Blackden Financial firmly believes in the philosophy of companies concentrating on what they do best. Because of this approach, and because we are often asked for assistance in a number of areas in which we do not specialise, we have formed successful working relationships with a number of other expatriate-oriented organisations, both in Switzerland and elsewhere throughout Europe, in order to ensure the widest range of services is made available to our clients via the Blackden Financial network. Each company is an expert in its respective field whether for tax advice, property purchase requirements, career non-life insurances or relocation and legal issues.

To obtain more information, click on the relevant header below, complete the attached questionnaire and we will either respond directly, or forward your enquiry to the relevant professional contact.

Areas which our professional partners advise on include, but are not restricted to, the following:-

• PROPERTY SEARCH
• TAX ADVICE
• HEALTH INSURANCE
• RELOCATION
• ESTATE PLANNING
• WILLS FOR UK EX-PATS LIVING IN SWITZERLAND OR FRANCE
• UK / FRENCH REGULATED FINANCIAL ADVICE
• COMPANY FORMATION / CORPORATE BENEFITS
• CAREER AND INTEGRATION SERVICES
• RETIRING TO SWITZERLAND
• DIVORCE FOR BRITISH EXPATS

PROPERTY SEARCH

You may be looking for a primary residence in Switzerland or neighbouring France, or perhaps you are looking to purchase a secondary residence, an apartment or chalet in the Alps or villa in the Mediterranean. If so, we can put you in touch with a number of carefully selected real estate advisors whom we have carefully screened for their professional and ethical approach and their expertise and knowledge in their chosen area.

• Property Search Enquiry Form

TAX REPORTING / TAX PLANNING ADVICE

Many people in the international community have assets held in, and income received from more than one country. This can be particularly true for those working for multinationals or even the UN and its umbrella organisations. When added to the assets you will accrue whilst in Switzerland, before long the situation can become somewhat complicated, and although initially on arrival your taxes are settled ‘at source’, it is still important to ensure you are not wasting tax planning opportunities simply through ignorance of the rules. In addition, inheritance tax (particularly for UK expatriates) is an area of increasing interest, especially given the somewhat confusing rules on losing UK domicile, (as opposed to residency). For those who want advice – whether pro-active international or national tax-planning, completion of a tax return or dealing with a complex issue arriving from holding assts in more than one country, we will be happy to introduce you to tax experts who can advise on the widest range of situations.

• General Enquiry Form

HEALTH INSURANCE

It is generally well known that when moving to Switzerland, it is compulsory to take out Swiss Health Assurance. However, it is less well known that it is quite legitimate to ‘shop around’ for the best rates and coverage, although this can be a time consuming task. We can introduce you to a firm of independent health insurance brokers who can help you save time and money, and ensure you get the cover which is right for you and / or your family.

• General Enquiry Form

RELOCATION

Whether you are moving to, from or within Switzerland, you are likely to need a number of different services: These may include national or international removals, renting a property, purchasing a car, advice on local and international schooling, (whether primary, secondary or at university level), as well as leisure, sporting and social clubs and activities ……………

• Relocation Enquiry Form

ESTATE PLANNING

For the international community living and / or working in Switzerland, estate planning can be complex and bewildering, and knowing your way around all of the country specific regulations requires a wide degree of knowledge, often highly specific. And the rules can often appear arcane in the extreme.

As one example, for most nationalities, domicile is determined simply by your residence, so if you are a French national living in Switzerland, then you are considered Swiss Resident and domiciled, and likewise for a German national resident in France. However, British domicile is acquired primarily by birth or even simply by what is known as deemed domicile, acquired by spending 17 out of the last 20 years in the UK, and does not automatically end when you move abroad. This is relevant because as a UK domiciled individual, even if you are resident outside the UK, you are potentially liable to pay UK Inheritance tax on any assets that are based in the UK, most typically (because it is immoveable) real estate. Accordingly, with UK inheritance tax rates at 40% above a certain level, if you hold assets in the UK such as a property, careful planning is needed to ensure you avoid this potentially expensive trap. We can introduce you to services that can advise on a wide range of nationally – specific needs, including but not restricted to the US, UK, France & Switzerland.

• General Enquiry Form

WILLS FOR UK EX-PATS LIVING IN SWITZERLAND OR FRANCE

1. Swiss/French law generally governs the property of those individuals who are domiciled in Switzerland/France, with the exception of real estate in the UK.
2. There are what are known as forced heirship rules in Switzerland and an individual can only dispose of their estate by Will up to the “devisable portion”. Rules provide the proportion of the estate close relatives, such as the deceased’s spouse and children must receive. These rules can only be varied, not avoided altogether. However a foreigner who is domiciled in Switzerland but has citizenship elsewhere can subject their entire estate to the law of their country of citizenship and thereby avoid the forced heirship rules.
3. French laws will apply where the deceased was last domiciled in France, or the real estate concerned is in France. Like Switzerland there are forced heirship rules and a testator is only allowed to dispose of a limited portion of their estate to whomever they wish. Compulsory shares must be left to direct descendants or the surviving spouse in the absence of descendants.

