Expatriation A comparison of tax issues in the US & UK in an increasingly mobile world

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Regina Nichols
8 years ago
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1 London New York Geneva Expatriation A comparison of tax issues in the US & UK in an increasingly mobile world Greenwich Hong Kong Richard Cassell Penelope Williams Milan New Haven

2 UK Perspective What are the trends? It is easier to leave the UK since the UK has a residence/domicile based system The domicile rules remain intact albeit with a remittance basis charge after 7 years There have been predictions of an exodus of fund managers and other residents which have proved to be more of a small trickle than a stampede. The UK is still a benign environment. Setting up a business in Switzerland is not easy.

3 UK Perspective - continued The current government pledged to reduce net immigration but has only succeeded in reducing the number of overseas students. Data from the government shows that net migration fell below 540,000 in with the number leaving the UK increasing from 118,000 to 127,000. Overall, long term immigration figures are not moving significantly and continue to average 180,000. Relevant factors include not only UK tax issues but also European tax regimes and mid-east politics

4 Statutory Residence Test Current position Unclear, uncertain, unsatisfactory Future Consultation paper published 17 June 2011 Consultation period ends 9 September 2011 Draft legislation published 21 June 2012 Revised draft legislation published on 12 December 2012 Takes effect from 6 April 2013

5 Residency the future Types of taxpayer: Arriver Not UK resident in any of the previous three tax years Leaver Resident in one or more of the previous three tax years Full time worker abroad 35 hours per week (contractual or customary) For at least one tax year No significant breaks from overseas work Fewer than 31 days work in the UK Fewer than 91 non-working days in the UK Day counting test = presence at midnight, but some exceptions

6 Non-residence test Automatic non-residence test Arriver - Fewer than 46 days in the UK Leaver - Fewer than 16 days in the UK Full time worker abroad

7 Residence test (automatic residence test) Automatic residence test 183 days or more in the UK Only home in the UK Carry out full time work in the UK (for at least 365 days)

8 Residence test (sufficient ties test) Sliding scale of days of presence will apply, depending on the number of ties Ties: family accommodation work 90-day country No other factors relevant

9 Residence test (sufficient ties test) Family If your family is UK resident Spouse or civil partner Married or common law Not if separated (by court order, or where it is likely to be permanent) Minor children With whom you spend more than 60 days in UK (only) Child s residence ignored if in UK for school only and spends less than 21 days of holidays in UK

10 Residence test (sufficient ties test) Accommodation If you have available accommodation in the UK test is availability, not ownership only if used as a residence only if available for a continuous period of more than 91 days only if individual spends at least one night in it during tax year (16 nights if the accommodation is home to a close relative)

11 Residence test (sufficient ties test) Work If you work in the UK Working in the UK for 40 days or more during tax year 3 hours work per day test

12 Residence test (sufficient ties test) 90-day If you have spent more than 90 days in the UK in either of the preceding two tax years

13 Residence test (sufficient ties test) Country If you have spent more time in the UK than any other country Count days using midnight test Only applies to leavers

14 Arrivers Days in the UK Test Fewer than 46 days Always non-resident days Resident if individual has 4 ties (otherwise not resident) days Resident if individual has 3 ties or more (otherwise not resident) days Resident if individual has 2 ties or more (otherwise not resident) 183 days or more Always resident

15 Leavers Days in the UK Fewer than 16 Test Always non-resident days Resident if individual has 4 ties (otherwise not resident) days Resident if individual has 3 ties or more (otherwise not resident) days Resident if individual has 2 ties or more (otherwise not resident) days Resident if individual has 1 tie or more (otherwise not resident) 183 days or more Always resident

16 Ordinary residence - future To be abolished (but grandfathering provisions) Statutory provision to be made for overseas workday relief restricted to non-domiciled individuals who claim the remittance basis not available if taxpayer has been UK resident in any of previous 3 tax years

17 Taxation of UK residential property New rules

18 Who is liable? New rules Applicable to UK residential property owned by Nonnatural persons Non-natural person Companies, collective investment schemes and partnerships which have a company as a partner Natural person Trusts, whether onshore or offshore and whether or not they have personal or corporate trustees

19 Annual Residential Property Tax ( ARPT ) Taxable value of property ARPT 2m to 5m 15,000 5m to 10m 35,000 10m to 20m 70,000 Greater than 20m 140,000 'Chargeable period' will run from 1 April to 30 March Properties will need to be valued every 5 years

20 Annual charge reliefs Properties exploited in a property development, trading or rental businesses provided that the property is not occupied by a 'nonqualifying person' Properties available for use or enjoyment by the public for at least 28 days a year Properties owned to provide employee accommodation Properties held by charities for charitable purposes Farm houses of a 'character appropriate' to the land being farmed and occupied by farm workers

21 SDLT Consistency with the annual residential property tax properties owned by a natural person 7% properties owned by a non-natural person 15% Will be amended to incorporate the same reliefs as will apply for the annual residential property tax, but only with effect from the date of Royal Assent of the Finance Bill 2013 (expected in June/July 2013) Payment of the 7% rate conditional on the appropriate relief applying for 3 years from purchase.

22 Capital gains tax Consistency with the annual residential property tax only applies to properties owned by a non-natural person and reliefs apply Only payable on gains attributable to increases in value post 6 April rebasing Rate of tax will be 28% with 'tapering relief

23 New purchases occupied properties Outright Offshore company held by an offshore trust Offshore trust (with no holding company) Offshore partnership

24 New purchases occupied properties Outright ownership SDLT 7% Capital gains tax principal private residence relief Income tax no issues Inheritance tax exposure on death of owner regardless of principal's residence or domicile

25 New purchases occupied properties Offshore company held by an offshore trust SDLT 15% Annual charge Capital gains tax immediate charge on sale of property (but not company shares) Income tax benefit in kind rules Inheritance tax no issue if principal is non-uk domiciled when trust established

26 New purchases occupied properties Offshore trust (with no holding company) SDLT 7% Annual charge trustees excluded Capital gains tax trustees excluded Beware section 87 rules on any sale of the property Income tax no issues Inheritance tax on every 10th anniversary and when capital leaves trust

27 New purchases occupied properties Non-UK partnership with individual partners SDLT 7% provided no corporate partner Annual charge Excluded provided no corporate partner Capital gains tax transparent Income tax transparent Inheritance tax may still be exposure on death of partner regardless of partner's residence or domicile

28 Restructure? Depends on the facts Sometimes better to pay the annual charge in order to protect against IHT exposure If restructuring is required time is running out

29 Is the UK still an attractive destination for foreign nationals? Simple answer is yes: Remittance basis of taxation for non domiciliaries No charge for the first seven years 30,000 if resident for seven of previous nine years 50,000 if resident for twelve or previous fourteen years No CGT on the sale of UK situs property by non resident individuals ARPT easily avoidable If more beneficial to continue to hold via a company the ARPT is substantially less than wealth taxes in France for example (top rate is 1.8% on entire wealth not just property)

30 Is the UK still an attractive destination for foreign nationals Les Français disent oui! Estimated 400,000 French nationals in London alone Substantially less tax in the UK (France top rate of income tax is 75% compared to the UK s 45%) London now France s 6 th biggest city based on number or people Merci Hollande!

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