Some guy

Milk shortage back on in Bangkok and Pak Chong, so I assume all of Thailand.

By shear luck I was 2 days away from this happening to me. I got a 5 year Elite visa and assumed it was good for 5 years and all I had to do was report every 90 days which I did. Elite never contacted me about the 12 month thing. I went to immigration physically every 90 days including as the 12 month mark came around (my 3rd 90 day report was right around the 12 month mark obviously) no one ever mentioned the 12 month thing. I got to the the airport for a holiday outside Thailand with my 6 month old baby and her mum (pre covid) they told me I overstayed my 1 year visa by 89 days. I told them they were mistaken as my visa was for 5 years. I showed them the date on the visa 3.75 years in the future and they showed me the date on my last entry stamp that was by then 89 days ago, and I said but I report every 90 days to extend that. I did not understand it at all, but since I was "only" 89 days past the 12 month mark I just had to pay the maximum fine. They tried to tell me I was naughty, I should apologies and that I was almost black listed and banned for 12 months. I disagreed as I thought a 5 year visa was good for 5 years and if there were other requirements Elite would have told me about them. After that I emailed elite for clarification and they explained the airport immigration was right and the reason they could not have notified me is that they do not know if I left and re-entered Thailand which would reset the 12 months. When I thought hard about it I remembered on my visit to immigration right around the 12 month mark, a work experience kid (university student) at immigration tried to tell me or ask me something about my passport or visa or something in Thai language, I responded something like "I think my visa is fine right?" in English, neither of us understood each other and we left it at that. My GF was with me on that visit to immigration but she just missed that interaction. Looking back now I assume it was about the 12 month thing. If I happened to book the flight for 2 days later I would have been banned from Thailand for 12 months and in a country with my Thai GF where she was only allowed to stay for 1 month (not my country so no chance of applying for residency or anything). It would have been quiet a pickle with a 6 month old new born.

The example you think shows how clear they make it actually shows how confusing it is and how bad their communication is. When you get a 5 year visa you think your visa is good for 5 years, and all you have to do is report every 90 days. Thats actually not the case, your "5 year" visa is only good for 1 year at time throughout a span of 5 years. Look at their quote it says nothing about extending or leaving every year.