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Residence and Real Estate in Jersey

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Jersey - a desirable location

The Channel Islands Jersey and Guernsey are situated about 14 miles from the coast of France and 120 miles from Southampton, England. A modern airport and its advantageous location enables Jersey to benefit from frequent and regular air services to London, Paris, Zurich and other airports in the United Kingdom, France, the other Channel Islands and Ireland, with regular sea travel to England and France.


Plemont beach, Jersey

The island of Jersey is not only known for its scenic beauty; it also enjoys a high European standard of living and offers a variety of options for leisure, eating-out and cultural activities. It is a paradise for golfing enthusiasts and people interested in water-sports. Residents also benefit from a high level of modern communication and associated facilities.

Shopping is a pleasure in Jersey. Many electronic, clothing and cosmetic products are about 20% cheaper here than in other countries in Europe due to Jersey's taxation policy - there is no Value Added Taxes in Jersey..

All financial institutions are regulated and supervised in Jersey by the Government's Finance and Economics Committee. Supervision is implemented by the Jersey Financial Services Commission which exerts close control over all financial institutions and trust companies.


Purchase of real estate

The purchase and occupation of all residential real estate in Jersey is controlled by the Jersey Government, through its Housing Committee. Basically only persons possessing Jersey Housing qualifications are granted consent to purchase property.

A limited number of persons classed as "essential employees", are also given permission, whose period of residence may be limited to five or seven years, The Housing Committee normally grants such consent when it is satisfied that the applicant will make a major contribution to the Jersey's tax revenues if he were permitted to reside in Jersey. Such applications are considered against certain criteria.

  • Estimated contribution to Jersey's tax revenue.

  • Applicant's business and social background.

  • The number of dependants and the extent to which they may seek to acquire Housing qualifications in their own right.

  • Other non-economic contributions to the island.

Applicants who may have achieved significant success in sports, entertainment, political or other fields, judged on their merits, might be granted consent on social grounds related to the non-economic benefit that may be derived from such activities.


Other Requirements

There are further requirements, as follows:

  • Purchase of a substantial property in the island by the applicant, at a price normally exceeding GBP 1 million, is required. This is outside the financial capacity of the vast majority of local residents.

  • Applicants are required to provide to the Chief Adviser to the Jersey Government, upon a confidential basis, financial and other information in support of their application to take up residence in Jersey.

  • With reference to the contribution to tax revenues, applicants will be required to show a capital wealth to the order of GBP 20million and an expected income arising in Jersey after taking up residence sufficient to produce a Jersey tax liability to the order of GBP 150,000 to GBP 200,000, based upon an income tax rate of 20%.


Taxation

Technically, Jersey is a low tax area, not a tax haven, and derives its income principally from income tax, excise and duties. No taxes are levied upon capital, capital gains, inheritances, gifts, sales or turnover; nor are there any estate duties.

Though income tax is levied on the world-wide income of a resident, there exist opportunities whereby a new resident may limit his future exposure to income tax by the creation of non-Jersey trusts with the approval of the Jersey Government. Thereby, part of the applicant's income maybe protected from Jersey tax charge, leaving sufficient income to meet the required Jersey tax liability in respect of which the applicant will be required to give an undertaking to satisfy.

The island of Jersey benefits from a unique constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom and a negotiated special arrangement with the European Union, by which Jersey has retained its right to internal self-government and fiscal autonomy. Particularly, Jersey reserves the exclusive right to legislate on matters of purely domestic concern, which includes its own taxation, and it is not required now or in the future to adopt the fiscal policies of either the United Kingdom or the European Union.

Jersey has a long history of political and economic stability and follows a conservative political system. The sources for its prosperity are Jersey's finance centre activities, the receipt of investment income from abroad by immigrants attracted to the Island by its tax advantages, tourism and, to a lesser degree, agriculture and light industry. The sources of revenue, which meet the income requirements of the Island, are sufficient to generate regular budget surpluses without the need to raise the standard rate of income tax, which has remained at 20% since 1940.


More information

Before contracting the purchase of a prospective property, it is recommended that a prospective resident should first obtain approval in principle from the Jersey authorities to his taking up residence. We are experienced and able to assist in this matter. To find out more about your possibilities to acquire resident status and to acquire substantial real estate in Jersey, contact Henley & Partners today.


Henley & Partners - Smart Solutions. True Service.




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