FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Hello everyone, This time of year things tend to get a bit crazy. The holiday season starts this Thursday with Thanksgiving (the American version), and of course December offers Hanukkah, beginning on Dec 14th, then Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years, all packed into the last week with festivities running
all month. There's definitely something for everybody. I had the privilege this evening of attending the 90th birthday celebration for one of our long-time members, Bill Wood, who has also served on our Board for many years. It was a wonderful party, and a fitting tribute to a true gentleman. I think I speak for all of us when I wish him many, many more such Happy Birthdays. Just a couple of reminders before I go. First, our
next Saturday Breakfast is right around the corner on December 6th, see below for more information and how to reserve your spot. It's the high season and it's a hot ticket, don't procrastinate! Finally, the word is out and reservations are flowing in for our Christmas Party on December 11th at the gorgeous Melia Chiang Mai. The article below will give you all the details, be sure to check it out and we hope to see you there. That’s it for now,
wherever you are please be careful, enjoy the holidays and as always, stay safe. -Kent
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NEXT EXPAT CONNECTION - JANUARY 24 DUANGTAWAN HOTEL - 3RD FLOOR 9:45 - 10:30 - Coffee/Tea/Snacks/Sponsors 10:30 - 12:00 Meeting
Our next Expat Connection is also our Annual General Meeting. Peter Bell is putting together a great program leading up to the Annual Meeting part of things, which we'll keep as exciting as we possibly can, which means short and sweet. As the speakers are confirmed and the program is set we'll announce it here, so keep an eye out as we get closer. Tickets will go on sale around the
end of December.
TASK OF THE WEEK We're looking for someone to video our meetings and events, and then load them onto our YouTube site. If you always dreamed of being a famous videographer, here's your chance! It requires minimal time on an occasional basis, and nothing more than a cell phone and perhaps
some imagination...mostly just the cell phone. If this one tickles your fancy, please email; treasurer@chiangmaiexpatsclub.com.
INCOME TAX LAW UPDATE Hello Members, Thailand’s tax policy on remitting foreign income has undergone notable changes since January 1, 2024. Under the current law, Thai tax residents are required to pay personal income tax at progressive rates (5% to 35%) on
foreign-sourced income when it is brought into Thailand, regardless of the year in which the income was earned. This represents a shift from the previous rule, where only foreign income earned and remitted in the same tax year was taxable, while remittances made later were not subject to Thai tax. We have recently confirmed that for most countries, social security or old-age pensions are not taxable in Thailand under tax treaties, with Australia being the major
exception. The previous government was drafting legislation to exempt foreign income from Thai personal income tax if it is remitted within the calendar year it is earned or the following year. However, this policy does not appear to have carried into the new government. Recent Bangkok Post articles have suggested that the current government is attempting to increase tax revenue rather than reduce it. There are hints that they are considering moving to a global basis
of taxation rather than a remittance basis. We will keep you posted. In summary, the Thai tax policy on foreign income remittance currently taxes all foreign income brought into Thailand. However, foreign income earned before January 1, 2024, remains exempt under a grandfathering provision, even if remitted afterward. Regards, Thomas M. Carden Director American International Tax Advisers
We last threw a Christmas Party in 2023, and it didn't measure up to our expectations. This is 2025, and things are definitely going to be different. The venue will be the same, the beautiful Melia Chiang Mai, but we won’t be in the Grand Ballroom this time. Instead, we’ll be in the spectacular Khom Room, which some of you may remember from a couple of our General Meetings there. If
you’re not familiar with it, the Khom Room is a stunning glass-walled room on a spectacular patio that stretches along the entire length of the 7th floor of the hotel. It’s an enchanting space in the daytime, at night it’s magical. We've stepped up the entertainment as well, hiring a first-class ensemble playing soft Christmas music during dinner, and afterward they’ll ramp it up with oldies from when most of us weren’t so oldie, and some contemporary music for the
more contemporary among us. We’ll also have a bar at our usual low prices, but this time the hotel will lend us a hand and supply real bartenders. We're also going to have some raffles, which will be drawn throughout the evening. Your party ticket automatically puts you into a drawing for a romantic night at the Melia, and you'll be able to purchase tickets for the regular raffle as well. We’ll have more details on that as they become available. I
saved the best for last— the menu. Don't worry, there will be no more hotdogs, or pulled pork tacos without the pulled pork. This time you’ll have some delicious choices to make, but hey, it’s a buffet, with two or three trips you can enjoy it all!
One last very important thing. We’re taking this opportunity to do something we should have done long ago, which is to honor Dave McComas, who passed away last year. He was a Board member for many years, served as our treasurer all that time, and was president for many more before stepping down from that role in 2023, and from the Board in 2024. Dave loved the CEC, and especially the Christmas
Party, and we know he’ll be there in spirit enjoying it with us. Mark your calendars for December 11th, and join us for a memorable evening of holiday spirit with friends. Tickets are limited, those glass walls only hold so many people so use the button below to purchase yours. We hope to see you there!
