Dealing with scams

I read an interesting report this week that brought a smile to my face.  It appears that over seven million Britons stash cash away in their homes, with around £1.3 billion languishing in spots such as piggy banks, teapots and even freezers. Drawn by the convenience of having cash to hand and dismayed by dismal interest rates, British adults are squirrelling away sizeable sums at home, it has been reported. 

Only 27 per cent said they were happy with the interest rates accruing on their savings, with many adults saying their children now save more in bank accounts than they do. On average, people said they would need to be able to generate at least £120 in additional interest a year to be persuaded to move their money.

Your des-res might be a gorgeous sea-front apartment overlooking the med, or a rural stone cottage nestled amongst the vineyards of Burgundy, but wherever you live, once you are settled, understanding whether you are domiciled, non-domiciled or resident can be a bit confusing. However, clarity is essential: the amount of tax you pay hinges on knowing the difference and the relevance of each non-dom status versus residency status.

Firstly, don’t just guess your residency or non-dom status, because if you get it wrong, you could pay too much tax or pay it in the wrong place, and failure to pay can lead to large fines and penalties. Sadly, mis-payments are not tolerated; your tax planning may be well-intentioned, but if you don’t pay the correct amount of tax in the appropriate jurisdiction, you could be in hot water, so it is vital to get it right.

Generally, we recommend that you speak to a financial adviser working in your local region who will understand the jurisdictional rules applicable to your location and personal situation, but as a brief guide, read on and we will explain the fundamentals.