Living as an expatriate can bring many benefits, but it complicates matters related to your estate plan and assets. As an American living in France, it’s essential to regularly update your estate plan to account for your changed circumstances.   Here are five reasons why:  Comply with French inheritance laws. French inheritance laws differ significantly from

We talk to Paul Flintham, an International Financial Advisor at Beacon Global Wealth Management about French Gift Tax. Gifts are made while you are still living. The Doner makes the gift, the Donee receives the Gift. The Donee is also responsible for paying any tax that is due (droits de donation) In the UK there

  When it comes to retiring to France from the UK, one of the most imperative requirements for a successful visa application is for your financial circumstances to be in good order. We talk to Jennie Poate at Beacon Global Wealth, a wealth management firm specialising in providing expert financial advice for those looking to

We have seen recently a number of clients be caught out on the above ruling, including those who use an accountant. If you are tax resident in France, you must declare each year your bank accounts, investment policies and insurance contracts. It does not concern accounts used to make payments for online purchases or deposits

  The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. The transitional period ran until 31 December 2020 and the UK is now a “third country” and no longer part of the EU’s economic structures. This might affect how your UK investments or pensions are serviced in the future. If you live in the France

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is to be renamed the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) For those in France whose health cover is supplied via the SI form when receiving the UK State pension, the new website for a replacement card is the following: https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/cra/start A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the

Post/Parcels Letters and large letters containing only correspondence, commercial invoices or shipping documents do not require a customs declaration, the rest do. They can be downloaded from the following sites. France: https://aide.laposte.fr/contenu/brexit-au-1er-janvier-2021-les-nouvelles-formalites-douanieres-vers-le-royaume-uni UK: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/customs-forms Pension/ Healthcare Protection The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, states: “The provisions on Social Security Coordination will ensure that

The provisional bands and rates for 2021 for 2020 household income are below and are subject to parliamentary approval in December 2020. The income levels in each band will increase by 0.2% for inflation, but for two bands the maximum income figure has been reduced as a result of the reduction in the rate of

To apply for the new France Residency Card online, you need to go to the following French government site https://contacts-demarches.interieur.gouv.fr/brexit/brexit-demande-titre-sejour/, before you apply you will need to prepare the documents that are needed to accompany the application (each document file must have a different name and be less than 5mb in total). Further information can

If you are already France tax residents (or moving to France) and you take financial advice from the UK or your investments are still UK based, what do you need to think about as the end of the Brexit transition period approaches? Reassuringly, citizens’ rights for UK nationals legally settled in France by the 31st

When your main home/principal residence is in France and you are a tax resident in France it is a legal obligation that you declare all your world/global income and capital gains

Rental income is always taxed in the UK using individual personal allowances 2018/19 = £11,850. So, you can receive £23,700 between you with no income tax to pay.

France: Principal tax rates 2019 (for income in 2018)

In the UK there is a 7-year survival period on gifts

For people living in France, the Assurance Vie (life insurance) is considered one of the best ways to invest money and organise your inheritance

If you receive a French based regular income such as salary or pension, PAYE (pay as you earn) a tax payment at source is to be introduced.

L’impôt sur la fortune (ISF) – has now become l’impôt sur la fortune immobilière (IFI)

Most people are pleasantly surprised to pay less income tax or “impôts sur le revenu” in France than they would as a resident of the UK.

Inheritance Tax Rates per beneficiary
(Droits de succession) – there is no inheritance tax between spouses or couples with a PACS.

There is now great news for those planning to move to move on a permanent basis and are not yet in receipt of a pension.

An instant access savings account is a “Compte sur Livret”. Banks can also offer fixed term deposits, for over one month, which offer better interest rates, called “Comptes à Terme”.

The draft French budget for 2018 was presented to the French Parliament on 27th September 2017. The budget will now work its way through parliament before being approved at the end of the year, so changes are possible.