Many people who own or intend to own property abroad do not fully understand or recognise the implications of Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax and the peculiar rules relating to Forced Heirship.
Capital Gains Tax, which is essentially a profits tax, varies greatly between countries and ranges from zero % in countries like the Netherlands, to 40% in the United Kingdom, 35% in Spain and 16% in France. Countries which impose Capital Gains Tax also have different rules relating to relief so careful consideration has to be given to the nature of the investment, the term of the investment and the specific rules that apply for each country. It should also be noted that certain countries e.g. France may apply a withholding tax on the disposal of property unless a tax agent satisfies the notary that the Capital Gains taxes if any have been accounted for.
Inheritance Tax and Succession Taxes are taxes that relate to the transfer, upon death, of assets from spouse to spouse and to children. These taxes are often complicated, onerous and particularly high in Continental Europe where they can exceed 60%. In addition, most Continental European countries have Forced Heirship rules where the laws prescribe that children cannot be disinherited from parents' estates and therefore are entitled by law to a share of the estate.
Many European centres notably Spain, Portugal and France impose an annual wealth tax based on the Market value of the property. This type of tax may exceed 3%. There are certain structures available to mitigate this so therefore serious consideration has to be given to the method of ownership.
For more information on purchasing or owning property abroad, follow the links below to our Knowledge Base:
Buying a Property in the United Kingdom
Buying a Property in Spain
Buying a Property in France
Buying a Property in Portugal
Buying a Property in Bulgaria
Buying a Property in the USA
For clients wishing to purchase real estate in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for investment purposes, or for those seeking to purchase a secondary property for leisure or retirement purposes, there are substantial benefits to be derived through the establishment of a corporate, trust or foundation structure to address these issues.
The offices listed here have particular expertise in structuring property ownership solutions, and will gladly assist you with a Free Initial Consultation without obligation on how to approach your particular challenge.
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Languages spoken in this office: English, French, German, Albanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Greek and Italian
Languages spoken in this office: English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and Arabic
Languages spoken in this office: English, Dutch, Mandarin and Cantonese