Philip Connor . . . it is rather the other way around: in order to apply for the "change of visa type" from a tourist visa to a "90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa" on Immigration, a one-year lease if very helpful, because a rental contract is one of the requirements for this application (here, Chiang Mai immigration)

there might not be any agents in Supan Buri, because this is not a very touristic area or an area used by many Expats. I recommend you take accomodation in either Hua Hin, Pattaya, or Bangkok, and proceed from there. After you got issued your 1-year Extended Stay Permit, you can register your accomodation in Supan Buri and use their Immigration for all future extensions

@Graham *****

exactly. After the 7 days you can only do a screenshot

lesson learned

@Barry *******

David is the only one who gave you the correct answer. All others are wrong

@Colin ******

the good thing is, I didn't earn much interest, it will be less than the tax free 150.000.- THB per calendar year.

@Danewitz ******

bad advice, why would you buy that useless insurance, just for being allowed to open a bank account?

. . and then, from a certain age on. there will be another tax exempt sum added to the 150.000.- THB which are tax exempt any way. Plus deductible are children and elderly care. However you would need a tax lawyer to do the declaration for you, as up to now, no English text exists!

@Tony *******

I saved the following listing to my computer:

Receive income inside or outside Thailand via:

Income from employment (wages, salaries, remuneration, etc.) assessable under Section 40 of the Revenue Code;

Income from business operations is assessable under Section 40.

Passive or property income (interest, dividends, rental income, goodwill, etc.) based on Article 41 paragraph 2 of the Revenue Code.

Thai citizens and foreigners who are permanent residents will be subject to income tax, if they earn annual income at the following rates:

0 to 150,000 baht (US$4,177) is exempt from income tax;

More than 150,000 baht (US$4,177) and up to 300,000 baht (US$8,354) are subject to a 5 percent tax rate;

More than 300,000 baht (US$8,354) and up to 500,000 baht (US$13,923) are subject to a 10 percent tax rate;

More than 500,000 baht (US$13,923) and up to 750,000 (US$20,884) are subject to a 15 percent tax rate;

More than 750,000 (US$20,884) and up to 1 million baht (US$27,846) are subject to a 20 percent tax rate;

More than 1 million baht (US$27,846) and up to 2 million baht (US$55,683) are subject to a 25 percent tax rate;

Over 2 million baht (US$55,683) and up to 5,000,000 baht (US$139,201) are subject to a 30 percent tax rate;

and

More than or more is subject to a 35 percent tax rate.

@Tony *******

I thought the first 150.000.- THB are tax free, not 120.000.- THB like you wrote. And agreed to the rest. If I prove the monies have been earned before 31.12.2023, I guess they are all classed as savings and not as income, and remain tax free