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You can find the fee information under "How Does it Work?" on this page: https://iglu.net/join/ https://iglu.net/join/ Iglu takes 30% of your total invoices. I

You can find the fee information under "How Does it Work?" on this page: https://iglu.net/join/ https://iglu.net/join/ Iglu takes 30% of your total invoices. I think ~20% is for your Thailand income tax and social welfare, and the Iglu fee is around ~10%. There's also a minimum of $2,500 USD per month. So you're paying Iglu about $250 per month. I think it's a pretty good deal. It's one of the only legal ways to live in Thailand long-term if you're working as a web developer or startup founder. The other options are: * Marry a Thai person and get a marriage visa * Get a retirement visa if you are over 50 * Buy a 5 year Thailand Elite visa [1] for 500,000 baht ($15,000 USD) -- This also works out to $250 per month. However, it's technically a tourist visa, so you're not legally allowed to work. You also have to file your own taxes, and I don't think you're eligible for the social security system. [1] https://nomadcapitalist.com/2018/01/22/thai-elite-visa/ https://nomadcapitalist.com/2018/01/22/thai-elite-visa/

stephenr 8y ago
I'm aware of the options - I've lived in Thailand for 6 years, and started a company here. 30% seems like a lot - I guess they know they have a market with few choices. For reference, in a month where we had client invoices worth 4 times the amount you've given in your example, our outgoings for Tax, Accountants, SSO and rental for a business address, was about 7.5% of revenue - and a good chunk of that is a relatively fixed fee.
- nathan_f77 8y ago
  Oh, nice. Yeah it might be worth setting a company, but I've heard a lot of horror stories. I met someone who actually shut down their Thai company and switched to Iglu because it was a lot easier. I'm not sure if you're comparing the 30% with 7.5%, but that wouldn't be very accurate. Iglu pays all of your personal income tax, social welfare contributions, visa application fees, etc. So I think it's more like 10% vs 7.5%, which isn't too bad. Definitely a good start for a solo developer/founder.
  - stephenr 8y ago
    > Iglu pays all of your personal income tax, social welfare contributions, visa application fees, etc. That 7.5% includes both company and personal taxes, SSO, etc. My visa application fees are about $70 a year now, they're inconsequential. I realise this isn’t viable for some - I started on a business visa and it was a lot more work and money each year. > because it was a lot easier I'm sure it is easier, particularly if you're a foreigner without any kind of ties to the country (e.g. no spouse+family to trust/rely on). But it's definitely more expensive if you're intending to operate for more than a year or two, and expect to have reasonable income.
desertedisland 8y ago
Hmmm... Pay 20% - 30% of my earnings before tax or take a $50 flight to Penang every three months.
- nathan_f77 8y ago
  Sorry, no it's not 20% - 30% before tax. It's 30% including tax. Iglu pays all of your personal income tax, so around ~20% goes to the Thai Revenue Department for tax and social welfare. The bottom line is that staying in Thailand for over 6 months per year is illegal if you are working and not paying any income tax. Anyone who stays in Thailand for over 6 months is officially a tax resident (even if you're on a tourist visa.) So you will get deported or possibly sent to prison if you are ever caught (and you never want to end up in a Thai prison.) A lot of people have been getting away with it for now, but I don't think this will last forever, and it's probably not a smart idea if you plan to stay here long term. I think the "working on a tourist visa" issue is a grey area, and they don't have any problem with tourists who do some work on a laptop. It just gets tricky as soon as you become a tax resident. You should be OK for 1-2 years if you stay under the radar. But this is very important to sort out if you're going to stay for 3-5 years.

stephenr 8y ago

I'm aware of the options - I've lived in Thailand for 6 years, and started a company here. 30% seems like a lot - I guess they know they have a market with few choices. For reference, in a month where we had client invoices worth 4 times the amount you've given in your example, our outgoings for Tax, Accountants, SSO and rental for a business address, was about 7.5% of revenue - and a good chunk of that is a relatively fixed fee.

nathan_f77 8y ago
Oh, nice. Yeah it might be worth setting a company, but I've heard a lot of horror stories. I met someone who actually shut down their Thai company and switched to Iglu because it was a lot easier. I'm not sure if you're comparing the 30% with 7.5%, but that wouldn't be very accurate. Iglu pays all of your personal income tax, social welfare contributions, visa application fees, etc. So I think it's more like 10% vs 7.5%, which isn't too bad. Definitely a good start for a solo developer/founder.
- stephenr 8y ago
  > Iglu pays all of your personal income tax, social welfare contributions, visa application fees, etc. That 7.5% includes both company and personal taxes, SSO, etc. My visa application fees are about $70 a year now, they're inconsequential. I realise this isn’t viable for some - I started on a business visa and it was a lot more work and money each year. > because it was a lot easier I'm sure it is easier, particularly if you're a foreigner without any kind of ties to the country (e.g. no spouse+family to trust/rely on). But it's definitely more expensive if you're intending to operate for more than a year or two, and expect to have reasonable income.

desertedisland 8y ago

Hmmm... Pay 20% - 30% of my earnings before tax or take a $50 flight to Penang every three months.

nathan_f77 8y ago
Sorry, no it's not 20% - 30% before tax. It's 30% including tax. Iglu pays all of your personal income tax, so around ~20% goes to the Thai Revenue Department for tax and social welfare. The bottom line is that staying in Thailand for over 6 months per year is illegal if you are working and not paying any income tax. Anyone who stays in Thailand for over 6 months is officially a tax resident (even if you're on a tourist visa.) So you will get deported or possibly sent to prison if you are ever caught (and you never want to end up in a Thai prison.) A lot of people have been getting away with it for now, but I don't think this will last forever, and it's probably not a smart idea if you plan to stay here long term. I think the "working on a tourist visa" issue is a grey area, and they don't have any problem with tourists who do some work on a laptop. It just gets tricky as soon as you become a tax resident. You should be OK for 1-2 years if you stay under the radar. But this is very important to sort out if you're going to stay for 3-5 years.