Land Tax

Post by **merchant seaman** » March 11, 2015, 8:12 am

Pay the tax or lose the house and land. UP2U. Our house is in wifes name, no lease no nothing, wife never changed her name when married. Years ago Thai lost her right to own property if married to Farang, one reason many didn't change name when married to farang. Law no longer exists.

Post by **Brian Davis** » March 11, 2015, 10:00 am

Thanks for explaining, Paul. I was missing the scenario where owner of the house may differ to owner of the land.
I'm not planning any changes in paperwork or wife

, so guess I'll have to cross the bridge, if and when all of this is sorted by the powers that be.

Post by **parrot** » March 11, 2015, 10:22 am

Like a lot of things in Thailand, the proposed land tax has been on the agenda for some years. Sometimes you'll read things in the BP like "New Land Tax Laws" which gives one the impression that it's a done deed. Like the potash mine, the high speed railroad, the constitution, new elections, etc etc. Yesterday, the junta leader said if the public doesn't want a land tax then he'll have to raise the VAT to 10% (also been discussed for several years).
Today, an article in the press saying that one option on the land tax would be to have a much reduced tax on owners of one home only........of course, given the normal way of doing things, one home would be owned by grandma, another by grandpa, another by ma, etc etc....while all would live under one roof and lease out the others. But, the point is, there's not much to worry about at this point.........once the final law is signed.....and implemented.....then it'll be worth possibly losing a few minutes of sleep about.
News Flash.......oh yeah, the Online Lottery.......it's a done deed again, until it isn't........at least since 1998.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... ne-lottery

Post by **bumper** » March 11, 2015, 10:50 am

Paul didn't the Courts in Phucket rule that these leases are illegal ?

I don't get why Phucket seems to get involved in all this stuff.

Anyway the house I live in with my wife is financed and owned by the SCB Bank at the moment.

So I imagine there are all sorts of twists and turn in what they are trying to do. The P.M. has said it is either this or more VAT tax.

One way or another they need money to operate the Government. They will get it one way or another.

I meant no disrespect to anyone. When it come to speaking to my wife about serious things it is more like an interrogation then a conversation. Eventually I get what I think is the answer I seek positive or negative. Now that is after 12 years of marriage and I can tell you it is extremely frustrating. But I dated here before I got married I can't say it would have been any different with someone else for sure. So I have learned to question odd ball things and that was all I was trying to point out.

This one seems very odd to me and certainly sounds like someone is trying to put some extra change in their pocket.

My suggestion ask for that rule in writing from the Land Office, if it is in writing then pay up, if not ask to see a supervisor.

The fact is there is a lot of changes going on. Seems to me we had a group of Lawyers, we could ask question's like this. Something like Issan Lawyers perhaps a sponsor?

I don't think any of us are really qualified to answer legal questions.

If land taxes are due I will pay them, as they are presented to me. But, I won't pay them based on word of mouth.

Post by **BobHelm** » March 11, 2015, 11:07 am

bumper wrote:Paul didn't the Courts in Phucket rule that these leases are illegal ?

I don't get why Phucket seems to get involved in all this stuff.

No that was 30+30+30 leases.
They were (the 90 year leases) used by developers in Phuket to enable the easy sale of property to Foreigners who didn't want a Thai national 'involved' in the deal.

Post by **bumper** » March 11, 2015, 4:19 pm

Thanks I have a 30 year at my age don;t think I need more then that

Post by **Khun Paul** » March 11, 2015, 5:55 pm

The normal 30 yr lease will do most I know based on the fact that at even 50 od year it will technically expire when you are 80 ish and then the lady in question has to re-sign a further 30 yrs, so I am going to live to 89 just to make bloody sure she has to came back to Thailand to renew the lease then I'll die.

Post by **old-timer** » March 11, 2015, 8:27 pm

Khun Paul wrote:I am going to live to 89 just to make bloody sure she has to came back to Thailand to renew the lease then I'll die.

But what if she doesn't pay the land tax and Udon Thani Borough Council reposes the place because of land tax arrears. You'll have to move in with her and the American.

OT................. $\:D/$

Post by **FrazeeDK** » March 12, 2015, 7:02 am

the Land Office as far as I know has nothing to do with the annual land/property tax. We've always paid it at the local District Office (Tessaban). We know of friends and acquaintances who were years behind and there was no apparent action by the District to do anything about it.. Of course, with Land Taxes currently being so low (ours is about 200 Baht per year) there's no financial incentive for the District to get tough about it. IF.. the new Land/Propety Tax assessments push the Tax up by 5, 10, or 20 times, then I'm sure the Districts will start chasing down those who don't pay.. As to whether the government could condemn the land and take it for non-payment of the land/property tax, I've never heard of that being done, at least not here in Udon..

