Bazle

In order not to complicate an answer with a plethora of ifs and buts. Given Ronnie's further information, I think there is a fair chance that he will become non-UK resident. When he leaves the UK, he needs to complete a form P85, which can be downloaded from HMRC's website, and submit it to HMRC. This is very much a personal investment decision. Ronnie could equally put his money in an account outside of the UK in, say, the Channel Is. It also involves deciding in what currency to hold the investment. If Ronnie believes that Sterling is at a high right now, he might like to invest part of the money in Euros or some other currency. That information was provided AFTER I had posted. Probably the existing account isn't paying the best interest rate available. Ronnie should also consider not keeping everything in cash and putting at least some into the stock market. I know it's a bad time to make such a remark but it should be kept in mind and if in a few months the markets settle down perhaps some investment advice taken. Owen has posted a lot about this - just search his threads. There will not be UK tax exemption on the pension, even if Ronnie is non-UK resident. However, he will be able to set off his personal allowance (c£5K) against it. The best that should be achieved is keeping the investment income out of UK tax. Yes, agreed. The HMRC website is essential reading. Ronnie mentions "Reading the rules for opening an offshore account requires documentation to prove that you are exempt from UK tax". I think he is confusing making a declaration that he is non-UK resident so that interest can be paid gross as opposed to opening an offshore account. Have to go to work now. Maybe elaborate at another time. Bazle

Ronnie I don't think the advice given here is possibly the best for you, simply because you haven't given all the necessary facts to work with. For instance, * what is your UK tax status going to be - i.e. are you going to be resident in the UK or not? This is far from straightforward and you might wish to take professional advice. * how much notice can you give when accessing the money? * where do you need the money - UK or LOS? * what do you mean when you mention "the criteria for opening an International Offshore account when I return to the UK"? Whose criterion? What is the aim? Cheers. Bazle

A few days ago, I couldn't get into the Forum here or at S...ets. I am in the UK using dial-up. However, no problem yesterday or today.

I think this is an infommercial.

Take care here. The rules which Alan is quoting are the ones which cause an erstwhile non-UK resident to become UK resident. It is a mistake to think that the converse of the rules causes a UK resident to become a non-resident. "Residence" has no technical meaning for UK tax purposes - it takes on its normal meaning, albeit with reference to previously decided legal cases. That means, in very broad terms, that a man on the proverbial Clapham omnibus would need to think that you did not reside in the UK if he knew of your circumstances. For a period of at least a complete UK tax year, you need to give up your UK home and, in reality, demonstrate that you have a home in another country - your country of residence. Once you have done that, then you have to make sure that you do not become UK resident again; you do that by obeying the rules which Alan has mentioned.

The link for City Garden is http://www.citygardenpattaya.com

Does anyone have any opinions about the City Garden development? It is being built through a Thai subsidiary of an Israeli company. They haven't done anything in LOS previously.

Stayed there a year ago. Excellent value for money, friendly efficient staff. If you don't want to pay for the frills (gym, pool etc), go for it. Just remember to request a room facing the outside of the building.

There is a link on the page you mention - see: http://www.sabaiinn.com/Special.htm

Have stayed at Sabai Inn and Areca Lodge. Which is better will depend on what you regard as important. Sabai at the North end of town - very convenient for Big C and the soapies, plenty of beer bars etc but not as convenient for Walking Street (but more convenient for Soi 6). Areca - easy walk down to Walking Street or up to Soi 7/8. Quality of rooms about the same. Sabai Inn about 750 baht, Areca about 1,100 baht. Sabai Inn no pool (but there is use of another). Areca two good pools. For me, it is a fine balance. Chose Sabai last time because of communication problems with the person at Areca - seemed to have poor grasp of English.

Everything you have said is correct, with one small caveat re the above. If you do return prematurely, you could be caught on disposals in the tax year of return made prior to the date of return.

