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Expats say they are being “penalised” for freedom of movement

“It might well delay the referendum if we’re successful but it doesn’t have to. There are cases where legislation has been fast-tracked through Parliament in a few days,” said one man, a 94-year-old World War Two veteran currently living in Italy.

A problematic issue

It is an issue that is proving problematic for a Conservative Party already reeling from internal divisions exposed by the referendum debate and the fallout from Iain Duncan Smith’s recent resignation, not least because, in their 2015 manifesto, they pledged to introduce a “votes for life bill” that would abolish the 15-year rule which currently prevents some expats from casting a vote in the referendum.

A group of expats, including the 94-year-old war veteran, have taken the case to the High Court, arguing that the EU Referendum Act breaches their fundamental rights under European Law. It is easy to see why these people feel so unfairly marginalised when they are among the Britons likely to be most affected by the outcome of the June 23 referendum, with many fearful that they will have to revisit all their expat financial services decisions in the event of a Brexit.

“Penalised” for freedom of movement

“Our clients are being penalised for exercising their EU free movement rights,” said one of the lawyers representing the claimants. “The people [the EU Referendum Act] arbitrarily excludes are those UK citizens who are among those most likely to be affected by the decision taken by voters in this referendum.”

The government now has until April 1 to prepare and submit a written response to the legal action; only once this process has been completed will the court be able to decide if and how the case can proceed.

Other News

Expat financial advisors in Grand Cayman

A move from the UK to the Cayman Islands is, by very definition, a bold one. However, for the majority of expats who undertake such a life change, it is not one that they will regret. This is because, if you get your financial advice and wealth management in order, chances are that you will be able to enjoy all the benefits that go with living in one of the world’s true natural paradises.

Dealing with HMRC

Before any would-be Cayman Island resident leaves the UK, he or she should fill out HMRC’s form P85. This ensures that you have the opportunity to get your tax and residency status right and is particularly important if you will continue to have UK tax to pay – for example, if you have a UK-based business, a rental income, or are the director of a company.

Considerations include being listed as a non-resident landlord so that rent can be paid without UK income tax, splitting the tax year into resident and non-resident periods, and addressing the issues around capital gains tax.

Read More

Planning for a Long Retirement in Spain

PaellaPeople across Europe and the Western world are living longer than ever before. This is likely to be the result of a combination of many factors – for example, good diet, technological and medical advances. and increased access to healthcare.

However, simply moving to a country with high longevity is, in itself, not enough to confer any benefit.

For example, if you move to Spain but eat a ‘Full English’ breakfast every day, followed by fish and chips for lunch and roast beef with Yorkshire pudding for dinner, while all the while smoking 20 cigarettes a day and downing several pints of beer every evening, the Spanish climate and great healthcare is probably not going to help increase your lifespan by a particularly significant amount.

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