NEWS
HANDY WEBSITES FOR YOUR MOVE ABROAD
1.Wiki Travel:
wikitravel.org - A collectively edited (like Wikipedia) world location guide.
2. Perfect Days:
peek.com/perfectday – Share your favourite way to spend 24 hours anywhere in the world.
3. Expat Exchange:
expatexchange.com - Forum for discussion of a variety of living abroad topics.
4. Facebook:
facebook.com - Yes, obvious, we know, but it’s a great way to stay in touch with the folks back home!
5.Dropbox:
dropbox.com – Store copies of your important documents and photos online and access them from anywhere.
6. Skype:
skype.com/en/ – Free video phone calls with your loved ones back home.
7. Infobel:
infobel.com- International telephone directories by location and category.
8. M Passport:
mpassport.com – Find doctors, medication details and hospitals worldwide.
9.Amazon.co.uk:
amazon.co.uk – The monster-sized online shopping store that can save you money.
10. CurrencyFair:
currencyfair.com – The best way to transfer money abroad.
(Compiled
byCurrencyFair.com – a company that helps retirees, expats, and foreign property owners avoid huge bank fees when transferring money abroad.)
COULD YOU MOVE DOWN UNDER? TEST YOURSELF ONLINE
The UK’s leading migration experts have launched a new website where Brits can test whether they have the rights skills to move Down Under. Both Australia and New Zealand have major skills shortages and are
looking to the UK to recruit the thousands of workers they need. To helps fi ll these roles the Emigration Group has launched a new website (
emigrationgroup.com) so Brits can test if they are eligible for a visa to live and work in Oz and New Zealand. Paul Arthur, director of The Emigration Group said: “New Zealand and Australia are
in the middle of an economic boom and there are now thousands of job opportunities which need to be fi lled by skilled workers from overseas. Sectors where there are particular shortages down under are in the automotive, medical, IT and construction fi elds, but there are a vast range of job opportunities for skilled Brits and both countries are encouraging migration.” The new website will provide a simple, but comprehensive source of relevant information for Brits looking to move down under, and will also off er a free eligibility test, so potential migrants can assess whether they have the right skills to pursue the dream of moving overseas. Also see our feature on page 107 for more on migration to Australia.
CHECKLIST: HOW TAX-SAVVY ARE YOU IN THE US?
If you are planning on investing in a US holiday home or rental property you do need to make sure you get savvy with tax and compliance.
Non-resident owners in the US should not neglect… * Income Tax Return – Annual income tax return required by all owners on property deed to report income and expenses. * Sales Tax – Payable monthly to the Department of Revenue as a percentage of income on short term rental. * Real Estate Tax – Similar to council tax in the UK, assessed by the county, payable annually. * Tangible Personal Property Tax Return – Payable to the county where the tangible assets of the business exceed $25,000, assessed by the county annually. * Tourist Development Tax – Payable monthly to the local county as a percentage of income on short-term rental. * You will also need to have renewable local licenses displayed in the property – a local business tax receipt (issued by the county); and a hotel license (Issued annually by Department of Business & Professional Regulation) to allow paying guests to use the property. Non-resident US property owners can fi nd out more: Harding & Associates Tax Services (001 863 968 1010;
hardingtax.com).
BUY HALF A FLORIDA VILLA: £60K+
Why buy a whole villa in Florida when you only really need a half share? The British Homes Group,
in Orlando, Florida, has announced a “new” holiday home co-ownership programme for UK villa owners in the Sunshine State - Orlando Villa Half-Shares. “We have designed this programme to
address a demand in the market”, says Bill Cowie, a Director of the British Homes Group. “In the past 20 years we have arranged for numerous Florida villa sales with two or more owners on the deed. All we are doing now is making it easier for potential villa- sharers to meet and make their own usage arrangements - a kind of ‘dating service’ for property-buyers.”
The scheme is aimed at overseas property buyers who either can’t aff ord a whole villa or can’t use and enjoy it year-round. After all, US immigration laws restrict UK property owners to a maximum of six months stay in any one year. This leaves the Florida holiday home empty for half the year or forces the absentee- owner to try and let it for a few weeks a year to help off set the property’s running costs. There is no charge for the introduction
but British Homes does expect investors to purchase their new home (whole or half- share) for cash (to help keep the transaction simple) and through them (for arranging the introduction). For more information contact: BillCowie1@
gmail.com/ www.BritishHomesGroup.com
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