Alan I think you might be misunderstanding the anti-avoidance legislation. If you are caught by it (you return before the expiry of 5 complete tax years), any gains you make during your period of non-residence on assets owned pre-departure are treated as if made in the year of return. The annual exemption for the year of return is relevant, but you don't get any further exemptions for non-resident years. Maybe see you Thursday. Cheers. Bazle

Alan If these were genuinely new acquisitions (e.g. not rolled over gains), you should be OK. However, please note that your reference to 4 years should be to 5 years. Am in Patters for the next few days. Would be happy to share a few beers with you if you wish to discuss. Perhaps you can then tell me where you get your investment advice!! Cheers. Bazle

I would disagree, in a UK scenario, with some of the figures attached to the various factors - in particular a 7% return on investment and a 15% tax rate - but as Owen has pointed out, it probably doesn't matter much. There are some things you cannot measure in monetary terms - the flexibility that renting gives, the thought that if you have a problem neighbour you can walk away relatively easily if you are renting, etc.. Retirement should be as hassle-free as possible, so renting sounds better to me. Having said that, there is something that nags me about all the threads about retirement expenditure. I'm not sure if it is accepted wisdom or not, but I recall an investment adviser telling me many years ago that you should have the majority of your investments in the country/currency of that in which you expect to retire. So that would suggest a retiree to LOS should have most of his money tied up in Thailand. Most people would say that that would be too big a gamble to take, but I wonder if more consideration should be given to holding some investments in Baht. If you think that way, a condo seems as sensible an investment as anything.

Why do you think Mr Blair is so keen on ID cards? It's to enable all the information available to be linked in to each individual. It won't be long before the big national computer will have all your info. on - travel in and out of the country (from scanned passport), - where you have been travelling in the UK (from vehicle recognition cameras on motorways), - your social security claims position (from the DSS computer), - your medical position (from the NHS computer), - your tax position (from the HMRC computer), - your criminal records (from the police computer) - etc. And it won't be much after that before there is a law enabling the gov't computer to interrogate those of banks etc.. Go to the doctor in a few years' time and the first thing he/she will do is push your ID card into a computer slot to access your medical records and the computer will make a loud screaming noise if you are not entitled to be treated

Thanks for the input, Robert. Am arriving 1 June and felt I needed to book somewhere and, absent any info on Soi 13, I've booked Sabai Inn. Will take a close look at Soi 13 when I'm there and will probably return to a hotel there on the trip after. It's a good compromise between Soi 6,7,8 and Walking Street.

Being a light sleeper, I give a rat's ass. Because if the noise is from 2nd Rd end, I can consider staying at Sandy Springs; if from the Beach Road end, I can stay at Dynasty. Comments about your personal lifetsyle don't seem appropriate to the "Hotel and Accommodation" section - and that is a matter I don't give a rat's ass about.

I'd really appreciate an update from someone who has been along Soi 13 in recent days, please. If there is building noise, where is it coming from? Many thanks. Bazle

A mate and I are due to arrive on Thai Airways at 15:05. Even if it is on time, it will be at least 15:35 before we clear everything. If you are happy to wait until then, let me know and we will happily cab it down to Patters with you (assuming the price isn't extortionate - we usually take taxi to the bus station).