Post by **Khun Paul** » March 12, 2015, 8:00 am

Yes FD that is the 64,000 dollar question, what could happen if for example a foreigner is sitting in his leased house on land that is owned by a Thai, who then refuses or does not pay. With the combination of land and house being the mathematics behind the land tax assessment what would they do.
It is obvious as like you I used to pay tax on land, they would advise the Land office and then any attempt to sell or dispose of holding would show up as arrears and therefore the arrears would have to be paid before such disposal took place, that happened a few years ago when I was attempting to sell land for my then wife , a tax that had not been paid by her mother had to be paid before the land was clear of any taxes and could be disposed of.

Post by **glalt** » March 12, 2015, 9:38 am

I looked carefully at the 30 year lease option. I learned that if you lease from your wife, the lease may not (probably not) offer any protection. If you lease from someone else, when the lease expires, your wife will have nothing. All property that I bought is in my wife's name. She did change her name to mine when we married. I bought a condo before we were married and that is my security blanket. It is legally in my name. Had I bought it after we were married, it would have been a marital asset. I can financially afford to walk away from what I bought her and have a roof over my head and certainly won't miss any meals.

Post by **merchant seaman** » March 12, 2015, 10:03 am

Just can't imagine buying your wife a house, she leaves you for another man, then you pay her rent for 30years then you want to renew the lease for another 30 years. How many times do you pay for that house?

Post by **parrot** » March 12, 2015, 6:44 pm

parrot wrote:Like a lot of things in Thailand, the proposed land tax has been on the agenda for some years. Sometimes you'll read things in the BP like "New Land Tax Laws" which gives one the impression that it's a done deed. Like the potash mine, the high speed railroad, the constitution, new elections, etc etc. Yesterday, the junta leader said if the public doesn't want a land tax then he'll have to raise the VAT to 10% (also been discussed for several years).
Today, an article in the press saying that one option on the land tax would be to have a much reduced tax on owners of one home only........of course, given the normal way of doing things, one home would be owned by grandma, another by grandpa, another by ma, etc etc....while all would live under one roof and lease out the others. But, the point is, there's not much to worry about at this point.........once the final law is signed.....and implemented.....then it'll be worth possibly losing a few minutes of sleep about.
News Flash.......oh yeah, the Online Lottery.......it's a done deed again, until it isn't........at least since 1998.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... ne-lottery

Another reason I don't let my shorts get in a twist when I read 'flash news about new visa extenstion requirements' or speculate on land because the high speed railroad is a sure thing.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/new ... definitely

Post by **FrazeeDK** » March 12, 2015, 8:25 pm

quite true.. the original string on the land/property tax goes back years ago to I believe the Abhisit/Suthep administration.. Despite the worries about the "poor" getting stiffed, I'm sure those in the higher echelons of society here are far more concerned about their immense land holdings getting zinged on a much higher land tax. Just like the Estate (inheritance) tax that is being bandied about and steadily watered down..

Post by **Brian Davis** » March 13, 2015, 4:30 am

And........

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/new ... definitely

=D> $\:D/$

Post by **parrot** » March 13, 2015, 10:09 am

The cracks are beginning to appear......yesterday the health minister, today the finance minister
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... rks-sommai

Post by **bumper** » March 13, 2015, 5:28 pm

TT ( Tis Thailand )

One thing that hasn't changed departments only think about their part of the pie and to heck with everyone else.

But there is still that ugly thing sitting in the corner. How do we pay the bills with no new taxes.

Post by **glalt** » March 14, 2015, 10:54 am

A real estate tax is going to be a hard tax to get enacted. There are too many rich and powerful people who will oppose it. The wealthy who live in mansions and have several homes in addition to huge land holdings will be hit the hardest. Poor farmers should not be much affected. Many of these farmers subsist on an average of ten rai. They should fall under the minimum value and should pay no tax. Raising the VAT rather than enacting a property tax is a horrible idea.

We shall soon see if the government is working for the people or if they will cave in under pressure from the very wealthy.

Post by **FrazeeDK** » May 6, 2015, 8:07 am

The Treasury Department continues updating land value assessments... http://www.bangkokpost.com/property/new ... -next-year

Once completed it will result in an increase in land tax but how much remains to be seen.. I wonder if owners will be notified of the new value assessment in writing or if it will be a surprise when they go to the local Tessaban to pay.

Post by **parrot** » May 6, 2015, 9:38 am

FrazeeDK wrote:The Treasury Department continues updating land value assessments... http://www.bangkokpost.com/property/new ... -next-year

Once completed it will result in an increase in land tax but how much remains to be seen.. I wonder if owners will be notified of the new value assessment in writing or if it will be a surprise when they go to the local Tessaban to pay.

I tend to not put much value on projects "due to be finalized by next year"......fixing the lottery, fixing Bangkok's traffic problems, building the high-speed railway, holding elections, or fixing the education system. If it happens, it happens. But my experience is that more often than not, it doesn't.