Business
UK’s residency law changes may affect Phuket’s expats

PHUKET: With the Finance Act 2013, the UK is making changes to the statutory residency laws, which may affect some expats living in Phuket.
It is well worth taking the time to review the changes if you are one of those who have just left the UK or who, and although you reside in Phuket, you maintain significant ties to the UK and spend a significant amount of time visiting there.
If someone is classified as a non-resident for tax purposes, the UK government does not tax on worldwide income. Thus a huge benefit of being an expat, for everyone except Americans sadly, is the right to have investments and assets in any jurisdiction of your choosing and pay taxes according to the laws there. Using tax free offshore jurisdictions such as Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, is a perfectly legal way of avoiding unnecessary taxation. A huge potential benefit of maintaining a non-resident status for many is the ability to remove one’s UK pension from the tax regime and move to a jurisdiction with much more favorable tax laws, such as Gibraltar where the tax is a flat 2.5%
For those not automatically classed as a resident, the basis of residency will now be determined by whether an individual meets either the automatic overseas residence test or the sufficient ties test. A person is deemed to be an overseas resident if:
- Not a resident in the UK for one or more of the three tax years preceding the tax year, and spends fewer than 16 days in the UK in the tax year.
- A resident in the UK for none of the three tax years preceding the tax year and spent fewer than 46 days in the UK in the tax year.
- Where a person works full-time overseas in the tax year without any significant breaks, and spends less than 91 days, excluding deemed days, in the UK in the tax year, and the number of days in the tax year in which the person works for less than three hours in the UK is fewer than 31 days.
For people who are not automatically classed as an overseas resident (and who are not automatically resident (183 days or more in the UK or having a home in the UK or working full-time in the UK) residency will be determined as to whether or not they meet the sufficient ties test.Therefore, any person who does not satisfy the automatic overseas tests and who visits the UK for more than 16 days should be aware they might become a UK resident, particularly if they: have family in the UK; have accommodation in the UK (either their own or provided by a close relative); work in the UK; spend more than 16 days in the UK; spend more time in the UK than elsewhere.
If you feel that you may have a close enough connection with the UK to fall within the scope of the new test you should review the appropriate legislation and guidance notes at: hmrc.gov.uk/budget-updates.
It is recommended that if there is any doubt as to status under the new test, you should seek professional advice from an FSA regulated source to clarify and confirm. If you have already moved your pension offshore or have significant gains from offshore investments every year, it would be wise to plan any time spent in the UK to maintain your non-resident status in accordance with new laws.
David Mayes, MBA, resides in Phuket and provides wealth management services to expats around the globe, focusing on UK pension transfers.
He can be reached by email at david.m@faramond.com or 085-335-8573. Faramond UK is regulated by the FSA and advises on pensions and taxation.
— David Mayes
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Business
Turbulence ahead for Thailand’s aviation industry | VIDEO

When the airlines, in particular, were asking the government to put their hands in their pockets for some relief funding in August last year, it was genuinely thought that international tourists would be coming back for the high season in December and January. At the very least local tourists and expats would head back to the skies over the traditional holiday break. And surely the Chinese would be back for Chinese New Year?
As we know now, none of that happened. A resurge in cases started just south of Bangkok on December 20 last year, just before Christmas, kicking off another round of restrictions, pretty much killing off any possibility of a high season ‘bump’ for the tourist industry. Airlines slashed flights from their schedule, and hotels, which had dusted off their reception desks for the surge of tourists, shut their doors again.
Domestically, the hotel business saw 6 million room nights in the government’s latest stimulus campaign fully redeemed. But the air ticket quota of 2 million seats still has over 1.3 million seats unused. Local tourists mostly skipped flights and opted for destinations within driving distance of their homes.
As for international tourism… well that still seems months or years away, even now.
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Business
Domestic air passenger numbers double those of January

Passenger numbers on domestic flights within Thailand have doubled within a month, rising from 4,000 in January to over 10,000 this month. Having nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, domestic travel plummeted once more when Covid-19 resurfaced late last year.
Apirat Chaiwongnoi from the Department of Airports says 15 of Thailand’s 29 airports are now operating domestic flights, with more expected to follow. He believes the aviation sector will continue to recover further in the coming 6 months, bolstered by the national vaccine rollout.
Around 120 domestic flights a day are now operating, which is twice the number that were operating at the lowest point in the crisis. Prior to the resurgence of the virus in December, domestic passenger numbers had recovered to 30,000 – 40,000 a day, around 80% of pre-pandemic numbers.
The DoA says airports must continue to adhere to the Covid-19 hygiene measures put in place by the Health Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Samut Sakhon’s shrimp market to remain closed until February 15

Samut Sakhon’s Central Shrimp Market, the epicentre of Thailand’s recent wave of Covid-19, will remain closed until February 15. The market can reopen once the overall hygiene situation at the market and surrounding area has improved, according to the province’s disease control committee.
Local officials say the shrimp market needs to remain closed until the market structure and nearby residential facilities are inspected. People who violate the order face up to a year in prison and a fine up to 100,000 baht.
More than 12,000 people in the province have tested positive for Covid-19. The increasing number of infections is a result from the active case finding to contain the spread of the virus.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World | Thairath Online
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