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TheEqualizer

It's coming up to that time of year when 'hard' working farangs are expected to settle outstanding tax bills.

I am a teacher working in Thailand for 2 years for a standard 30K wage and I've been stuck with a bill for 36,000 THB (I opted to pay all at the end of the year). I had prepared myself for 18K costs as I was told it would be at a rate of 5% but now the school tells me it will be 10%. I have the money and I am able to pay it; before anyone starts saying 'serves you right foolish boy', but that's not my reason for posting.

A teacher friend of mine claims that Thai law states foreigners do not pay tax on income for the first two years. He has checked up the Thai laws and is now currently employing a lawyer to enforce this as the local taxation office are pleading ignorant.

Is it his lawyer fleecing him or is it the Government employees who don't know their arses from their elbows?

Has anyone else heard of this law or is this teacher wasting his time and money on a useless lawyer?

Please be quick with your replies as the tax man is knocking at my door and I don't want to hand over money that I could be using to buy a new plasma screen. Thanks.