the Thai tax system for foreigners

What you should know about Thailand as a foreigner

Thailand is an interesting country with different cultures.
Consideration is given to its own people and Western influence has hardly been permitted to date.
As a foreigner, you should therefore know what you should and should not do in Thailand
Behave yourself and stay cool.

Smiling is standard behavior in Thailand. Smiling is friendly and helps in many situations. Thais also smile while apologizing.
Thais hate conflict and raising their voices or losing their temper is seen by most Thais as a sign of madness.
What is shown in Thai TV soaps is entertainment and does not reflect real life.
Never try to reason with an official. At best you will get a smile and then be ignored.
With a police officer, you are sure to get a very bad result.

Feet / shoes / fingers
Do not point your feet at people or anything at all. The feet are the lowest and dirtiest for Thais.
Even if you are sitting with your legs crossed, you can point at someone.
Take off your shoes when you go into a Thai person's house or even into some stores and offices.
Shoes in front of the door indicate that you are leaving them here. Or do like the people before you.
It's not for nothing that Thais often wear slip-on shoes.
Don't point at people or objects with your index finger - use your whole hand, palm down.
If you want to call someone with it, wiggle your fingers downwards.
And never point your middle finger - reactions from Thais to this have already led to deaths.

Head / Hair
The head is the highest part of a person and Thais often take care of their hair. It is therefore a bad habit to touch people there - unless you are very close.
Clothing
Your skimpy beachwear will probably be tolerated and your T-shirts are fine when strolling the streets in tourist areas.
Nice shorts, a nice shirt or blouse counts for a lot in the eyes of Thais. Wearing nice shoes is also appreciated.
If you meet Thais in business situations, don't be surprised if they check your shoes with a discreet downward glance.
In temples, government buildings etc., shoulders must be covered. Please do not wear shorts that show the knee or more.
Take off your headgear, sunglasses and headphones, turn off your phone and be quiet.
Buddha statues are sacred and must be honored. So do not touch them, sit on them, etc. Monks are not allowed to touch women.
Women should never sit next to a monk, as he will then have to give way.

No meat show and tenderness
Thais are conservative in this respect. The fact that many bar girls show a lot of skin is the rule in Phuket, Pattaya or Bangkok,
but the Thais regard it as dirty and low class.
Topless women are forbidden everywhere, and it is also forbidden to show your upper body in traffic.
In public (store - restaurant etc.) the latter is frowned upon and shows a primitive status, even if you think your tattoo is cool.
Except in lady bars, most Thais prefer a simple, gentle life without much physical contact.
Keep your romantic moments to yourself - they tend not to be appreciated.
Kissing and cuddling may be part of everyday life in Italy and Spain. In Thailand, it is indecent in public.

Greeting
Thais greet or thank you with a wai and the word “Sawasdee-khaa” for women and “Sawasdee krap” for men.
An apology is also accompanied by a wai for Thais.
The level of respect is expressed by the height of the joined hands and the depth of the bow.
The wai is often not returned to lowly people such as service staff or children.
Foreigners are not required to use the wai, as foreigners have virtually no social status in Thailand.
The best way to respond to a wai is with a smile and a nod of the head.
Some Thais know how to shake hands. If they offer their hand, they can also manage it.

Royal house
The royal family is revered by Thais and the law is strict about insulting royalty.
Therefore, any discussion about the Thai royal family is strongly discouraged.
Pay attention to the image of the king on money, pictures etc. and therefore never stand on or point your finger at a flying banknote or rolling coin. At the very least, Thais will be very offended. In the worst case, you could end up in prison.

Tipping
This is not an easy topic. In simple restaurants or food stalls, tips are not expected.
However, the higher the category, the more is expected - often regardless of the service charges already made.
A tip should be around 7 - 10% of the bill.
Superstition - but not for Thais
Don't whistle at night. It is a Thai superstition that it is used to summon evil spirits. In general, Thais do not whistle at any time.
Other widespread customs:
Don't cut your hair on Wednesdays
Do not leave the house if you hear a gecko.
If you twitch your right eye you will have a good time
Your finger falls off when you point at a rainbow.
Ask the monk for a good marriage date, or to buy a car.
And depending on the region, there is much more...

The law
It always gets uncomfortable and tedious when you get caught! So:
Never carry drugs on you. Severe prison sentences are possible.
E-cigarettes are banned in Thailand.
It is forbidden to drive a vehicle with more than 0.5 per mille of alcohol in your blood.
Thailand drives on the left and those coming from the left have right of way on roads with equal rights.
Riding a moped without a helmet or driving without a valid ID, speeding etc. are increasingly fined.

Mai Phen Rai & Sabai Sabai
Translated “don't worry” and “relax, take it easy”. These two phrases summarize a lot of Thai thinking.
Just don't think too much about things in Thailand. Many things and memories will remain and seem confusing at the moment.
Many expats use the code “TIT” when confronted with some of the most absurd things that happen in Thailand's everyday life - “This Is Thailand”.
“This Is Thailand.” And so it is.
For Thais, not knowing or doing something wrong is embarrassing - you “lose face”.
So don't ask if someone doesn't know what you want. Just ask the next person.
Expecting things to be like they are in your country will only cause frustration, so enjoy the adventure. For every little hassle, you will also be rewarded with many wonderful moments and lifelong memories.
This list is not exhaustive, but you can find much more here
The Thai social system