STERLING MEMBERS
CORPORATE PLUS MEMBERS
WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS
STERLING MEMBERS
HYPOWER ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
Operating from our headquarters in Colombo , Sri Lanka we have successfully executed projects across the island in the renewable energy , roads , waste and water sectors . Our success has helped us cultivate a network of relationships with many international players including leading multilateral financial institutions , development agencies and global conglomerates . Leveraging on our extensive experience and strong reputation in engineering consultancy , we are now extending our reach into Consultancy Support for EPC ( Engineering , Procurement and Construction ) contractors , technology and project financing . Through our fully integrated offering we deliver a single-source solution to our valued clients . Find out more at https :// hypowerengineeringinternational . com . Representative Member : Tulsidas Wallooppillai , Managing Director
CORPORATE PLUS MEMBERS
EIGHT WEALTH INTERNATIONAL
We believe in the benefits of great financial planning . At one time or another , most of us will need to seek financial advice . At Eight Wealth International , a Principal Partner Practice of St . James ’ s Place Wealth Management , we have a wide range of expertise and knowledge , developed over many years , to help people – both individually and in business – fulfil their aims and aspirations , as well as offering that all-important ‘ peace of mind ’ for the future .
We offer a seamless service of distinct quality , professionalism and expertise , covering varying aspects of wealth management , all backed by the successful St . James ’ s Place Wealth Management Group . Find out more at https :// eightwealthinternational . asia .
Representative Member : Helen Starr , Senior Brand & Events Coordinator
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
A world top 100 University . Persuasive , persistent and bold . We encourage and empower people to turn ingenuity into reality and make important things happen . As a part of the University , Birmingham Business School delivers world-class research and teaching , providing the insights , ambitions and skills to shape better , simpler and more responsible business strategies . Our vision is to promote curiosity and thought leadership for responsible business . Find out more at www . birmingham . ac . uk . Representative Member : Hazel Westwood , Director , International Education ( Singapore )
35
Do you know your residency status and is it going to
change?
It is important to have taken advice on where you are
deemed to be resident for tax purposes. Given each
country has its own rules, it is possible to be resident
in two countries at the same time.
Business Exits
Looking to exit a business, be it by sale, a
management buyout or merely just a closure of
the business, the key is taking early professional
advice and understanding your options and the
implications. Personal tax advice is often
something that gets lost in the excitement of the
sale and the corporate lawyers doing their stuff.
However, there are some vital planning
opportunities that are lost after sale.
This article focuses on the sale of the business,
rather than the closing down. There are many
tax considerations for the business either way.
However, with a sale the personal tax
implications need careful consideration.
KELLY GREIG,
HEAD OF TAX AND ESTATE PLANNING,
EIGHT INTERNATIONAL TAX & LEGACY
EXPERTS
Since the Covid restrictions being lifted, it is not sur-
prising that British Expats have wanted to return to
the UK to see family that they have not seen for many
months. However, this has caused its own problems
with some individuals overstaying, meaning that their
income and gains are now subject to UK taxes. Even if
you have not done this, if you have made a gain your
business or been taking a salary up until sale, it is
important that you understand the timing of return-
ing to the UK (if that is your plan) to ensure the whole
amount is not taxable in the UK. Sure, there is a double
tax treaty with the UK and Singapore, but this just en-
sures that tax is not paid twice, it does not reduce the
UK liability (which is often the highest)
Deferred consideration or sale of business in
chunks
Have you given thought to how the deal will be struc-
tured? It is common for businesses to be sold now in
a way in which you do not receive the total consider-
ation up front, instead the business is sold in chunks,
or the consideration is deferred. It is important to un-
derstand which way yours is structured as it will have
quite different tax consequences. Although there is no
capital gains tax in Singapore, if the business is sold in
chunks with some of those payments being received
when you are then resident back in the UK, there will
be capital gains tax considerations to consider. It is
a good idea to take tax advice at that point to ensure
that the consideration is structured in the most tax
efficient way.
Inheritance Tax for UK domiciled individuals
Firstly, most expats I speak to assume that they are no
longer UK domiciled because they have not been living
in the country for a prolonged period. This is usually
not the case. To lose your UK domicile, you need to
have really cut all ties with the UK and made a per-
manent intention to live in another country and make
your life there.
HMRC will start with a presumption of UK domicile and
then this needs to be displaced. Most UK expats have
not done enough to do this. This means that on death,
your worldwide estate is subject to UK inheritance tax.
It also means that during your lifetime, the taxation of
gifts made by you are determined using the UK inheri-
tance tax rules other foreign rules may also apply.
For UK domiciled individuals, most shares in trad-
ing companies will qualify for 100% exemption from
Inheritance tax (the rules are much more complex than
this, so it is necessary for professional advice from an
inheritance tax advisor, either CTA or Solicitor to be
taken. However, on sale of the shares (or other inter-
est) the exemption is lost, and you could find your-
self in a position where your potential inheritance
tax liability has increased. There is an opportunity to
reinvest these proceeds into other assets that qualify
for the same relief, if you do not fancy running anoth-
er business, a portfolio on the Alternative Investment
Market will do the trick. However, there is always a
possibility that this relief can be taken away, espe-
cially when the UK government are trying to make up
funds.
If you were looking to gift property to children for
example, from the proceeds, it is better that, that is
structured prior to the sale. This allows some of the
shares to be transferred (it can be structured so no
physical transfer is required) prior to sale where the
exemption can be claimed. Even better would be a
transfer into trust or several trusts to ensure you can
continue to control the assets and decide when the
beneficiaries receive them. By structuring this way,
you will have minimised your taxable estate on death.
These are just some of the considerations when deal-
ing with Tax. It is important that you seek advice from
a suitably qualified professional. For UK taxation, this
would be in the form of a Chartered Tax Advisor or a
Solicitor specialising in Taxation. Remember timing is
key, do not leave it until too late.
About Kelly
Kelly moved her family to Singapore to begin an
incredible new venture, as the Head of Eight
International Tax & Legacy Experts. She is an
expert in her field, working holistically with her
clients and their advisers to create long-term
succession plans, ensuring their needs are met in a
tax-efficient manner while providing them and their
families with guaranteed protection. Kelly tailors
every case to her clients’ needs to fulfil their
requirements. Involving tax or trust advice for
high-net-worth individuals or setting up and
managing medical care.
About the Company
Eight International Tax & Legacy Experts offer advice
on a vast spectrum of legal services to individuals
and business owners in Asia and the UK. Most
importantly, our approach is to handle the most
complex and involved cases, making them as straight-
forward as possible for you. Eight International Tax
and Legacy Experts are associated with Eight Wealth
International. In addition, we also work with partners
across an extensive network. Through our
partnership with Eight Wealth International, we
provide our clients with a truly holistic blend of Tax
Consulting, Wealth Management, and Estate
Planning advice, offering a comprehensive and
qualified Financial Planning approach and Private
Banking to international clients. Find out more at
https://eightinttaxandlegacy.asia/.
Eight International Tax & Legacy Experts are active
members of the BritCham Financial & FinTech
Committee.