Where in the world can you pay the least tax?

Where in the world can you pay the least tax?

What would make you leave the country for good? Better weather, a more relaxed lifestyle or even, perhaps, lower tax rates?

Many of the Britons who emigrate there were 140,000 last year believe that HM Revenue & Customs helps itself to too much of their money and that tax rates in America, Australia and much of Europe are lower.

But is this true or is it just a matter of perception?

In case you believe that, when it comes to tax, the grass is always greener, we’ve surveyed the tax regimes in some of the most popular destinations for British expats and summarised our findings in the boxes on this page.

But first a quick reminder of how much are paid in Britain.

UK

Relatively low headline rates of income tax but large social security levies on top

IncomeTax rate
£0-£10,0000pc
£10,000-£41,86520pc
£41,865-£150,00040pc
£150,000+45pc

National Insurance contributions

Paid on earnings of more than £153 a week. Employees pay 12pc on earnings below £41,865 and an extra 2pc above that. The self-employed generally pay £2.75 a week plus 9pc on annual profits between £7,956 and £41,865. A further 2pc is paid on profits above that level. Over-65s pay nothing.

VAT 20pc

Property tax

Banded council tax levied by local authority, averaging £1,470 for a flat or £1,800 for a three-bedroom house (less in Scotland).

Buying property

Banded stamp duty rates, ranging from 1pc to 7pc, payable on full purchase price under cliff-edge system.

Savings

Currently 10pc on total savings income up to £2,880. This will change in April 2015, from when no tax will be payable below £5,000. Otherwise interest is taxed at your marginal rate. Dividend income is taxed at 10pc for basic-rate taxpayers, at 32.5pc from there to £150,000 and at 37.5pc above that.

Spain

Numerous income tax bands, tax breaks for children and elderly relatives

IncomeTax rate
Eur0-Eur17,70723.9pc
Eur17,707-Eur33,00729.3pc
Eur33,007-Eur53,40739.4pc
Eur53,407-Eur120,00046.5pc
Eur120,000-Eur175,00048.5pc
Eur175,000-Eur300,00050.5pc
Eur300,000+51.5pc

Rates shown include national tax and the average local tax rate. Eur4,080 can be deducted as an allowance

Social security (equivalent to NI) 6.4pc of salary, up to a maximum of about Eur41,000. Self-employed pay about Eur250 a month. Married couples can use each other’s allowances, deducting up to Eur3,400. There are income deductions for children. Elderly parents living in the family home also help cut tax bills.

VAT 21pc

Property tax

Charged by local councils at 0.4pc-1.3pc. Councils may also charge taxes on construction, motor vehicles and land.

Buying property

Transfer fees of 6pc-7pc, stamp duty of 0.5pc-1.1pc on second-hand properties.

Savings

21pc for interest up to Eur6,000, 25pc on Eur6,000-Eur24,000, then 27pc.

Italy

Complex income tax system but plentiful allowances

IncomeTax rate
Eur0-Eur15,00023pc
Eur15,000-Eur28,00027pc
Eur28,000-Eur55,00038pc
Eur55,000-Eur75,00041pc
Eur75,000+43pc

A 3pc solidarity tax on income of more than Eur300,000 applies until 2016

Tax allowances

For children, medical and funeral expenses, school and university fees, some insurance premiums. Sliding scale for those earning up to Eur55,000. A regional tax of 1.2pc-2.3pc is also levied, plus a municipal tax of 0.1pc – 0.8pc.

Social security

9.2pc of salary, deducted at source. Self-employed pay 18pc-28pc, up to an income of about Eur99,000.

VAT 22pc

Property tax

Municipal service tax of 0.3pc-0.8pc a year.

Buying property

3pc tax on urban property, 4pc if buying from a company or agency. Second homes attract tax at 10pc. Rural properties attract higher tax rates: 11pc, or 18pc for second homes. All rates are plus VAT. Agency fees (usually divided equally between buyer and seller) of 3pc-8pc, notary fees of 2.5pc-3pc.

Savings

Interest and some dividends and capital gains are subject to a flat tax rate of 20pc. Others are liable to tax of 49.7pc on gains.

France

Income taxed on family basis, with surcharges for high earners

IncomeTax rate
Eur0-Eur6,0110pc
Eur6,011-Eur11,9915.5pc
Eur11,991-Eur26,63114pc
Eur26,631-Eur71,39730pc
Eur71,397-Eur151,20041pc
Eur151,200+45pc

An additional exceptional contribution€ applies: 3pc for income of more than Eur250,000 and 4pc for more than Eur500,000

Couples pay tax on a family basis

Combined income is added up and divided by the number of people in a household, including children, to arrive at an individual’s taxable income. Self-employed pay up to 48pc of net profits, less for lower earners. Tax allowances on mortgage interest, children’s education, charitable donations and maintenance payments.