Applicable law

1. As a general rule, if the last domicile of the deceased is Switzerland/France, the Swiss/French authorities will have jurisdiction over probate matters and inheritance disputes in relation to the worldwide estate, with the exception of real estate outside Switzerland/France, where a foreign state claims exclusive jurisdiction. UK real estate may be covered by UK law even if the deceased was domiciled abroad.
2. The key issue for applicable law will be place of domicile, often defined as where the individual intends to die.
3. Even if not domiciled in Switzerland/France, real estate in those countries is likely to be dealt with under local laws

It is advisable to take tax advice from an international tax expert. Inheritance Tax is normally levied in the country of domicile, though real estate may be taxed in the country in which it is located. Double taxation relief treaties may apply in which case the estate will not be subject to tax in two jurisdictions.

Wills for Ex-Pats

Where individuals have moved from the UK but still have real estate in the UK they should make two Wills – one under UK law to cover UK real estate, another in the country in which they now live, to cover property owned there.

Purely Probate are not able to offer to make Wills covering properties held overseas but we would be happy to make Wills for ex-pats covering their UK assets. Instructions can be taken by telephone and email. As a guide, expect fees of circa £350 to £500 per Will and between £500 to £750 for mirror Wills for a couple, depending on the complexity.

For further information, follow the link…

http://www.purelyprobate.co.uk/index.html or e mail jd@purelyprobate.co.uk

Disclaimer: Please note that whilst we have done our best to ensure that the organisations / individuals to whom we will introduce you maintain the highest professional standards, at the same time we can accept no responsibility whatsoever for any advice given or received. The information provided here is offered by Purely Probate, and Blackden Financial can make no warranties as to its accuracy. If in any doubt relevant professional advice should always be sought.

UK / FRENCH REGULATED FINANCIAL ADVICE

If you are moving to France or the UK, whether for retirement purposes, lifestyle decision or simply as a career move, there will be a large number of issues to consider, and with the best will in the world it is all to easy to omit one of the most important – your finances. We work with a number of French & UK based, fully regulated Independent Financial Advisors (IFA’s) to ensure a seamless and successful financial transition from one country to another.

• General Enquiry Form

COMPANY FORMATION / CORPORATE BENEFITS

You may be considering forming a company in Switzerland, or simply need advice as to best how to establish yourself and / or your business. If so, should you set up a S.A. (Societe Anonyme) or a S.A.R.L. (Societe Anonyme de Responsabilite Limitee), or should you be an independent –self employed? As with any country, Switzerland has its own complex set of corporate rules and regulations, and a safe pair of hands is essential to guide and advise. Equally if you are considering establishing a larger organisation here, you will need advice on establishing a corporate benefits scheme, and will need to understand how the ‘insured pension’ system in Switzerland works. Blackden Financial can advise you in this respect and will work together with specialists in this field to help you find the corporate / employment solution you are seeking.

• General Enquiry Form

CAREER AND INTEGRATION SERVICES FOR EXPAT PARTNERS

In today’s global society, international companies relocate employees frequently to cope with changing business needs. Consequently, many people arrive in Switzerland as a result of a career move with their spouse or partner. However the career and life challenges faced by the expatriate’s partner often remain unaddressed, a situation which can potentially lead to significant problems and challenges.

We can introduce you to career and integrated services companies, often run by the partners expatriate employees themselves, who specialise in supporting the needs of partners of expatriate employees of multinational companies located in Switzerland, to help smooth the transition, and minimise the disruption to the partner’s professional and personal life.

• General Enquiry Form

RETIRING TO SWITZERLAND

Retirement in Switzerland

For those wishing to retire to Switzerland, there are many ways to settle in Switzerland. One particularly interesting way is to retire here via a fiscal ‘lump sum’ system. This offers those wishing to retire in Switzerland the option of paying a fixed amount of tax each year. The amount levied is based on either your annual rental payment, or alternatively the rental value of your home if you have bought or wish to buy property here, and beyond this has no absolute relation to your actual income or wealth. The tax charged is therefore expenditure based, and the annual rent or mortgage payments are taken to relate to a notional income. Your taxable income is therefore calculated to be equal to 5 times the annual rent or mortgage payments. You then pay the normal tax rate for the city and canton you live in. Under current arrangements you are not even asked to declare your actual income or assets. This fiscal arrangement, called the Forfait fiscal in French, or Pauschalbesteuerung in German is based on Switzerland's federal law and is therefore applicable throughout Switzerland, regardless of the canton in which you wish to settle. This fiscal arrangement is peculiar to the Swiss tax system and has been used for decades by many foreigners, including a number of celebrities.

Who can obtain a Fiscal arrangement in Switzerland?

To obtain a fiscal arrangement in Switzerland you will need to be a Swiss resident with a B or C permit, retired and you are not allowed to have worked in Switzerland for the last 10 years. Retired in this context means no daily professional activity, either in Switzerland or abroad. Some cantons have unofficial minimums for the taxable income before a residence permit is granted, usually in the region of circa CHF 75,000 – 90,000 p/a.

• General Enquiry Form

DIVORCE FOR BRITISH EXPATS

Most citizens of England or Wales who live abroad can use the English Courts to obtain a divorce. This is often much easier than trying to progress a divorce through foreign courts, suffering the difficulties caused by language barriers. In cases where both parties agree to the divorce there'll be no need to attend court and therefore no need to return to England.

There are some complex rules about where you can divorce and it's important also to check which country's jurisdiction would be most beneficial in your circumstances. For expert advice contact UK based family solicitors Woolley & Co - www.family-lawfirm.co.uk.

Disclaimer: whilst we have done our best to ensure that the organisations / individuals to whom we will introduce you maintain the highest professional standards, at the same time we can accept no responsibility whatsoever for any advice given or received.