If you are a Brit living in LOS, you might think that you can just go back to Blighty at any time and avail yourself of the NHS if needs be. However, that might not be the case. Here is a link to the relevant website, with some extracts from the site copied below. http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/Int...&chk=qv2fY/ Are you spending more than 3 months living outside the United Kingdom? What if I should need hospital treatment? Under the current Regulations, anyone who spends more than 3 months living outside the UK is no longer automatically entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in England. Whether you remain entitled depends on the nature of your residence abroad. Extended holidays If you are going abroad for a one-off extended holiday for a few months, then you will continue to be fully exempt from charges for NHS hospital treatment when you return to resume your permanent residence in the UK. The same will apply to your spouse and children (under the age of 16, or 19 if in further education) if they are living with you in the UK on a permanent basis. Once you are living here permanently you will become ordinarily resident and the Regulations will cease to apply to you. Your spouse and child will also be considered ordinarily resident if they are living permanently in the UK with you. If they are not living permanently in the UK then the Regulations will apply and in order to be entitled to free hospital treatment they will have to meet one of the categories of exemption in their own right. In common with those ordinarily resident in the UK, anyone who meets the criteria of ordinary residence or is exempt from charges for hospital treatment will have to pay statutory NHS charges, eg prescription charges, unless they also qualify for exemption from these, and will have to go on to waiting lists for treatment where appropriate. Living in a non-bilateral healthcare agreement country? If you choose to go and live permanently in a country with which the UK does not have a bilateral health agreement, then you will not normally be eligible for free NHS hospital treatment during a visit to the UK, no matter how long you may have lived here in the past. You may, however, be exempt from charges if you meet one of the other exemption criteria, for example because you are working abroad and have been doing so for less than 5 years. Living in both the UK and another country? If you spend time living in another country on a regular basis each year, for example because you spend four months living in a second home during the winter but return to the UK for the summer, then you may not be eligible for free hospital treatment while you live here. If the other country is one with which the UK has a bilateral health agreement state then the partial exemption described above will apply to you if you are registered as resident in that country. If you are not registered as resident in that country, or if the other country is not one with which there is a bilateral health agreement, then you will not be entitled to free NHS hospital treatment during the time you live here, unless you meet one of the other exemption criteria. If you are in receipt of an UK state retirement pension then a different part of the Regulations applies to you. Please see the page 'Are you a UK state pensioner spending more than 3 months living outside the United Kingdom?'. Returning to the UK after a period of time living away? If you go anywhere abroad for more than three months, either for a one-off extended holiday for a few months or to live permanently for several years, but then return to the UK to take up permanent residence here again, then you will be entitled to receive free NHS hospital treatment from the day you return. So will your spouse and children (under the age of 16, or 19 if in further education) if they are also living with you permanently in the UK again. Once you are living here permanently you will become ordinarily resident and the Regulations will cease to apply to you. Your spouse and child will also be considered ordinarily resident if they are living permanently in the UK with you. If they are not living permanently in the UK then the Regulations will apply and in order to be entitled to free hospital treatment they will have to meet one of the categories of exemption in their own right. In common with those ordinarily resident in the UK, anyone who meets the criteria of ordinary residence or is exempt from charges for hospital treatment will have to pay statutory NHS charges, eg prescription charges, unless they also qualify for exemption from these, and will have to go on to waiting lists for treatment where appropriate.

5% return may be realistic but it is the gross (before tax) return. Deduct, say, 25% tax and the real return is then 3.75% - not much different from inflation. The other problem is that the world gets richer, and poverty (and wealth) is a relative concept. The people around you in work will be earning more in real terms year by year, so ideally the retiree's earnings should go up year by year in at a rate in excess of inflation.

My guess is that he took early retirement. Is there another occupational pension going to come on stream when he gets a bit older? If I'm wrong, how the hell would he fare if he were living in England? Perhaps he is going to have to find an even lower cost location. I understand it's possible to live (and die!) very cheaply in the Central African Republic!

I guessed that the lower number of Baht to the GBP was likely to be attributable to the falling value of the GBP. However, when I checked out the link that Scumbag posted and looked at the value of the Baht relative to other currencies, it was the same picture - even against the Yen. It is the Baht rising strongly which is the cause. Anyone know what is happening for the Baht to rise in this way? Will the election make any difference?

From my experience, that should read: "if only we could get the bg's to take showers with the mongers"

Below is what I posted in October 2004. Subsequent to this posting, Alan has been told exactly the same thing by the UK tax people. Your mate might be entitled to a tax refund if the tax code applied to his pension has been inadequate. Assuming he is a Brit, he is still entitled to a personal allowance each year and it is just possible that it has not been given in his code number. Apart from that, he is not entitled to a refund - resident in LOS or not.