maxman71

Having had about 5 health exams performed over the years here in Thailand as part of my work permit renewal requirements, it is safe to say that they all were perfunctory at best: weight measured, a look-see in my ears and my throat, pulse and blood pressure taken and PRESTO...the needed "all is OK" letter is provided. That was the case until today when I went to BNH Hospital on Convent Road in BKK; the first time I'd gone there for health exam for work permit renewal. I had been there before for exercise injuries, but nothing else and I came away quite impressed with the place. So since my Thai lawyer's office is right around the corner from BNH and I needed to go there after the exam, I went to BNH.

They performed all the perfunctory stuff mentioned above, plus took a chest x-ray (first ever for me and I am 52 years old), a blood test from which they checked for all the dreaded nasties that have a way of being more predominant here in the LOS than most other countries. They also did a vision check which included a color-blindness check. All AOK.

All the above for THB 1,520. I would suppose there may be some folks who really don't want to know how bad of shape they may be in, or discover they have acquired some most unwelcome organisms via a blood test. But for me, I am glad at least one health institution takes a health check pretty seriously. Better to know than not.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/44200169

This law was passed by Congress in 2009 and signed by BO in 2010. It was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2013. Its' implementation has been delayed until Jan. 1, 2014.

Many foreign banks are crying foul and some are threatening to not accept US citizen depositors as well as take other negative steps to avoid having to deal with it.

Maybe banks that are going to comply with this new law should issue armbands to their employees; one for the left arm with BO's mug on it, and the other for the right arm with the big, bold letters, "IRS".

This new law is in addition to the long-standing law (enacted in 1973, but not heavily enforced until the last few years) that requires US citizens/permanent US residents to report their foreign bank accounts and income derived frome them, that have an aggregate total balance of USD 10,000 or more, even if that balance threshold is met only for one day during the calendar year.

If you are required to report your accounts, and/or you have at least a 10% ownership in a foreign company, their are other forms/reporting requirements that you need to meet in order to be in compliance.

With the US budget deficit mess, the US is getting very aggressive in enforcing existing laws and enacting new ones. With the ever-rapid advances in technology, it gets easier and easier for the authorities to flush people out who are trying to hide. And, more and more countries/foreign banks are cutting deals with the IRS to hand over US citizen account data. Not trying to scare anyone or act as a stooge for the IRS, but just telling it like it is.

For those of you who missed the last US tax amnesty program that ran for most of 2009 (it ended Oct. 15, 2009), the IRS has a sequel.
http://online.wsj.co...1503110852.html

The IRS claims they had a much higher response in Amnesty I then they predicted and took in USD 400 million as a result. If they find you before you come forward, penalties are draconian, possible including jailtime.