expat network

Contractors: Beware New Managed Service Company Rules

Contractors in the UK, or using UK structures while abroad, should consider how they might be adversely affected by new laws on managed service company providers. The UK taxman previously found it extremely difficult to enforce the old IR35 rules on personal service companies being used by contractors, say experts at Capital Consulting. So MSC...

Oil And Gas Workers Should Retrain?

A new online tool is designed to help skilled workers in the oil and gas sectors find job opportunities in the wider UK engineering sector, supported by the pipeline of large energy and infrastructure projects, according to the UK government. The existing Talent Retention Solution scheme, which is used by over 1,000 companies in the...

Beware The UK Stamp Duty Hike

From 1 April 2016, the UK taxman introduced a new higher rate of stamp duty which applies to the acquisition of a ‘major interest’ in an additional residential ‘dwelling’. So beware if you are buying property in the UK. A ‘major interest’ is defined as a freehold or leasehold interest, says Adam Thompson, tax manager...

Brexit And Workers Going Abroad

Following the UK referendum in June, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding how the vote to leave the EU will affect employers and employees who work internationally. While nothing is certain at present, says Anne-Marie Welch of tax specialists RSM, there are a number of tax issues to consider for UK employers who are either sending...

Heading For A Foreign City? It May Be Expensive

Hong Kong tops the list of most expensive cities for expatriates, pushing Luanda, Angola to second position. Zurich and Singapore remain in third and fourth positions, respectively, whereas Tokyo is in fifth, up six places from last year. Kinshasa, ranked sixth, appears for the first time in the top 10, moving up from thirteenth place....

The Brexit Effect On Currencies

On Friday 24 June the UK woke up to the news that the country had voted to leave the European Union by a majority of almost four percentage points. After seemingly buying into the belief that the Remain camp would ultimately emerge victorious, currency markets, particularly the pound, quickly reversed course as the tide of...

Britons in the EU

Brexit: The Bank Of England View

The Bank of England has quickly responded to financial questions raised by the UK’s referendum result on leaving the EU, in a handy Q&A format. What do any financial market movements after the vote mean? The economy will need to adjust to whatever new trading relationships are put in place in the future. These decisions...

Expat Healthcare In Canada

Canada offers citizens and permanent residents a universal public health insurance scheme known as Medicare. The quality of medical services in Canada is typically highly regarded and known for its remarkable standards of treatment and professionals. But what provisions have been made for expats in the country? By Cigna Global Expats living in Canada without...

Exits And Expats: How Brexit Affects You

Expats all over the world – and not just in the UK and Europe – will be puzzling over how the UK’s decision to leave the EU will affect them. It might certainly make it more difficult for Britons to find work in Europe. Savers, investors and European property owners will be affected too. ...

US Expats: Get the Facts Ahead Of The FBAR Deadline

With just a few days to go until the Foreign Bank Account Reporting (FBAR) deadline, you’ll want to make sure you’re aware of the requirements of this important US Treasury form. Here’s everything you should be aware of. Breaking Down FBAR The FBAR, also known as FinCEN Form 114, is the form you use...

Buy-To-Let Mortgage Calculator For Expats

Guernsey-based offshore bank Skipton International has launched a mortgage calculator to help British expats in their property investment planning. The new expat mortgage illustration allows those considering a UK buy-to-let investment to enter the value of the property and its expected rental income. They will then be shown the maximum loan potentially available, and the...

Rising Need For Middle East Renewables Engineers

There was a significant increase in the number of renewable energy contractor roles in the Middle East during the first quarter of 2016, with engineers particularly in demand. The data comes from professional services consultancy Procorre’s latest analysis of recruitment trends in the Middle East. The figures highlight that Saudi Arabia is recruiting the largest...