country’s treaty with Thailand. As an aside: from everything I’ve read, processes aren’t in place to adequately address enforcement of paying income tax as a foreign tax resident living in Thailand. So many choose to ignore laws/regulations on the books. You may or may not get away with it. It’s really a matter of deciding to take a chance (or not).

@David *******

Since your first reply to my comment (that you deleted) was that I had made assumptions (an obvious go-to when questioned, in my case not applicable) your answer here is less obvious than you would like to portray, and certainly much less credible. I’ll bow out, because I have now slid more to the disbelief side of the fence. Everything you wrote in your original post is part and parcel to what any reader thinks, or why would you write it? Your answer is disingenuous. Good luck, anyway; I do wish you well. AND I hope my disbelief is wrong.

After reading everything (the post and all the comments) I see only one thing that sticks out. “It’s been 32 days, and I’m still not safe for traveling,” Thai doctors can’t confirm, and the American doctor you do have “doesn’t know much.” Yet you had a lung “injury” at some point in the past. Either your description of your medical condition and history is very lacking, or you are self-diagnosing and making a life-threatening prognosis that you can’t possibly know is correct. Since you’ve included only scant information about your condition and history, none of it actually medical, it is reasonable for people to lean toward the latter. I’ve made no assumptions here. This is the logic. Don’t be too surprised if many don’t believe you. Myself, I don’t believe you OR disbelieve, but I do see the possibilities of both. I hope it works out for you, whatever it is you need.