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A Guide To Recent Tax Changes For Landlords

With the latest Budget fresh in everyone’s minds, it’s easy to lose track of the changes actually impacting landlords today. For landlords who don’t have the time to keep abreast of every update to legislation, it’s hard to keep up and remain compliant. That’s why we’ve asked Mike Parkes from GoSimpleTax to weigh in on...

Mortgage Currency Quirk Favours UK And Expat Buyers In Spain

Currency risk is an important issue when buying a property abroad. Offshoreonline have pointed to a term available from at least one Spanish lender that can help you to manage your currency risk when earning in a different currency to the Euro. Written for Expat Network by Guy Stephenson of Offshoreonline Currency stability should...

How to Arrange Your US Social Security Retirement Benefit

Over half a million people receive some kind of Social Security benefit abroad, including retired and disabled workers, as well as spouses, widows, widowers, and children. If you retire abroad you can receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible and live in a country where payment is...

Healthcare In Cyprus

Cyprus has a good reputation for healthcare with public and private healthcare available. Many doctors are trained overseas, and the majority speak good English. The public healthcare service is funded by social security payments from those working in Cyprus (both Cypriots and foreign residents). Free or low-cost healthcare is available to long term residents and...

What Are The Best Options For Moving Money Abroad?

Today there are many options for moving money abroad and making the most appropriate choice depends on how much you are moving and whether you will be sending regular amounts. Short Term Travel Credit cards or holiday cash can cover short term holiday requirements, but if you are planning to buy a house or cover...

Buying Property In United Arab Emirates

As a collection of seven separate emirates, there are some differences between emirates in the rules and procedures for buying property. For this guide we will focus on Dubai, where buyers from India, Pakistan and the UK make up the three largest overseas contingents. Buying an existing (resale) property in Dubai follows a similar pattern...

Taxed On UK Mortgage Payments From Abroad?

I am planning to work in Qatar but want to carry on paying my UK mortgage and sending money to my family. Will this be subject to UK taxation? You should be in the clear as far as UK tax is concerned. Dean Power of The Fry Group says that the amount you send back...

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.