Income tax rise for British expats

More than four in ten retired British expats choose to live in Spain. This could be for various reasons, including Spain’s financial opportunities, family tradition, historical ties between the two countries, and, of course, the Spanish culture and climate.

However, it is little use making the most of Spain’s wealth management opportunities if your UK-based financial situation is not organised before making the move.

For example, nowadays the UK has various regulations and agreements in place with the European Union which mean that unless you pay off, or legally attend to, your UK debts before moving you could be served with a European Enforcement Order (EEO) – hardly the welcome card expats want when taking up residence in their new Spanish address.

Expats are in many ways the most forward-thinking of global citizens; living abroad shows a desire to embrace something more complex than a simple national identity and way of life. Yet, at the same time, it is also the most ancient act; humans began as nomads and then migrants, so being on the move is part of our species’ natural curiosity.

But there is more to being an expat than simply picking a destination on the map and moving there. By looking at all the available options and factoring in the many variables, people have an opportunity to make the most of their prospects and to enjoy the richest and most varied life possible.

Fortunately, this is what most expats do: the most recent HSBC expat explorer survey found that a move abroad adds around USD21,000 to the average salary, with some countries offering even more. For example, Switzerland, which has long been a destination of choice for the globally minded expat, boosts income by an average of USD61,000 a year.