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Online freelancer, long stay in Thailand


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I don't get this "they are injecting money into the economy so it should be allowed" argument. I can assure you the Australian government would not look too favorably on me not paying tax on my income because "I spend all my money". It's a strange logic. I pay 35% tax here and I am under no illusions anyone is grateful for my contributions.

OB


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

It's just a question of scale. If there were enough Russian Billionaires wishing to settle in Sydney, then Austrilia would have a program to let them at less than a 35% tax rate, similar to the one the UK has on account of all the billionaires who want to live in London but not pay 40% tax.
They do as long as you pump a certain amount of money into the country. Couldn't you say Thailand has a similar program with the Thai Elite?

OB


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand
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They do as long as you pump a certain amount of money into the country. Couldn't you say Thailand has a similar program with the Thai Elite?


Yes, I would say exactly that. In an age of global mobility, countries are competing for 'lucrative' companies and individuals. Switzerland is the leader in this area, even negotiating custom tax deals with individuals.
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I was expecting more of answer like "on a work permit". You said you had no visa, explain please unless of course you have a Thai passport.

 
 I dont have visa and havent had one for about 10 years

No reason for you to have a visa really.
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Actually if the truth be told, I dont have a visa for Thailand...wink.png

Well I hope you're not in Thailand. My strict interpretation of the rules is that these posts you make mean you are a volunteer, which requires a work permit if you are in Thailand. But then maybe you have difficulty understanding strict interpretrations of the rules when it applies to you rather than to someone else.

JE maybe he doesn't need a visa. Seems that lots here don't think it's needed either
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They do as long as you pump a certain amount of money into the country. Couldn't you say Thailand has a similar program with the Thai Elite?


Yes, I would say exactly that. In an age of global mobility, countries are competing for 'lucrative' companies and individuals. Switzerland is the leader in this area, even negotiating custom tax deals with individuals.

 

 

 

If you think a few bloggers and adsense marketers are 'lucrative' tax payers.. You and I have met very different 'online professionals' on average. 

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I was expecting more of answer like "on a work permit". You said you had no visa, explain please unless of course you have a Thai passport.

 
 I dont have visa and havent had one for about 10 years

No reason for you to have a visa really.

 

 

 

Possibly hes gone PR.. 

 

If PR didnt have the work history requirement I would be keenly on that road myself.. In many ways I regret not forming a company, simply to pay myself a taxed salary, and in turn being able to pursue PR and citizenship with a better chance of success now. 

 

20/20 hindsight of course. 

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In replying to post #138 wherein a large IT agency will be started in Thailand to support e-commerce clients, one of your potential e-commerce clients could also be approached by a couple of under-the-radar work from home IT specialists who can do the work cheaper and more efficiently because they don't have to make the same investment and pay taxes as a (maybe BOI) company and bother with all that other assorted government overhead.

 

Besides, I am just making the assumption that -- since it is the stated BOI objective to assist companies in establishing online services in Thailand for clients both in and ex-Thailand --  that if the under the radar freelancer posed no disincentive to the making of the required company investments, maybe the Thai government would have found some way to legitimize the u-t-r online IT guy in Thailand who only works for and is only compensated by those ex-Thailand which they have not.

Edited by JLCrab
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I was expecting more of answer like "on a work permit". You said you had no visa, explain please unless of course you have a Thai passport.

 
 I dont have visa and havent had one for about 10 years
No reason for you to have a visa really.
 

 
Possibly hes gone PR.. 
 
If PR didnt have the work history requirement I would be keenly on that road myself.. In many ways I regret not forming a company, simply to pay myself a taxed salary, and in turn being able to pursue PR and citizenship with a better chance of success now. 
 
20/20 hindsight of course. 
 Read the PR thread. There's a comment there mentioning the one man band companies with minimum Thai employees are not viewed favorably when applying for a PR. I too decided to pass on making a "hobby" company to make the requirements.

Also not interested in re-entering the work force for a 3y stint. So extensions it is.
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 Just in case somebody's wondering about BOI requirements for setting up a software company: 

 

 General: http://www.boi.go.th/index.php?page=eligible_activities (Not too bad, but note the BOI promotion may also be withdrawn at a whim)

 Software in this section: http://www.boi.go.th/upload/attachfile/investment/english/section5.pdf (Looks like some standards must be followed in the projects, practically impossible for freelancers with varying clients).

