One step closer to emigrating
Discussion
Well I'm one step closer to leaving this Tax-ridden, Government-interfering, anti-business, rain-swept, miserable country.
I met my Tax adviser during the week, and we discussed all the various options and it's ooking like "The Bahamas". Today I've booked flights for all my family to visit the place later in the year. We're gonna spend a week looking at properties and locations on the various Islands. To top it off they even drive on the left over there, so I can take my Tiv - how cool is that? (Not sure about servicing though).
I think I can live with the odd hurricane in exchange for getting away from this absurd Labour Government (who are certain to be re-elected). For some reason Mr. Blair has decided to take virtually all of my hard earned cash and spend it on "Lesbian Awareness Campaigns", and the like. Meanwhile, he's let the schools and hospitals go to pot. So, I'll be voting with my feet Mr Blair - and you ain't getting any more of my money! I can run my business over the net quite easily, because I've got some very good managers in place.
The money I save in taxes will be ample to fly the family back to see friends and relatives fairly regularly. Or, more likely, pay for friends and relatives to visit us!
Edited to add: PS Any PHer who wants to visit will be more than welcome!
>>> Edited by srebbe64 on Friday 28th January 20:07
I met my Tax adviser during the week, and we discussed all the various options and it's ooking like "The Bahamas". Today I've booked flights for all my family to visit the place later in the year. We're gonna spend a week looking at properties and locations on the various Islands. To top it off they even drive on the left over there, so I can take my Tiv - how cool is that? (Not sure about servicing though).
I think I can live with the odd hurricane in exchange for getting away from this absurd Labour Government (who are certain to be re-elected). For some reason Mr. Blair has decided to take virtually all of my hard earned cash and spend it on "Lesbian Awareness Campaigns", and the like. Meanwhile, he's let the schools and hospitals go to pot. So, I'll be voting with my feet Mr Blair - and you ain't getting any more of my money! I can run my business over the net quite easily, because I've got some very good managers in place.
The money I save in taxes will be ample to fly the family back to see friends and relatives fairly regularly. Or, more likely, pay for friends and relatives to visit us!
Edited to add: PS Any PHer who wants to visit will be more than welcome!
>>> Edited by srebbe64 on Friday 28th January 20:07
At the moment I reckon emigrating looks pretty inviting for those who can afford it. I don't think I could stomach it right now, but if things just get worse over the next ten years or so, Australia looks good.
I mean, it's a commonwealth country, it's attractive, they drive on the left, they have muscle cars, and even though they're tetchy about speeding in cities and so on, the place is big and empty enough not to be bothered by petty bureaucrats wherever you go.
Only thing that puts me off about the place is the fact that just about everything in your garden can kill you.
If I couldn't afford the full move, I'd settle for a down-size to a small flat in the UK, but a nicer place to retreat to in Italy as often as I could.
I mean, it's a commonwealth country, it's attractive, they drive on the left, they have muscle cars, and even though they're tetchy about speeding in cities and so on, the place is big and empty enough not to be bothered by petty bureaucrats wherever you go.
Only thing that puts me off about the place is the fact that just about everything in your garden can kill you.
If I couldn't afford the full move, I'd settle for a down-size to a small flat in the UK, but a nicer place to retreat to in Italy as often as I could.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's just the 'soft issues' to deal with. Will the family be happy away from friends and relatives? Will they settle into a totally different environment/culture? Will the kids make new friends? These are somewhat imponderable at the moment, but it's got to be worth a go - even if we come back in a few years.
Good move srebbe64. I'm a few steps away on the planning front but looking to set up an initiative that I can manage from afar like YGS. Good luck mate.
P.S. Now you've gone and done it. I'll knock on your spacious deluxe des res multi-storey island hut door one day and remind you of what you posted here...
P.S. Now you've gone and done it. I'll knock on your spacious deluxe des res multi-storey island hut door one day and remind you of what you posted here...
v8thunder said:
At the moment I reckon emigrating looks pretty inviting for those who can afford it. I don't think I could stomach it right now, but if things just get worse over the next ten years or so, Australia looks good.
I mean, it's a commonwealth country, it's attractive, they drive on the left, they have muscle cars, and even though they're tetchy about speeding in cities and so on, the place is big and empty enough not to be bothered by petty bureaucrats wherever you go.
Only thing that puts me off about the place is the fact that just about everything in your garden can kill you.
If I couldn't afford the full move, I'd settle for a down-size to a small flat in the UK, but a nicer place to retreat to in Italy as often as I could.
But they do use Planes to catch speeders in the outback!
t1grm said:
Srebbe
I did the same a couple of years ago. Have you thought about Malta? They also drive on the left. Drop me a mail if you want if you want more info.
Yeah, Malta was on my radar. I gather it's very 'Tax friendly' there (no Corp Tax for example). Is Malta currently outside the EU? I think it is, isn't it? If so, is there any likelihood of them joining. I reckon it's only a matter of time before all European Taxation will be controlled in Brussels.
vixpy1 said:
I looked at emigrating to Mauritius a while back..
Went over there for a couple of weeks.. They wanted $1 million dollars of investment!
Mauritius? Isn't that in the Indian Ocean? You could invest $1m on a property that is greater than 30 metres above sea level. In time, the investment could go up in value because of the "scarcity" of property on the island!
srebbe64 said:
Srebbe
I did the same a couple of years ago. Have you thought about Malta? They also drive on the left
Yeah, Malta was on my radar. I gather it's very 'Tax friendly' there (no Corp Tax for example). Is Malta currently outside the EU? I think it is, isn't it? If so, is there any likelihood of them joining. I reckon it's only a matter of time before all European Taxation will be controlled in Brussels.
Malta joined the EU on 1st May 2004. Corp Tax works out around 4.5% provided you don't actually trade in Malta (which is unlikley). AFAIK there are no tax changes on the horizon - at least not for the next seven years.
srebbe64 said:
Mauritius? Isn't that in the Indian Ocean? You could invest $1m on a property that is greater than 30 metres above sea level. In time, the investment could go up in value because of the "scarcity" of property on the island!
Well, if you by a $500,000 dollar villa they will grant you residency, and too be honest, it is quite a growing economy.
I loved it out there, i might resturn one day.
srebbe64 said:
I met my Tax adviser during the week, and we discussed all the various options and it's ooking like "The Bahamas".
Used to live on New Providence. It will cost you *a lot* to secure residence (this doesn't come on a price list...). Cost of living is real high. Serious import duty on private car. As noted, although there are some nice motors, they just cruise and rarely have the opportunity to go much over 30. Also, living on a small island where everyone knows everyone else's business isn't for everyone
v8thunder said:
I don't think I could stomach it right now, but if things just get worse over the next ten years or so, Australia looks good.
I mean, it's a commonwealth country, it's attractive, they drive on the left, they have muscle cars, and even though they're tetchy about speeding in cities and so on, the place is big and empty enough not to be bothered by petty bureaucrats wherever you go.
Only thing that puts me off about the place is the fact that just about everything in your garden can kill you.
Australia is lovely, and the economy there is going well.
BUT, taxes are high. A Brit moving there would be taxed pretty aggressively , and the authorities there "see through" some of the cleverest tax planning schemes and nail you anyway.
Australia is also bureaucratic. There are a lot of small minded Bruce's who are civil servants designed to really wind people up.
Its one of the downsides of Australia, but probably the only one.
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