Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Residential Property Abroad


It is increasingly common for individuals to own more than one property and in many cases the first investment after the family residence is in a holiday home. Whether you are buying a place in the sun, a country retreat or a city centre apartment, if it is in a foreign country you will be exposed to an unfamiliar legal system and to taxes in the country concerned. It is therefore important, even before a contract is signed, to decide whether to make the purchase in your personal name or through a company. To change course later will always be expensive. It is however usually possible to reduce exposure to tax.

Buying in a personal name

Assuming the property is for personal occupation, the form of tax, which is most easily avoided, is estate or inheritance tax. The death of the person in whose name the property is registered will normally give rise to a liability which may exceed 40% of the value at the time and the tax will usually have to be paid before the property can be sold or transferred.

Buying in a corporate name

If, however, the property is purchased in the name of a company, the death of the owner does not create a need to transfer the property. The property will be owned by the company, and it is the shares in the company which will form part of the owner's estate and not the property itself. If the company is formed in an offshore territory, the British Virgin Islands for example, which does not impose taxation on non-residents, the objective of avoiding foreign death taxes will have been achieved. There is a bonus, in that the name of the owner of the company need not be a matter of public record, thereby maintaining confidentiality.

Ownership through an offshore company will also ensure that, on death, the property will pass to the intended heirs. It will overcome the forced inheritance provisions found in the civil law and in Sharia law.

Purchasing through a company does increase the cost. The purchase may attract a higher rate of stamp duty, the company will need to be professionally managed and it may be required to file a tax return. These costs are however generally modest in relation to the potential tax saving.

Some words of caution

Some countries, whether in an attempt to prevent tax evasion by their residents, as part of increased international co-operation against tax avoidance or merely to raise revenue from non-voting foreigners, impose taxes on a notional income of companies incorporated in tax- free centres, but not against companies formed in taxing locations. Examples are France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Argentina.

Others, such as the U.K. have hit on the wheeze of taxing their residents on a notional benefit, where the property is owned by a company rather than by the taxpayer personally, and no occupational rent is paid. Foreign investors in U.K. property are not discriminated against however. The answer, as always, is to take advice before acting.

The Chesterfield Group provides a full range of trustee, and corporate advisory, formation and management services and invites enquiries. More particulars can be found on our web-site http://www.chesterfield-management.comREF=CH4EZ


MORE RESOURCES:

Real Estate - Google News

TEXT: S&P: Nomura Real Estate Residential Fund Bonds Rated 'A' - Reuters


TEXT: S&P: Nomura Real Estate Residential Fund Bonds Rated 'A'
Reuters
8, 2012--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today assigned its 'A' rating to Nomura Real Estate Residential Fund Inc.'s (NRF; A/Stable/A-1) proposed JPY5 billion series 2 unsecured bonds, due Feb. 24, 2017. The rating on NRF reflects its relatively ...

Apple Valley real estate developer rejects offer in San Bernardino County ... - San Bernardino Sun


Apple Valley real estate developer rejects offer in San Bernardino County ...
San Bernardino Sun
By Mike Cruz, The (San Bernardino County) Sun SAN BERNARDINO - Apple Valley real estate developer John Dino DeFazio, who is charged with six counts of perjury related to a county corruption probe, turned down a plea bargain offered by prosecutors ...

and more »

Asia real-estate bull turns bearish - MarketWatch


MarketWatch

Asia real-estate bull turns bearish
MarketWatch
“Singapore and Hong Kong are two of the freest economies in the world, yet you pay more in stamp duties [real-estate transaction taxes] now than you would in London, because they are very worried about the markets continuing to overheat,” Murphy said.

and more »

Rogue Valley Commercial Real Estate In Upswing - KDRV


KDRV

Rogue Valley Commercial Real Estate In Upswing
KDRV
Signs advertising commercial space for sale are not hard to find in the Rogue Valley, but local real estate agencies say these spaces are gradually becoming easier to fill. Strips of retail or office space are seen in many areas around Medford.
Q&A: Broker's job expands as market contractsPress-Enterprise

all 3 news articles »

Real estate market likely to see an increase in M&A activity - China Daily


China Daily

Real estate market likely to see an increase in M&A activity
China Daily
By Hu Yuanyuan (China Daily) BEIJING - China will see more mergers and acquisitions in the real estate sector this year, with domestic players continuing to dominate the market, according to industry analysts. The cash flow of property developers will ...

and more »

Real estate developer says he plans to make cash bid for Philadelphia's 2 ... - Washington Post


Real estate developer says he plans to make cash bid for Philadelphia's 2 ...
Washington Post
PHILADELPHIA — A wealthy real estate developer said Tuesday he and four partners plan to make an offer to buy the city's two largest newspapers, whose downtown offices he already owns. Bart Blatstein said he plans to pursue an acquisition of some or ...

and more »

Real estate market rebounding - Park Record


Real estate market rebounding
Park Record
The Park City Board of REALTORS shut the book on the 2011 real estate market, releasing their annual report on last year's number of sales, sales prices and number of foreclosures. 2011 sales increased by a total of six percent from the year before ...
Real Estate Market Picks UpKIII TV3

all 2 news articles »

Alexandria Real Estate Q4 FFO Rises - Quick Facts - NASDAQ


Data Center Knowledge

Alexandria Real Estate Q4 FFO Rises - Quick Facts
NASDAQ
(RTTNews.com) - Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE) Tuesday reported an increase in funds from operations for the fourth quarter, as revenues grew. Funds from operations, FFO, attributable to common stockholders for the quarter was $67.8 million ...
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year Ended ...MarketWatch (press release)
2011 Operating Results And Increased 2012 Guidance Announced By National ...Daily Markets (press release)
BRE Properties 4Q Net Soars As FFO ImprovesWall Street Journal
RTT News -4-traders (press release) -Business Wire (press release)
all 68 news articles »

REAL ESTATE: Refinancing expanding for Fannie/Freddie borrowers - Press-Enterprise


Daily Mail

REAL ESTATE: Refinancing expanding for Fannie/Freddie borrowers
Press-Enterprise
With the changes that are expected to make the program much more effective, the program is being called HARP II by those in the real estate and mortgage industries. Probably the most significant improvement is that it lifts the ceilings on the amount ...
US mortgage giant plans massive auction of foreclosure propertiesA Place in the Sun

all 143 news articles »

The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go Mobile in Just Minutes With Free Online ... - MarketWatch (press release)


The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go Mobile in Just Minutes With Free Online ...
MarketWatch (press release)
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, Feb 07, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- With more and more consumers relying on mobile devices for local information, real estate professionals can no longer ignore this increasingly important channel when marketing properties.
The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go MobileRisMedia.com (press release)

all 4 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

List4Sale Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.List4Sale.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker