'Reducing import duties on alcohol and tobacco should attract wealthy expats to Thailand'
Thailand wants to fight the economic malaise after beating the Covid-19 virus. The country wants to become more attractive to highly educated expats and wealthy pensioners and lure this group with a 10-year visa and 50% lower import duties on tobacco and alcohol. At least that is the plan and there is never a lack of plans in Thailand.
Dutch Embassy Bangkok: consular office hours on location in October
The Dutch embassy in Bangkok intends to organize consular office hours on location in mid-October for Dutch citizens who want to apply for a passport or have their life certificate signed. All this subject to change and depending on the Covid-19 situation at that time.
The residence of the Dutch ambassador in Thailand
Amidst Bangkok's imposing urbanism – the glass buildings, the dusty construction sites, the concrete skytrain that cuts through Sukhumvit – Wittayu Road seems a curious exception. A huge stretch of the road is leafy and green, marking the hallowed grounds of historic embassies and residences in Bangkok. Wittayu (Wireless) is named after Thailand's first radio broadcasting station, but it might as well be called Thailand's 'Embassy Row'. One of these embassies belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The tax burden in the Netherlands compared to that in Thailand
Almost every week I advise Dutch people about the tax consequences of emigration to and remigration from Thailand. If you are not yet 65 years old when you emigrate, the tax burden in Thailand often turns out to be considerably higher than when living in the Netherlands.
With lockdown measures eased in Bangkok and other dark red provinces, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) has reopened its offices for tax payments and driver license applications. However, some services are now offered online to avoid crowds.
Musings of a 'brand new' retired teacher
I am officially retired on September 1, 2021. That is to say: I no longer work for the university in Bangkok where I started in 2008.
Where do you have your ABP pension taxed?
Where your ABP pension is taxed is regulated in the Treaty for the avoidance of double taxation concluded between the Netherlands and Thailand (hereinafter: Treaty). However, things often go horribly wrong. With the greatest of ease, tax lawyers and tax consultancy firms classify an ABP pension that is not taxable in the Netherlands as taxable in the Netherlands. With a reasonable ABP pension, such an incorrect assessment can easily cost you about 5 to 6 thousand euros per year in undue income tax.
New SSO office in Pattaya
As a pensioner in Pattaya (this right can gradually be called a customary right), I have to prove again that I am alive. Although I sometimes doubt, it seems to me that this proof can still be provided.
Message from the Dutch embassy in Bangkok: The Belgian embassy in Bangkok has reserved a quantity of AstraZeneca vaccines (produced in Japan and Thailand). If the stock allows, the Dutch can also qualify for this.
New poll: the price tag of a good life in Thailand
This post from June 25, 2011 is a repost following our milestone: 250.000 comments on Thailandblog. This article received no fewer than 267 responses.
Excuse me? Oh, you think you got rid of it? Emigrate and ready? Well, if you emigrate from NL then you are in for a surprise. Because you know, they can't make it more fun. Our tax authorities have long arms and will think of you for another ten years and especially of your money. It is not for nothing that a survey in 2009 called inheritance tax 'the most hated tax in the Netherlands'.
Remembrance Day 2021 Kanchanaburi
Every year on 15 August, the official end of the Second World War in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is commemorated and all victims of the war against Japan and the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies are commemorated. The embassy would like to inform the Dutch community in Thailand that due to the COVID-19 measures, the honorary cemeteries in Kanchanaburi will be closed at least until August 18.
The Thai Deposit Protection Agency (DPA) announced on Wednesday that from August 11 it will only offer bank guarantees for up to 1 million baht per account holder, instead of 5 million baht as before.
Death in Thailand
The Dutch embassy in Bangkok has updated the information on the website about what to do in the event of a death in Thailand.
Last blog of ambassador Kees Rade (31)
By the time you read this I will have already left Bangkok. After three and a half years, our placement here has come to an end, where I had the honor and pleasure of representing the Netherlands in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
Belgians and Dutch people of all age groups living in Thailand can register for a Covid-11.00 vaccination from today at 19 a.m. Thai time. This can be done on the website expatvac.consular.go.th, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
Smooth arrangement for expired Thai driving licenses
The Thai Department of Land Transport (DLT) and the Royal Thai Police are temporarily relaxing the rules for those whose driving license has expired.