No, my monthly deposits are wire transfers from my U.S. bank. Even though wire transfers are a little more expensive than other means, I have complete control which is priceless to me.

No, none of my transfers have been taxed. But then they are all taxed in the U.S. and are covered by the Thai/US tax agreement. As an side, they are also all pensions.

Some of the answers confuse me. Here is what my experience over the last 20 years says.

Yes, you can have the two accounts as long as both are in your name only, not joint accounts.

You can have one account with the 800,000 baht in it for the entire year. There is no requirement to spend any of it. I have one friend that set his up 15 years ago and effectively forgets about it except at visa renewal time.

I went with the 800K for a few years and then, using the same account, started making monthly deposits and then withdrawing some or all as needed for living expenses.

Visa renewal time came up 14 months later and I switched to income.

@John *********

when was that removed? Where is that stated?

@Sunida *************

clarify. -- web site says differently

@Peter *********

none of my friends or I, long term expats, have ever seen or heard of this happening if the money is pension money, not income earned while living in Thailand.

TM-30

If you have MONEY go for the 10 year LTR visa Thailand

@Ivan ***********

So where do you see your bank's exchange rate? I divide the amount of money that appears in my account by the amount transferred plus $25 and then compare that to what the internet says the interbank exchange rate is.

I do not understand the baht. Is that for a year, 5 years, or what? At $25 a month, I only spend $300 per year which, at 32 baht to the $, would be 9600 baht. At 36 baht/$ it would be 10,800 baht.

I simply go on line to my U.S. bank and wire how ever much I want. All wires cost $25 regardless of the amount. Usually in my Thai bank account within 3 days at the inter-bank exchange rate

People say Wise is cheap, but I like having no middle "man" and/or 3 rd party having access into my acountl