Actually, I would recommend skype. It works for me quite happily on a 512K adsl line.

As well as the standard voip stuff, you can rent up to 10 SkypeIn numbers total from United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Poland and Sweden, and they all point to the same skype user, where ever you happen to be logged in. Also, you can have voicemail on a skype user, or you can forward incoming calls to a mobile (eg a local thai mobile numer)or landline.

I hadn't even considered the tax issue. That's interesting. Guess the solution to that is don't tell anyone I'm working. I'm just um, surfing healthy, non-pornographic websites. Studying buddhism, you know, not working.



I suppose maintaining an apartment all year is an option, but it would get more expensive that way. What I had in mind was something like flying there, working two weeks, then have vacation days scheduled for the other two weeks, giving me a month there...at a time.



Dboy

 

Ok, I'm not finding ANYTHING online regarding a work permit that fits my situation. I am learning some interesting facts about Thailand though, such as the fact that a farang can not be employed in Thailand making Buddhas or raising silkworms..but what I'm doing just doesn't fit anything I'm seeing. I'll be working for my US employer, officed in the US, paid direct deposit into a US bank account, not going into an office in Thailand, or working with Thai's in any way. All the reg's I'm reading seem to ignore cyberspace.



Let's say I'm a writer and I'm writing a novel in Thailand with no advance. I go home to US after the novel is complete and get it published by a US publisher...do I owe taxes in Thailand?  



I did read the reg. that says thinking is considered to be work...so if I think up the idea for an extremely efficient wind turbine, while laying on Jomtien beach, and that idea is worth millions of dollars, I've just committed the act of work.



A few more questions...is checking your work email considered to be work? Is reading your work email and responding considered to be work? I'd like to figure this out without detailing what work I actually do if possible, but I can provide more detail if it becomes necessary. I would like to stay as legal as possible.



Dboy

 

Quote:

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you could get Skype but realistically people can't call you and you need to keep your computer on

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SkypeIn with Voicemail



bkkguy

I asked a CPA chum who said that the income for services will be "earned" and therefore taxed wherever it is invoiced.  Unless you are claiming deductions for expenses incurred in Thailand there should be no Thai tax implications.  Given that you're writing software for US-based customers and invoicing them in the US, where you carried out the work is impossible to police in these days of the Internet and mobile communications unless you are foolish enough to give the game away yourself



I have a friend who has lived for 15 years in Bangkok and runs a business wholly on line - he is paid in a country that is not Thailand and he has never bothered with work permits, Thai tax authorities etc.  He travels outside Thailand sufficiently often for business not to worry about visa issues, and since he has passports from two different countries and alternates their use when he enters Thailand he's pretty much untouchable



The Thailand Board of Investment makes this comment about branches of foreign companies, but since you are a sole trader it probably doesn't apply

Quote:

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D. Other Forms of Corporate Presence

Branches of foreign companies. There is no special requirement for foreign companies to register their branches in order to do business in Thailand. However, most business activities fall within the scope of one or more laws or regulations which require special registration, either before or after the commencement of activities. Foreign business establishments must, therefore, follow generally accepted procedures. It is important to clarify beforehand what constitutes income subject to Thai tax because the Revenue Department may consider revenues directly earned by the foreign head office from sources within Thailand as subject to Thai taxes.

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(And for the sake of Dr Thrope's pedantry I'll give the hyperlink - www.boi.go.th/english/how...ishing.asp   )

 

________________________________________________________________________

"Is that a hydra?" called Hedda from the doorway.  "There's no such thing", said her mother firmly.  "Daddy and I were just making the beast with two backs.  Go to bed." But Hedda was scarred for life - Jane Austin, Memoirs of a Loss Adjuster

Edited by: homintern at: 9/11/05 2:38 pm

that's a close-enough fir for my situation as well. Good news.



Also, talked with the condo people yesterday and they said some of their rentals already have DSL installed. But then again if its a 2-days process, that's not bad either.



Again I appreciate the help.





Dboy