ChiFRA

The Brexit transition period agreed in March gives British expatriates and those wishing to move to Spain more time to prepare. This was welcome news, but a small delay like this could slow people down in taking crucial actions that are fairly urgent - the clock is still ticking to get ready in time, particularly where paperwork is involved.   

The key issue for many people is residence ­– If you are already living here, will there be any problems with you staying after Brexit?  If you are still arranging your move to Spain, how can you secure residence in time?

In December 2017 the UK and EU27 committed to maintain existing residency rights for Britons and EU nationals who are “lawfully residing” within either area before the withdrawal date. This confirmed that citizens on both sides can continue "to live, work or study as they currently do under the same conditions as under Union law".  

The Spanish Hacienda earns €20 million from regularising the status of 160 high net worth individuals claiming tax residence in Gibraltar when really resident in Andalucía (Spain).

The Spanish tax authorities have taken huge steps over recent years to crack down on tax evasion and increase tax revenue. They implemented a number of new measures and adopted new IT tools to make it easier to find those who are not following the Spanish tax rules correctly, as well as to analyse the tax affairs of wealthy individuals with interests in Spain.

Besides looking for those who have failed to declare all their income, including overseas income and assets, they are also focused on false residency claims - i.e. those who live in Spain but claim residence in a low taxation territory like Gibraltar or Andorra to avoid paying higher taxes in Spain. 

With Brexit approaching and more options than ever for UK pensions, quality advice for expatriates is crucial.

While any financial transaction brings a degree of risk, pensions are often the cornerstone of a comfortable retirement, so getting it wrong can be disastrous. Indeed, we are sometimes approached by people who have made the wrong pension choice with another firm and found it very costly to rectify.

These six tips can help you get it right first time:

Today’s climate presents many challenges to both preserving your wealth and seeing it grow over time. As well as the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit, we have endured a prolonged period of ultra-low interest rates, and are exposed to a never-changing tax and regulatory landscape. All this makes it harder for investors to achieve returns that are not eroded by inflation and taxation without leaving their comfort zone.

At times like this, careful planning plays a particularly important role in securing your financial security over the long term. Here are six key tips that can help.