Raise the bar
Re: "Trump's cabinet picks come under US Senate spotlight", (World, Jan 14) & "US Senate confirms former Fox News co-host as Pentagon chief", (World, Jan 25).
Like the US, Thailand badly needs to have its cabinet nominees confirmed by its Senate to ensure we have the right person for the right job. For example, America found that its Defence Secretary nominee allegedly had a heavy drinking problem (yet chose to accept that risk).
Had Thailand had such a vital vetting process, Minister Pichit Chuenban might have been replaced for having been convicted of bribery, and Minister Thamanat Prompow rejected for his Aussie jail term for heroin smuggling. We would also have discovered whose main qualifications were their names and who had job-relevant expertise.
We need the most qualified persons -- and Senate vetting is essential.
Burin Kantabutra
Tax rules in chaos
Re: "Unpacking the Top-Up Tax law", (Business, Jan 11).
I'm one of those goody-two-shoes who would have gone with any reasonable approach the Thai tax authorities might have taken to exact a bit of income from relatively well-off expats. Unfortunately, the Revenue Department has taken the easy way out by allowing expats to self-assess. An American or Australian who believes their pension is exempt from Thai tax under DTAs doesn't even have to get a tax file number or submit a return. An expat who represents all of his remittances as pre-2024 savings from an account that is fed by current pensions and interest also claims exemption from filing. The capital cost of an asset, such as a dwelling sold without making a profit, can also be transferred to Thailand tax-free and doesn't require a tax declaration. Quite legitimately, these people do not exist on the Thai tax database, based on their own evaluation of their tax status.
With all the stories on social media of regional tax offices totally unaware of the revisions to Section 40(1) of the tax code and even refusing to issue tax ID numbers to foreigners, it is apparent chaos reigns.
For all the scare talk of a possible revival of the need for a tax clearance when exiting Thailand or even a potential connection between visa approval and tax status, I'm betting on staying out of the system even though my trial run on the tax declaration form shows that the surprisingly generous allowances would not generate any tax liability for me and my family.
Each to their own, and time will tell.
Ray Ban
Late to the party
Re: "Govt plans FTAs with all EU members", (BP, Jan 26).
Upon returning from the 2025 World Economic Forum in Switzerland, our prime minister seems pleased with the achievement of having signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a few countries: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein in Europe. That doesn't excite one if one knows that all the countries of the EU had already signed an FTA with Vietnam in 2019 and Singapore in 2018. Malaysia signed the Malaysia-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2022. Indonesia concluded with the four mentioned countries in 2021, while Thailand in 2025. Others have gained ground over the unfriendly belief of America over international trade.
Without a doubt, one understands why Vietnam's economic growth far exceeds Thailand's, with a growth rate of 7% in 2024, while Thailand's is less than 3%.
Sorry, one has to throw cold water into the news.
Songdej Praditsmanont