THAILAND HOLIDAY REMINDERS
During Thai Public Holidays, many bank branches and all Government Offices, including Immigration, will be closed. Note: If the holiday falls on a weekend, the "substitution" day is the day Government and other offices will be closed. Please also note that, during Elections, Religious Holidays (actual day, not substitution day) and usually their Majesty’s Birthdays, there may be a prohibition on the sale
of alcohol except International airports, hotels, and specified entertainment areas. December 5 - Fri. - H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Birthday, National Day and Father’s Day December 10 - Wed. - Constitution Day December 31 - Wed. - New Year’s Eve January 1 - Thu. - New Years Day January 2 - Fri. -
Special Holiday for New Years
As stipulated in the Bylaws, elections for new members to the Board of Directors are to be held each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in January. Any member can be nominated for the Board, but must be sponsored by two members who are eligible to vote at the AGM, which is defined as membership commencing before Oct 1 of the year immediately preceding the AGM, which for this election means Oct 1,
2025. Completed nomination forms must be submitted to the Elections Officer no later than the last Saturday of November (Nov 29, 2025). Time is running out, don't delay! As it stands now, the Board can have up to 11 members. Current Board members stand for re-election along with new candidates. If the total number of candidates is less than 12 there will be no election and all candidates will form the new Board. If an election is required it will
be conducted according to the CEC Bylaws. If you would like more information or a nomination form please send your request to info@chiangmaiexpatsclub.com.
SATURDAY BREAKFAST AT THE DUKE'S
Meet with other Members and make new Friends
HUNGRY? CEC and Insiders 100 bt Off at The Duke’s Ruamchok Breakfast Buffet! Saturday Morning ~ 6 December 2025 ~ 9:30–11:30
AM ADULTS: 345 bt (normally 445 bt) KIDS: only 195 bt Or call us at Ruamchok... 053-240-550 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ หิวไหม? พบกับ Insiders & CEC ลด 100 บาท
ที่บุฟเฟต์อาหารเช้ารวมโชค เดอะ ดุ๊ก! เช้าวันเสาร์ ~ 6 ธันวาคม 2568 ~ 9:30–11:30 น. ผู้ใหญ่: 345 บาท (ปกติ 445 บาท) เด็ก: เพียง 195 บาทกรุณาสำรองที่นั่งทางอีเมลที่… info@thedukes.co.thหรือโทรหาเราที่รวมโชค… 053-240-550
No news yet on the next Ladies Lunch, please check back.
Come Join Us for Tuesday DinnerEvery Tuesday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Currently at the Wine Connection restaurant at Central Festival - they host us for free. They have easy parking, a great selection of food and drinks for members to buy, and a separate area we can use. This is scheduled to be a regular event every Tuesday between 5pm and 8pm. Everyone is welcome, come along, bring your friends and meet new ones! Cheers, Jim Please
plan to join us! No reservations! No fees! Just come and socialize with your fellow expats in a delightful venue.
BRIDGE CLUB OF CHIANG MAIWe are a friendly bridge club with our own club house not far from the city centre. We have both Thai and expat members. Members and guests get together three times a week to play duplicate. We also offer periodic beginner bridge lessons. Please go to our website for further information (search Bridge Club of
Chiang Mai).
CMGeeks (Chiangmai Geeks) is a Special Interest Group (SIG) affiliated with the CM Expats Club in Chiangmai that focuses on information and communication technology. Just a quick reminder that our regular Tuesday lunchtime meeting is happening as usual at the Gymkhana Club. If you’re a regular or thinking of joining, we’d love to see you there! Contact / Information Addresses follow
this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10...
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offers 15% of in all 4 cafes with CEC/BG Card and 15% off all online orders with code CEC_15
Thank you to our valued sponsorsClick on their image or name to visit their website
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Assist Thai Visa has been helping it’s clients obtain their Thai Visas in Chiang Mai since 2008, and offers members a discounted rate on a 45-minute consultation. Regular price is 50 USD (approx 1600 baht), members price is 35 USD (approx 1120 baht). Click the button above to book your consultation.
Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai is so much more than just a hospital. Our state-of-the-art facility is staffed with skilled, caring professionals who are dedicated to the health and wellness of the patients they serve. Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai was established in 2014 as the 36th tertiary care hospital in the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) Group, the most prestigious hospital network in the
Asia-Pacificregion, with 49 hospitals across the BDMS network. Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai is the center of specialized healthcare for diagnostic and curative services in northern Thailand.
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What to do this coming week
To see more detailed information go to https://tiny.cc/stevesemail We hope to have a list by date for you starting next week (if you think you've seen this before, you're right...but we really do mean it!).
The Chiang Mai Expats Club (CEC) publishes various types of information for the purpose of helping fellow expats become acclimated and thrive in Chiang Mai. While we try to keep such information current and accurate, we do not have sufficient resources to provide assurance as to timeliness and accuracy. We advise members to confirm the information for themselves.To contact us - Email: info@chiangmaiexpatsclub.com which is the preferred method of communication. ©2025 Chiang Mai Expat Club | Chiang Mai Expats Club,
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