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Taxation on income and capital

233 views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Turtles  
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7 posts · ed 2023
I am considering Spanish residency in early retirement (from UK). A basket of ISA and SIPP would be used for income. As I would be Spanish tax resident I expect to pay tax in Spain.

I assume I could draw down on a lump sum realised in UK prior to moving tax free and not earning any money? From PPR or 25% tax free prior to Spanish tax year

Presumably, also, income distributed outside of a fund (interest or dividend) is taxed as "income" prior to consumption.

However, how about income held on and re-invested, or year-on-year accumulation fund growth?

In short, can capital formation continue unhindered by tax until it is "realised" or does the annual tax return demand payment based on investment value change. In other words, can I manage my income/gains to be more tax efficient?

Many thanks for any thoughts
 
ISAs have no protection under Spanish law, so you would pay tax annually on any dividends and then capital gains tax when you sell. The only consolation is that buying accumulation funds allows tax-free reinvestment of dividends, but again you pay cgt when you sell. Manually reinvesting dividends, or getting a broker to do it will not achieve this advantage.
It is important not only to change your UK non-taxable investments before you actually move to Spain, but to do it in the previous tax year. I'd recommend bed and breakfasting ISAs to establish a more favourable floor level before the move.
 
(Edited)
Fully agree with the comments inthe previous post, particularly those on rebasing asset values before becoming fiscally residency. If you haven't already do so I'd suggest talking to financial advisor since the tax treatment of a SIPP is complicated in Spain post Brexit. Last year I was told by an advisor from a well known firm of ants, that a SIPP is regarded not as pension but as a simple brokerage with tax being paid on dividends received and capital gains tax on realized assets. This is consistent with a recent judgement where a SIPP was determined not be a pension in Spain, at least relation to wealth tax
 
(Edited)
I was told by an advisor from a well known firm of ants, that a SIPP is regarded not as pension but as a simple brokerage with tax being paid on dividends received and capital gains tax on realized assets. This is consistent with a recent judgement where a SIPP was determined not be a pension in Spain, at least relation to wealth tax
Could you provide some information about this please? I can find articles referring to the wealth tax implications, but not the taxation of dividends or cgt.
 
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