Social security

Total rate of about 8pc, levied on pensions and benefits (7.1pc) and investment or rental income or capital gains (15.5pc).

VAT 20pc

Property tax

Regional tax linked to notional rent a property might achieve. For main homes the rate is 0.2pc for more than Eur4,500 in notional rent. For second homes it is 1.2pc for Eur4,500-Eur7,600 and 1.7pc above that.

Buying property

Tax of 5.8pc, less in some regions. Off-plan and newbuild homes attract less tax but up to 20pc VAT. Registration costs can be an extra 1pc or so. Legal, mortgage and professional fees come to a further 2pc.

Savings

Interest and dividends taxed at marginal rate, additional social charges up to 15.5pc.

Greece

Simple income tax system but watch for the ‘garden tax’

IncomeTax rate
Eur0-Eur25,00022pc
Eur12,000-Eur42,00032pc
Eur42,000+42pc

There is an additional solidarity tax ranging from 1pc on income of Eur12,000 to 4pc on income of more than Eur100,000. Self-employed pay 26pc on income up to Eur50,000 and 33pc above that, plus a single solidarity fee of about Eur450.

A tax credit of Eur2,100 applies to employees and pensioners with annual incomes up to Eur21,000 then falls on sliding scale.

Social security

16.5pc of salary. The self-employed are self-insured and pay according to income, with a monthly minimum of Eur250.

VAT 23pc

Property tax

From 0.1pc for property worth Eur300,000-Eur400,000 to 1pc for those worth Eur1m or more, plus Eur1 per square metre of garden.

Buying property

3pc tax. Land registry and other fees up to 5pc. New properties attract no tax but do attract 23pc VAT.

Savings

15pc tax on interest, deducted at source. Dividends taxed at marginal rate.

‘Luxury living’ tax

Applies to the assumed annual income from the ownership or use of private cars, aeroplanes etc, and up to 10pc for swimming pools.

Australia

No social security costs except small health care levy

IncomeTax rate
A$0-A$18,200Nil
A$18,200-A$37,00019pc
A$37,000-A$80,00032.5pc
A$80,000-A$180,00037pc
A$180,000+45pc

Social security

Paid for through federal taxes, except for Medicare, charged at 1.5pc of taxable income. Those earning A$160,000 (plus A$1,500 per child) pay an extra 1pc.

VAT 10pc

Property tax

Charged locally. In Sydney, for example, the charge is A$100 plus 1.6pc of the value between A$412,000 and A$2.5m.

Other taxes

States also levy fees on other transactions, including land transfers, leases and car sales. This varies between 1.4pc and 5.5pc on sums of more than A$960,000.

Savings

Interest taxed at marginal rate. Capital gains tax is payable on disposal of assets, except for personal items such as a family home.

United States

Complex web of national, state and local taxes

IncomeTax rate
$0-$9,07510pc
$9,075-$36,90015pc
$36,900-$89,35025pc
$89,350-$186,35028pc
$186,350-$405,10033pc
$405,100-$406,75035pc
$406,750+39.6pc

Married couples filing together, widows and widowers and heads of household filing alone get different allowances. Taxpayers get a fixed amount for dependants such as children of just under $4,000.

State income taxes

4.6pc in Colorado, for example, or 6.5pc on income of more than $60,000 in Delaware, but none in Alaska or Florida.

Social security

6.2pc on salaries and self-employed income up to $117,000. Medicare charge is 2.9pc, plus 0.5pc on single incomes of more than $200,000 or joint incomes of more than $250,000. Many states levy sales taxes 9.5pc in Tennessee and 6.6pc in Florida.

Property tax

Generally charged at county or municipal level. Expect to pay $8,000 a year or more in Manhattan or $250 in parts of Alabama or Louisiana. In Palm Beach, property taxes average just under $5 per $1,000 of value.

Buying property

Many states levy sales tax on property purchases. Florida charges stamp duty and sales tax of about 8pc of the property value.

Savings

Dividends and other income taxed at marginal rate. Investments held longer than a year attract capital gains tax of 15pc on disposal, or 5pc in two lowest tax brackets.

Cayman Islands

No income tax but import duties on almost everything

Taxes

No income or capital gains tax.

Social security

None nor for any other government programmes. Medical insurance and pensions are mandatory for all employees.

VAT None.

Other taxes

Stamp duty on lease and property transfers, customs duties, business licences and fees.

Buying property

Tax at 7.5pc of price or market value, whichever is higher. Mortgages taxed at up to 1.5pc of the sum borrowed. Land leases charged at 5pc of rent for up to five years, 10pc for five to 10 years and 20pc for longer.

Import duties

Cayman does not produce its own food, apart from fish and turtles. Duties are imposed on most products, although luxury items, such as watches and jewellery, are exempt.

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