Friday 16th May 2008
moneyweek.com
MoneyWeek logo

The most important financial stories, and how to profit from them

Skip to navigationSkip navigation
tax loophole, offshore accounts, gross interest, tax dodge

Tax loophole closure of the week: offshore accounts

10.02.2006

This genius investor does dizzying levels of research to uncover...Half Price Shares!

When is a tax dodge not a tax dodge? When it’s an offshore bank account. Yes, the interest in offshore accounts is paid gross; but no, contrary to popular belief, it is not tax-free.

Accountants are warning people to come clean with the tax authorities about any money they hold in offshore accounts after a landmark ruling against a large – but unidentified – financial institution, thought to be a high-street bank. The bank has been ordered to divulge information about customers’ accounts because HM Revenue & Customs suspects it is owed about £350m in unpaid tax by them.

(Article continues below)

Advertisement

You should declare any interest on money held offshore on your tax return. If you have failed to make an accurate declaration you should seek advice – and own up to the taxman sharpish. The only people who are exempt from paying UK tax on an offshore account are those that are resident but not domiciled in the UK. You have been warned!



FREE! For all our latest advice on making profitable investments, claim your 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek website and magazine now.
Free! Our daily email
Free Daily Email sign up
Money Morning is the FREE daily email from MoneyWeek – a punchy round-up of the latest investment news and profit opportunities. DON’T MISS IT!
New to MoneyWeek? Editor Merryn Somerset Webb explains what we do

 

FTSE 100 - 16 May 08