 

 I know one BOI owner, not in software but in the hospitality sector. Last time I spoke with him he was complaining about the BOI "inspectors" visiting all the time and expecting to be wined&dined. Something a one man band most definitely doesn't want to have. 

 

 

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It is evident 'visa abusers' fall into several distinct groups, the main cause of the crackdown:
 
On-line workers - profess their wish to be legal - really?
English Teachers - profess their schools are at fault - really?
Diving Professionals - profess they are forced to work illegally to support tourism - really?
Criminals - They are least likely to complain about the changes - rules aren't really their thing. Overstayers.
Layabouts - most likely the majority - profess their love for Thailand (unless they have to leave) and how much they spend here - many working for peanuts illegally...
 
Caught up in the crossfire:
 
Seasonal Tourists - Genuine 6 months a year tourists from cold climes, a benefit to the country but worried about no proper visa now.
Oil & Gas rota workers - Really do live in Thailand but work outside, another beneficial tourist with visa worries.
 
Any and all of the above people could use the Elite program, but I would say only the Seasonal and O&G guys would be interested as the rest will simply invade another unsuspecting country and spread their wealth there.
 
This problem has grown immensely over the past 10 years. Koh Tao could suffer as a diving destination for a while because many decided there was no need to establish a professional setup - rather let the 'Point Break' guys do their own thing and hide away behind corrupt policemen and officials.
 
Almost 100 'diving schools' on an island that small?
 
Uninsured, questionable qualifications, poorly run businesses in illegal structures - that is what illegal workers have contributed to this island.

 


Such gross generalisations; this feverish desire to label people, and the accusatory tone qualifies the poster to the position of a camp guard, ok let's be fair, maybe sergeant in a camp. The frustration dripping from the post results from his realization that he is some 70 years late....
Seriously, I do not think that there a need for more farang bashing and warming up cliches.

 

 

Actually what he has written there is a pretty fair summary to be perfectly honest, the irony is, people on TV have been complaining for years about the lack on law enforcement in Thailand, and how far Thailand is behind the western countries blah blah, and it seen's Thailand is trying to catch up with the times and start enforcing the laws people have been complaining about, and their starting point has been "immigration" and  a lot TV  posters are still complaining and stamping their little feet and saying, its unfiar, its racist etc, but you will find the same people on other thread bleating on about the Russian's, Indian's, Chinese and how they are not quality tourists and should be restricted from coming to Thailand..

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<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

 

 

They could make a lot of money by issuing freelancers special visas, but for some reason they're not interested. In fact, now I have no idea what they're interested in. I guess 50+ year old retirees spending their money on bar girls is preferred over young entrepreneurs.

Going a route like this will open up a whole new avenue for visa abuse and staying long term without good reason, visa abuse is the exact reason they are cracking down right now...and your suggesting they create another loophole to be abused.. !!... alt=thumbsup.gif>

 

Here is my solution to this one line "problem"

 

If you want to operate a one man band here:

 

THB 1.0million captialised limited company

No requirement for 4 Thai employees

as most of the work is done outside the country 20-25% withholding tax on the company

private medical insurance & unemployment fund contributions

Annual fully audited books

 

You get a visa & WP,

 

 

this would be fair compromise as far as I am concerned and in fact this sort of set up is no different from being self employed in the UK or other places as in a lot of cases you need to form a Ltd company anyway to keep the tax man from crawling up your bottom

 

 

 

is this a plan or does it really exists ??

I wish i would have a legal / visa advisor agency that could organise that for me

Can you recommend some that is trustworthy and capable ?

 

Thx

 

 

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<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

 

 

They could make a lot of money by issuing freelancers special visas, but for some reason they're not interested. In fact, now I have no idea what they're interested in. I guess 50+ year old retirees spending their money on bar girls is preferred over young entrepreneurs.

Going a route like this will open up a whole new avenue for visa abuse and staying long term without good reason, visa abuse is the exact reason they are cracking down right now...and your suggesting they create another loophole to be abused.. !!... alt=thumbsup.gif>

 

Here is my solution to this one line "problem"

 

If you want to operate a one man band here:

 

THB 1.0million captialised limited company

No requirement for 4 Thai employees

as most of the work is done outside the country 20-25% withholding tax on the company

private medical insurance & unemployment fund contributions

Annual fully audited books

 

You get a visa & WP,

 

 

this would be fair compromise as far as I am concerned and in fact this sort of set up is no different from being self employed in the UK or other places as in a lot of cases you need to form a Ltd company anyway to keep the tax man from crawling up your bottom

 

 

 

is this a plan or does it really exists ??

