Just when we all thought the EU/UK withdrawal agreement was done and dusted, it looks like we will have to suffer many more months, or possibly years, of uncertainty over investments and Brexit. There has been much publicity surrounding the Irish border question and fishing rights, but many other issues need to be negotiated before […]
Financial planning: time for a spring clean!
The COVID-19 lockdown has prompted many to look for ways of using their extra spare time as productively as possible. For some, this includes reviewing their financial plan. We should always keep a close eye on our finances. It’s even more critical now that the fiscal effects of the COVID-19 crisis become apparent. Stock markets […]
Divorce and pension sharing
It’s an unfortunate fact of modern life that many marriages end in separation. Resolving issues relating to divorce and pension sharing is an essential part of any settlement. Even in the most amicable of cases, financial problems tend to focus the mind. Negotiations can become fraught if either side suspects the other of trying to […]
Inheritance Tax Planning and Double Tax Treaties
Inheritance tax planning is a complicated issue that requires careful attention. Under current legislation, UK Inheritance Tax is levied on estates valued at over £325,000 at a rate of 40%. It is little wonder that around £5.4 billion in revenue was collected in 2018/19 by HMRC! If you are an expat, inheritance tax could apply […]
British in France Seek Expat Pension Advice on Brexit
Understanding the full ramifications of Brexit is likely to be impossible for some time to come. Many people need guidance on their tax situation and also expat pension advice. The British in France can attend meetings and receive valuable guidance from the Embassy regarding a whole host of post-Brexit concerns. A series of meetings have […]
The Modelo 720 declaration
It’s March, and time for expats to complete the Modelo 720 declaration once again. This form has to be submitted before the end of the month by Spanish tax residents. The Modelo 720 declaration is more of an asset reporting requirement than a tax return. Assets which have to be declared include properties, bank accounts […]
Financial planning and Brexit
There are many issues surrounding financial planning and Brexit that expats should be aware of. I’m going to make a bold prediction though. Life will go on even if the UK decides to leave Europe! I don’t say this glibly. History shows that every time major political and economic events rock our world, we can […]
Sustaining pension income in retirement
Sustaining pension income in retirement is a common concern for most of us. We work hard to build up our pension pots in the hope that come the glorious day of retirement we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labour. However, for those in Defined Contribution (DC) plans it’s still important to […]
The Spanish compliant investment bond
Thank goodness for the Spanish compliant investment bond! It seems like each country’s tax code has various ways of relieving us of our money. However, they also offer ways in which we can legitimately avoid taxation, as long as we purchase the correct financial products. In the UK most people are well aware of the […]
Pension freedoms are not free!
The advent of pension freedoms has altered the landscape for those planning their retirement. In an ideal world, everyone would be a member of a high quality Defined Benefit (DB) pension scheme, whereby a sustainable retirement income is guaranteed for the lifetime of the individual. However, for those who are either self-employed or prefer a […]
Cryptocurrencies for pension plans?
How suitable are cryptocurrencies for pension plans you may ask? There are literally thousands of cryptocurrencies available globally, but would you invest part of your SIPP or QROPS in one? Most of us have heard of the first entrants to the market and some might even have either dabbled in them or used them to […]
The collapse of Carillion and its defined benefit pension scheme
The collapse of Carillion has led to significant problems with the defined benefit pension scheme. Once again the politics of private enterprise providing public services has dominated the news. As it seems with everything politics-related, more heat than light has been produced with both main UK parties putting forward their points of view. The collapse […]
Spanish inheritance tax
Spanish inheritance tax along with general tax legislation falls under the banner of Napoleonic law. Succession and gift tax, Impuesto sobre Sucesiones y Donaciones (ISD), apply to beneficiaries of gifts and inheritances for Spanish tax residents. ‘Forced heirship’ rules determine how you can divide an estate and what rate of tax applies to recipients. There […]
The end of cold calling for pensions
Could this be the end of cold calling for pensions? Way back in the early 1980s we saw the emergence of a new breed of financial adviser; the cold calling direct salesman. Eager new recruits were handed a telephone directory and told to call as many unsuspecting victims they could in order to secure appointments […]
Double Taxation Treaties and Overseas Pension Transfers
Double Taxation Treaties (DTTs) are legal mechanisms between countries which ensure individuals and companies do not pay tax twice on the same trade, asset or income in both the country of source and that of residence. As such, if a British person who is tax resident in Spain holds assets in the UK, the DTT […]