Latvia is situated in northeast Europe and is one of the
so-called Baltic States, having a coastline on the Baltic
Sea. Latvia regained its independence from the old Soviet
Union in 1991 and joined the European Union in 2004. Latvia
is also a member of NATO. Latvia’s economy grew at a
rapid rate between 2003 and 2007, with growth in GDP of 10.3%
in 2007 and GDP of USD27 billion. The country entered recession
in 2008, brought about partly because of the large current
account deficit and artificially high property prices. GDP
fell by 4.6% in 2008 and by nearly 18% in 2009. GDP was USD39
billion in 2008 but fell to USD32.4 billion in 2009. A further
fall is anticipated in 2010.
Unemployment in Latvia rocketed in 2009, increasing from
8.1% in 2008 to 18.6% by the third quarter of 2009. This was
the highest increase of any EU country.
Latvia has not yet adopted the euro as its currency and
there is no definite date to do so. It continues to use the
Lat (LVL) as its currency.
New research from KPMG has shown that workers in the United Kingdom are suffering more than most as a result of post-crisis tax policy, with the UK’s
personal income tax rates now the fourth most punitive in Europe, up from thirteenth
a year prior. RSS
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The Italian Ministry of the Economy has issued amendments to the relevant legislation,
by which Malta and Cyprus have been removed from the country’s ‘blacklist’
of tax havens. RSS
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Governments must now gear their economies towards jobs, international competitiveness
and increasing the tax-take, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has said in its latest ‘Going for
Growth’ report, analyzing the next step for recovering economies. RSS
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I am facing a dilemma and would like to invite any reader to advise me.
I am a Brit who has lived outside UK since 1993- initially in Belgium (5 years) & subsequently in 4 African countries. After a year outside UK, the UK Inland Revenue confirmed my status as ‘non-resident’ for tax purposes and as I have had no income in UK, I have not completed a UK tax return for many years. I visit UK very rarely, normally for one or two weeks per year.
In May 2011, I was made redundent by my employers, who were downsizing. This coincided with a move to retire in the Netherlands, where I now have official residency (my wife is Dutch). I thought that, at 63 years of age, I would be unlikely to find suitable employment; in fact, I have not tried hard and had resigned myself to permanent (but slightly premature) retirement.
However, to my surprise, I have recently been approached (through a mutual acquaintance) by a company that wishes to use my skills on a project in the Isle of Man. The role, if & when confirmed, would see me working for about 10 days a month in Isle of Man, with about 5-7 additional days per month, working from home. Contract will be for about two years. The firm has asked me to confirm if I would prefer to be paid (and therefore be taxed) in Netherlands or Isle of Man, the idea being that I create a self-employment entity for this employment. I have no data on which to base a response. Given Isle of Man's traditional ‘low tax ‘environment, are there any benefits to declaring an income in IOM? Are there any Isle of Man residency implications? Netherlands takes a tax cut on total world wide income, and, as I have never had any contact with the Dutch authorities, I am reluctant to start such a relationship now. Do I have to declare income in both countries, with a breakdown prorata to the time spent in each jurisdiction? Should I declare income to UK Inland revenue?
If anyone has pertinent advice on these points, I’d be grateful to hear them.
Just wondering if anyone 'on the ground', as it were, might be reading and able to help me...I was considering relocating my hairdressing business from the UK to Ireland before the economy started to go properly belly-up...now, not so much.
Are things as bad as they seem over there, or is it being over-hyped by the media? And is the government still keen to support small business people? Cos if not, I'll look elsewhere...
Hi, I live in South Africa, and along with 2 business partners (one in South Africa and one in Ireland - all South African citizens though) are setting up a company that designs Smart phone applications. As they will be sold on the various platforms (none of which operate out of South Africa)we have to list our company as operating out of Ireland anyway. As such, we have decided to set up our company in the best tax country and are wanting info on whether Jersey or Malta is best? If anyone has some inside info we would really appreciate it!! Thanks!Mary
I am moving full time to France in Jan 2012 where I will be working as a freelance contract engineer to a number of Australian based companies. It is my choice to move to France not a work requirement. I will be renting my house out in Austrlalia and renting a house while I am in France. I hold both EU & Austrlain citizenshiip. I am married with 2 young children. Approx total family income $100k AUD. Do I pay tax in France or Australia or both ? Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.France move
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