I wish i would have a legal / visa advisor agency that could organise that for me

Can you recommend some that is trustworthy and capable ?

 

Thx

 

 

 

Here is my solution to this one line "problem"

 

Want to take a wild guess at the answer to your question ?

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&nbsp;

It is evident 'visa abusers' fall into several distinct groups, the main cause of the crackdown:
 
On-line workers - profess their wish to be legal - really?
English Teachers - profess their schools are at fault - really?
Diving Professionals - profess they are forced to work illegally to support tourism - really?
Criminals - They are least likely to complain about the changes - rules aren't really their thing. Overstayers.
Layabouts - most likely the majority - profess their love for Thailand (unless they have to leave) and how much they spend here - many working for peanuts illegally...
 
Caught up in the crossfire:
 
Seasonal Tourists - Genuine 6 months a year tourists from cold climes, a benefit to the country but worried about no proper visa now.
Oil &amp; Gas rota workers - Really do live in Thailand but work outside, another beneficial tourist with visa worries.
 
Any and all of the above people could use the Elite program, but I would say only the Seasonal and O&amp;G guys would be interested as the rest will simply invade another unsuspecting country and spread their wealth there.
 
This problem has grown immensely over the past 10 years. Koh Tao could suffer as a diving destination for a while because many decided there was no need to establish a professional setup - rather let the 'Point Break' guys do their own thing and hide away behind corrupt policemen and officials.
 
Almost 100 'diving schools' on an island that small?
 
Uninsured, questionable qualifications, poorly run businesses in illegal structures - that is what illegal workers have contributed to this island.

&nbsp;


Such gross generalisations; this feverish desire to label people, and the accusatory tone qualifies the poster to the position of a camp guard, ok let's be fair, maybe sergeant in a camp. The frustration dripping from the post results from his realization that he is some 70 years late....
Seriously, I do not think that there a need for more farang bashing and warming up cliches.

 

 

Actually what he has written there is a pretty fair summary to be perfectly honest, the irony is, people on TV have been complaining for years about the lack on law enforcement in Thailand, and how far Thailand is behind the western countries blah blah, and it seen's Thailand is trying to catch up with the times and start enforcing the laws people have been complaining about, and their starting point has been "immigration" and  a lot TV  posters are still complaining and stamping their little feet and saying, its unfiar, its racist etc, but you will find the same people on other thread bleating on about the Russian's, Indian's, Chinese and how they are not quality tourists and should be restricted from coming to Thailand..

 

 

You managed to write a post with even worse generalisations and dubious assumptions than ParadiseLost, congrats!

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&nbsp;

It is evident 'visa abusers' fall into several distinct groups, the main cause of the crackdown:
 
On-line workers - profess their wish to be legal - really?
English Teachers - profess their schools are at fault - really?
Diving Professionals - profess they are forced to work illegally to support tourism - really?
Criminals - They are least likely to complain about the changes - rules aren't really their thing. Overstayers.
Layabouts - most likely the majority - profess their love for Thailand (unless they have to leave) and how much they spend here - many working for peanuts illegally...
 
Caught up in the crossfire:
 
Seasonal Tourists - Genuine 6 months a year tourists from cold climes, a benefit to the country but worried about no proper visa now.
Oil &amp; Gas rota workers - Really do live in Thailand but work outside, another beneficial tourist with visa worries.
 
Any and all of the above people could use the Elite program, but I would say only the Seasonal and O&amp;G guys would be interested as the rest will simply invade another unsuspecting country and spread their wealth there.
 
This problem has grown immensely over the past 10 years. Koh Tao could suffer as a diving destination for a while because many decided there was no need to establish a professional setup - rather let the 'Point Break' guys do their own thing and hide away behind corrupt policemen and officials.
 
Almost 100 'diving schools' on an island that small?
 
Uninsured, questionable qualifications, poorly run businesses in illegal structures - that is what illegal workers have contributed to this island.

&nbsp;


Such gross generalisations; this feverish desire to label people, and the accusatory tone qualifies the poster to the position of a camp guard, ok let's be fair, maybe sergeant in a camp. The frustration dripping from the post results from his realization that he is some 70 years late....
Seriously, I do not think that there a need for more farang bashing and warming up cliches.

