First posting overseas: advice?

vbt

Hi,

I've just been given a posting to Islamabad with the FCO - although it's not the forces, I'll have a BFPO address and it looks from this forum that I'll have some of the same questions as people in the forces.

I was wondering whether anyone had any advice on tax-free shopping and how easy it is claiming VAT back if we can't get the VAT discount in advance?

We'll also be renting our flat out whilst we're away so that's a whole other area I have no idea about. It's the first time I will have been a landlord. does anyone have any advice? Especially about self-assessment tax returns etc? I haven't got a clue.

I'm finding the whole thing a bit overwhelming....

Thanks in advance

michael1983l

vbt wrote: »

Hi,

I've just been given a posting to Islamabad with the FCO - although it's not the forces, I'll have a BFPO address and it looks from this forum that I'll have some of the same questions as people in the forces.

I was wondering whether anyone had any advice on tax-free shopping and how easy it is claiming VAT back if we can't get the VAT discount in advance?

We'll also be renting our flat out whilst we're away so that's a whole other area I have no idea about. It's the first time I will have been a landlord. does anyone have any advice? Especially about self-assessment tax returns etc? I haven't got a clue.

I'm finding the whole thing a bit overwhelming....

Thanks in advance

Some companies will give you vat free all you have to do is get a form stamped and faxed to them off the Customes office in the Soverign base area.

Alias_Omega

vbt wrote: »

Hi,

I've just been given a posting to Islamabad with the FCO - although it's not the forces, I'll have a BFPO address and it looks from this forum that I'll have some of the same questions as people in the forces.

I was wondering whether anyone had any advice on tax-free shopping and how easy it is claiming VAT back if we can't get the VAT discount in advance?

We'll also be renting our flat out whilst we're away so that's a whole other area I have no idea about. It's the first time I will have been a landlord. does anyone have any advice? Especially about self-assessment tax returns etc? I haven't got a clue.

I'm finding the whole thing a bit overwhelming....

Thanks in advance

If you let your property, i would recommend it through an agent, and get an accountant.

As an overseas landlord, the agent can withheld the income tax part of the rent and pay it too the inland revenue direct, if its not an agent, the tenant has to do this.

We have an accountant, who will charge us £100 per year for the tax return. This amount is deductable from the annual income from the house, and they can probably lose alot of the income in places that i could never think of.

Cant really say much about the Vat-Free side of things at the minute, but amazon have just shut the door on the BFPO Vat Free side for BFPO addresses within the EU, so you should be ok.

Regards,

Alias

esmf73

Get an accountant to look at the tax side of things - otherwise just go and enjoy yourself. Never been to Islamabad, but when we did Cyprus it was great. Just is a long way away if anything happens to family back in the UK. Have a great time x