United Kingdom, and particularly London, property has for many years been a popular mode of investment for foreign investors and indeed, at one recent time, it was estimated that some 60% of London residential property was owned by offshore companies. London real estate has also performed well in investment terms.

There are no restrictions on the ownership of real estate in the United Kingdom by non-residents and, other than the matters which influence the choice of the property itself, perhaps the most important factor to be taken into account is the impact of the various forms of taxation which will be encountered. These can be divided into direct and indirect taxes:

Indirect taxes

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is levied on the purchase price at rates, which range from 1% for a property costing 125,000, to 4% where the purchase price exceeds 500,000.

Council tax

This tax is levied by the Local Authority. The rate is set annually and depends on the locality, the size of the property and its value.

Direct taxes

The United Kingdom levies three main forms of direct taxation:

Income tax - This tax will not apply to an owner occupier.

Capital gains tax - Non residents are exempt from capital gains tax in respect of property held only as an investment.

Inheritance tax - For which any investor holding assets in the United Kingdom is potentially liable. Fortunately it is avoided easily by the purchaser who has a foreign domicile.

Inheritance tax planning

Where the value of chargeable assets passing on death exceeds 285,000 the excess over that figure is taxed at 40%. This threshold will increase to 300,000 for the year 2007/8, 312,000 for 2008/9 and 325,000 for 2009/10. Where the investor had a foreign domicile, only U.K. property is taken into account in the calculation and it may be necessary to take into account the value of gifts of U.K. assets in the seven years preceding death.

If the property is purchased in the name of the individual there can be no doubt that its value will be assessed for inheritance tax purposes on his death. If however it is purchased in the name of an offshore company, the investor does not own an asset in the U.K, but the shares in a foreign company, which, in his circumstances are not chargeable with inheritance tax. If the company is incorporated in a tax-free jurisdiction, such as the British Virgin Islands, the final result will be that the property passes tax free to the heirs.

Ref: CO240406