 

 

Actually what he has written there is a pretty fair summary to be perfectly honest, the irony is, people on TV have been complaining for years about the lack on law enforcement in Thailand, and how far Thailand is behind the western countries blah blah, and it seen's Thailand is trying to catch up with the times and start enforcing the laws people have been complaining about, and their starting point has been "immigration" and  a lot TV  posters are still complaining and stamping their little feet and saying, its unfiar, its racist etc, but you will find the same people on other thread bleating on about the Russian's, Indian's, Chinese and how they are not quality tourists and should be restricted from coming to Thailand..

 

 

You managed to write a post with even worse generalisations and dubious assumptions than ParadiseLost, congrats!

 

 

Thanks very much for the recognition, now do you actually have a point to make on this topic ?

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Thanks very much for the recognition, now do you actually have a point to make on this topic ?

 

 

I thought the point was obvious, stop polluting this topic with totally off topic and ridiculous comments about some thai visa members supposedly stamping their little feet and whining while at the same time bitching about Indians and Chinese (what deranged mind can come to such conclusions?), does it answer anything about how to stay long time in thailand as an online freelancer?

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Thanks very much for the recognition, now do you actually have a point to make on this topic ?

 

 

I thought the point was obvious, stop polluting this topic with totally off topic and ridiculous comments about some thai visa members supposedly stamping their little feet and whining while at the same time bitching about Indians and Chinese (what deranged mind can come to such conclusions?), does it answer anything about how to stay long time in thailand as an online freelancer?

 

 

A mod wannbee ?...thumbsup.gif

 

How to stay long time in Thailand as an on line freelancer ?

 

I will write this slowly so you can understand.... Set up a Thai  limted company or get a job in Thailand... simple thumbsup.gif

 

but back to my original question... do you have a point to make ?

Edited by Soutpeel
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Get a job? Set up a company? You just don't understand how things work today (Courtesy Disney's Pinocchio):

 

I've got no strings to hold me down
To make me fret, or make me frown
I had strings but now I'm free
There are no strings on me
 
I've got no strings so I have fun
I'm not tied to anyone
How I love my liberty,
There are no strings on me!
 
Hi-ho the me-ri-o, I'm as happy as can be
I want the world to know nothing ever worries me
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but a thai company requires 2 mio bath and also 4 thai employees for a minority shareholdership and a workpermit!

4 employees is not and minority of the shares is not "freelancing"

neighter is "take a job"

 

maybe an representative office is (i am not sure)
but then you only take projects from also forneigners and not allowed to work and get paid by Thai

 

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but a thai company requires 2 mio bath and also 4 thai employees for a minority shareholdership and a workpermit!

4 employees is not and minority of the shares is not "freelancing"

neighter is "take a job"

 

maybe an representative office is (i am not sure)
but then you only take projects from also forneigners and not allowed to work and get paid by Thai

 

 

A representative office may be feasible, but seeing as most complain about setting up a THB 2.0 million captialised company, one suspects they would have a real issue with bringing in the THB 5.0 Million a reperesentative office requires, if memory serves THB 3 million in the 1st year and the balance over a 2 year period

 

and you dont need 4 employees either and you cant invoice from Thailand ...thumbsup.gif

Edited by Soutpeel
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ED Visa is although over. It is very hard to get one now, if their is still any chance. I have the feeling farangs not welcome anymore in Thailand. Xenophobia is rising.

 

Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali (Indonesia) or the Phillipines have much better conditions for us.

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ED Visa is although over. It is very hard to get one now, if their is still any chance. I have the feeling farangs not welcome anymore in Thailand. Xenophobia is rising.

 

Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali (Indonesia) or the Phillipines have much better conditions for us.

 

who is "us" ?

 

Xenophobia has nothing to with it, for years immigration has been slack on the enforcement of the rules by their own admission, and because people have been taking advantage of this "slackness" they have now decided to fully enforce the rules.... No xenophobia in that at all

Edited by Soutpeel
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represetative is high investment no invoicing in thailand - so not a good solution

any other ?

 

i am thinking to start here a "service supplier office"

keep the knowledge/intellengence and client contracts outside (my own firm) and just do here the outsourcing; simple work against fixed rates

get myself some shareholder partners, put some money in, start a thai ltd, hire 4 employees to do the jobs and get myself a work permit

 

All this for a work permit and a visa!

 

any other ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks very much for the recognition, now do you actually have a point to make on this topic ?

