The EUSTD – the devil in the detail
THE EUROPEAN Union Savings Tax Directive (STD) came into force on July 1, 2005. There were 14 years of negotiations between Member States prior to its signing, along with plenty
Government measures as useful as aspirins for seriously …
Government measures as useful as aspirins for seriously sick patients MARQUES MENDES, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), said recently in parliament that the current economic measures being taken
Spanish property companies bet on Portugal
PROMOTING PROPERTIES in Portugal was one area responsible for the success of the Spanish Property Market in 2005. According to statistics published in a report by property consultants DBK, 89
Delivering the letter to Garcia
THERE ARE several wars in this world of ours. For example, between men and women who are destined to misunderstand each other, since they want different things. Another war is
EU energy
THE ROCKETING price of energy this winter has concentrated the minds of politicians throughout Europe. The issue has not just been the price and availability of oil from the Middle
Understanding income tax for expatriates
ONCE YOU have retired to Portugal and/or live there for 183 days during any Portuguese tax year (the calendar year), you become a Portuguese tax resident and liable to pay
Exchange rates that defy gravity
WHAT GOES up must come down, said Sir Isaac Newton and, to be fair, he was mostly right. Think of tennis balls and frisbees and you will be proven right
Ride out the highs and lows of investing
IN THE past, you may have held a selection of investments such as equities, bonds and saving deposit accounts. Perhaps you held some from each category at the same time,
Individual tax payments in advance and retentions
Employees, independent workers and rentals EACH INDIVIDUAL with an income will have to pay individual tax (IRS). However, in order to calculate the individual tax that is owed, a complex
Markets and currencies – a review of 2005
UK For the first time in the last five years, shares outperformed house prices by a substantial margin. According to an article in the Daily Mail, UK house prices rose