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 HMRCBefore 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.
The Bank of England has dealt a blow to savers, but there is good news for borrowers. The base rate has been slashed to 0.25% as part of a raft of measures introduced to stave off the threat of recession after the Brexit vote. This is the first cut in seven years.
A recent report has revealed that the number of people still working after the age of 65 has doubled in the last 15 years. It appears that more than 1 million people above that age are working still, representing more than 1 in 10 people. In 2001, the number was 436,000.
Global markets have now risen steadily across the board as the volatility spike following Britain’s surprise decision to leave the EU died down and investors realised that, although unexpected, the uncertainty of the terms of Britain’s future relationship with the EU need not undermine equity markets. As for the FTSE 100, it is now 5% above where it closed on 22nd June, though 6% down in terms of dollar value (£ is 12% lower against the dollar) and the FTSE 250 is only 3% below where it was on the same day. The FTSE 250 is a far better barometer of UK economic activity than FTSE 100 and many of the stocks that were hit hardest such as the house builders Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt made substantial gains as the new May government started to restore some stability.
It appears there is good news on the horizon for up to 2 million pension savers. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is looking at evidence that some major providers applied exit charges to people's pensions without informing them. In some cases, this amounted to nearly 40% of the value of the fund.
They are looking to see if they followed the rules which say they have to inform customers of any exit fees being applied. This is good news for anyone who, in the last few years, has suffered from being in this position as they could be due compensation.
Finally, some good news for British expats in France who are clients of expat financial services providers; the French government has said that it will look to make its expat tax regime Europe's most favourable – a move that is clearly designed to take advantage of uncertainty in London created by Britain's decision to exit the EU.
The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said that the favourable tax regime for expats in France would be extended from the first five to the first eight years of residence; the move goes some way to redress perceptions of an overly regulated and unfairly taxed financial sector in France.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched the investigation amid concerns that savers are in danger of being ripped off when they cash in their pensions. Insurers are to be probed by the City regulator over fears they are offering poor deals to savers who take advantage of new pension freedoms to dip into their nest eggs.
As you are probably aware from previous articles, new rules were introduced last year to allow savers to cash in their pension pots to spend as they like, rather than turning them into an annuity to pay for an income for life. Reportedly, fears are growing that many customers are choosing the first pension their insurer offers them and risk missing out on the best deals. Findings suggest that in the final quarter of last year, 53 per cent of savers who chose to dip into their pensions stuck with the same insurer, while 57 per cent of those who signed up for an annuity didn’t move elsewhere.
There is a feeling among some financial advisors that expats should be rushing to ensure their pensions are switched to a recognised HMRC QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) before Britain begins to formalise its exit from the EU.
Of course, it is natural that expats should look to make their wealth management decisions, including the possibility of a valid HMRC QROPS, at a relatively early stage so that they can have confidence and clarity regarding their financial arrangements; however, it is also worth remembering that the new British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has said that she does not intend to invoke Article 50 this year, meaning that there is still plenty of time to receive the right financial advice and to make a prudent decision
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