UK-originated benefits are a problem too; according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it has recently managed to secure £1.1 billion in reclaimed benefits from expats who should not have been receiving payment.
Fraudulent or negligent personal wealth management in Spain would appear to be a particular problem, with as many as 10,000 expats in the country prosecuted or fined for breaches in this regard.
However, it is likely that not all cases of tax and/or benefit fraud are deliberate. Some expats who are unaware of the rules, or confused by them, may make mistakes in good faith or sometimes as a result of negligent wealth management advice.
Fortunately, the DWP is prepared to make some distinction between benefit and pension overpayment cases that are clearly instances of intentional fraud and those that come about as a result of negligent mismanagement or misunderstanding.
In terms of the consequences for misdemeanours, approximately 50% of cases result in individuals being ordered to repay benefits in full, while the rest not only have to repay sums but also receive prosecution and a substantial fine.
HMRC adopts a similar approach to tax errors that are made in good faith and those that are made deliberately.
It is a difficult problem for the British government, HMRC and the DWP to address; nearly 4 million British citizens live outside the UK and there are a complex range of options available for both tax collection and benefit payments. Advice and clarity are clearly essential in this regard.
Tax reporting requirements for investment funds are constantly changing. Many EU countries, including the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, have recently modified or introduced new tax reporting regimes.
Getting it right with Blacktower
As an established wealth management firm in Spain, Germany and other major UK expat hubs, Blacktower has a detailed understanding of all the country-specific and cross-border tax and asset issues that affect you. For more information, contact us today.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.
Over the years, the trend for South African nationals to seek out new lives and experiences in Portugal has continued to grow and grow; I myself made the move back in 1988 as a fresh-faced economics graduate from Witswatersrand University in Johannesburg, and I’ve never looked back. It’s easy to see the appeal for South Africans – the year-round sunshine and vast expanses of Atlantic coastline are a familiar part of daily life, just as they are back home – but the secure location and easy access to the rest of Europe is something really special. Being as there’s over 11,000 KM of distance between the two countries, a mere 12 hrs by plane give or take, there are going to be some big differences in the way of life, even if there are those obvious similarities. It’s probably advisable for any emigrant to arrive armed with a willingness to accept how things are done in their new home country rather than try to carry on as before and hope for the best. This is never more true than when dealing with your finances.
British expats abroad have taken heart from the announcement that the government has introduced a bill to replicate the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), meaning that expats should continue to receive healthcare abroad even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.