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Will your income be cut by the new dividend tax?

The government claims this means ordinary investors with smaller portfolios and modest dividend income will see no change in their tax liability. According to its sums, when combined with the increases the government has made to the personal allowance and the introduction of the Personal Savings Allowance, from April 2016 individuals will be able to receive up to £17,000 of income per annum tax-free.

Clearly that is the Governments spin on what could happen but for the majority of people over here the income they get comes from savings, investments or a pension.  So here’s the rub, the new rules will cut an additional £2.5billion out of investor’s income through tax.

At the moment basic-rate tax payers are not required to pay tax on dividends.

But under the new rules that will change. From April 2016 all taxpayers will have a new tax-free dividend allowance of £5,000 a year. After this tax is to be charged at new rates that are 7.5 per cent higher than current levels. The overall tax rate will depend on your income tax rate band.

If you are affected in some way by the changes outlined above, or have any questions regarding how to make the most of your money, it is well worth sparing some time to see a Financial Adviser.

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.

Other News

Malta and Portugal have the best citizenship programmes

LighthouseWhen relocating to a new country, it’s good to know all your options so you can ensure you have the smoothest transition possible. For one thing, there’s the financial side to worry about.

This includes deciding on the best expat life insurance policy to buy as well as receiving expert pension transfer advice so that your retirement savings aren’t negatively affected by the move. 

Naturally, some nations offer a smoother residency transition, with Portuguese citizenship and Maltese citizenship among the best, according to research.

Understanding citizenship entry requirements

You will, of course, also need to be aware of the entry requirements for each country.

Several countries have systems in place with the goal of attracting expats who will be able to gain residency in return for an investment. In a post-Brexit world, these may be the best options for some overseas movers. Although not suitable for everyone, some of these systems are of a very high, reputable standard and hold a range of benefits for expats who are eligible. A recent survey has analysed which countries offer the best of these migration schemes, with people choosing to buy Malta citizenship and Portugal citizenship as a matter of priority.

What makes the best citizenship programmes?

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Netherlands Ranked First for Pensions

WindmillFew financial decisions are as important to an expat as the question of how and where they invest into a pension scheme.

This is why the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index is so useful in terms of assessing the adequacy, sustainability and integrity of different nations’ pension systems. The 10th edition of the index was recently published and makes for interesting reading from an expat pension perspective.

The top spot in the list of 34 national pension systems was gained by the Netherlands having scored 80.3 – just a tenth of a point ahead of last year’s winner, Denmark.

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