 

 

I thought the point was obvious, stop polluting this topic with totally off topic and ridiculous comments about some thai visa members supposedly stamping their little feet and whining while at the same time bitching about Indians and Chinese (what deranged mind can come to such conclusions?), does it answer anything about how to stay long time in thailand as an online freelancer?

 

 

A mod wannbee ?...thumbsup.gif

 

How to stay long time in Thailand as an on line freelancer ?

 

I will write this slowly so you can understand.... Set up a Thai  limted company or get a job in Thailand... simple thumbsup.gif

 

but back to my original question... do you have a point to make ?

 

 

It's incredible, in the last two weeks, I have seen a huge amount of people answering the question "How to be an online freelancer in thailand?" by advising to essentially stop the online freelance occupation, become an entrepreneur, start a business and hire people. In this very topic a semi retired book writer was told to start a publishing company, yep, cause it's exactly the same thing. And they have the audacity to pretty much always add "it's simple!" to their suggestion. It baffles the mind.

 

Back to your original question : read my previous post, it was clear enough. Send me a PM if you want more clarification about my point of view.

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Thanks very much for the recognition, now do you actually have a point to make on this topic ?

 

 

I thought the point was obvious, stop polluting this topic with totally off topic and ridiculous comments about some thai visa members supposedly stamping their little feet and whining while at the same time bitching about Indians and Chinese (what deranged mind can come to such conclusions?), does it answer anything about how to stay long time in thailand as an online freelancer?

 

 

A mod wannbee ?...thumbsup.gif

 

How to stay long time in Thailand as an on line freelancer ?

 

I will write this slowly so you can understand.... Set up a Thai  limted company or get a job in Thailand... simple thumbsup.gif

 

but back to my original question... do you have a point to make ?

 

 

It's incredible, in the last two weeks, I have seen a huge amount of people answering the question "How to be an online freelancer in thailand?" by advising to essentially stop the online freelance occupation, become an entrepreneur, start a business and hire people. In this very topic a semi retired book writer was told to start a publishing company, yep, cause it's exactly the same thing. And they have the audacity to pretty much always add "it's simple!" to their suggestion. It baffles the mind.

 

Back to your original question : read my previous post, it was clear enough. Send me a PM if you want more clarification about my point of view.

 

 

Ok Mr smarty pants, what is the solution then ?,

 

you have been reading the same thing from huge amounts of people ie start a business and hire people thing, because thats one of the few options you have and setting a business up in Thailand is relatively simple and not that expensive

 

I suspect your baffled simply becasue you will not read or accept what is written as fact, but once again let me summerise it for you the legal options so your not so baffled:

 

1. set up a limited company and employ people

2. Find a job

3 possible options through a BOI set up where they take some like 30% off you (JL crab knows about this)

4 Representative office ( maybe) THB 5.0 million

 

What you got ?

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I was one who responded to the semi-retired romance novel author only because he said why would he want to have 4 Thais sitting around doing nothing ... and I responded if you did have 4 Thais sitting around, if they were were media/journalism graduates, why would you not be able to do something with them? Maybe get some contract work instead of a company hiring some in-house copy editor.

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ED Visa is although over. It is very hard to get one now, if their is still any chance. I have the feeling farangs not welcome anymore in Thailand. Xenophobia is rising.

 

Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali (Indonesia) or the Phillipines have much better conditions for us.

Not feeling any xenophobia, actually quite the opposite. They are enforcing regulations, so that the current system does not continue to get abused as it has done for a number of years - unfortunately, there are going to some people who are affected by this, but things will be clearer, and things will be easier once there is a consistent implementation of the rules. I have been working on some bits and pieces with several government departments over the past two months-  I can't fault the help and guidance that I have received, and they are certainly not anti foreigner. 

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If your good at what you do, why not set up a company and target local market as well. People underestimate how much locals will pay for good work. This way it could create a few opportunities and sort out the visa situation.

The hurdles there are:

 

  * Unless you open as a BOI (Board of Investment, http://www.boi.go.th/) or amity company (U.S. citizens only), you can only own 49% of the company. Rest of the company must be owned by Thais.

  * A minimum of 2M baht registered capital

  * For a work permit for a foreigner, a minimum on four Thais working in the company at a registered office

 

It's quite a bit of $$$ to set up just for a one man band and you end up with an office and four Thai employees you don't need. 

 

I beleive its possible to take capital out of the business once its set up??

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