Blevins Franks
Best Practice | 3 Mar 17
Understanding estate planning in France
Estate planning in France is made far more challenging by ‘forced heirship’ succession law and inheritance tax rates of up to 60%, explains Jason Porter, director of European IFA firm Blevins Franks. The regime is particularly daunting for complex family situations.
EU gives Spain two months to scrap ‘unfair’ expat fines
The European Commission has given the Spanish government two months to make Modelo 720 penalties fairer following revelations that fines issued for late or inaccurate tax returns can be as high as 150% of the undeclared assets.
British widow in France refunded over pension advice
A British widow has been refunded for poor advice she received from a UK adviser while living in France.
Five things you should know about estate planning in Portugal
For British expats living in Portugal, or for those with Portuguese assets, the local equivalent of inheritance tax maybe relatively straightforward, says director of Blevins Franks Jason Porter, but succession law is very different. If advisers do not understand the rules, their client’s estate may not be distributed in line with their wishes or could attract more taxation than necessary.
Spain under fire to harmonise tax regimes across regions
Pressure is mounting on the Spanish government to introduce a nationwide tax system to address “substantial tax disparities” between the country’s 17 autonomous regions.