6 Things To Consider For Your Wealth Preservation (Whereas Number 3 Can Be Significant, Even Critical For Your Children One Day, Especially If You Consider Investing Into Real Estate Aboard)
Wealth preservation is the process of protecting and maintaining wealth over time. It involves taking steps to safeguard assets and investments, manage risks, and minimize taxes, fees, and other expenses that can erode wealth.
Here are some strategies that can be used for wealth preservation:
Diversity
- Diversify your investments: Investing in a variety of assets and spreading your risk across different types of investments can help protect your wealth against market volatility and economic downturns.
Have A Plan
- Create a financial plan: A well-designed financial plan can help you identify your long-term goals, evaluate your risk tolerance, and determine the best strategies for achieving those goals.
Pay Less Taxes
- Minimize taxes: Careful tax planning can help you minimize the amount of taxes you pay on your investments and other sources of income. This may involve taking advantage of tax-deferred retirement accounts, tax-efficient investment strategies, and other tax-saving opportunities.
Risks and How To avoid Them
- Protect against risk: Insurance, including life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance, can help protect you and your family against unexpected financial risks.
Gain By Saving
- Avoid unnecessary expenses: Reducing unnecessary expenses, such as high investment fees, can help you keep more of your wealth and increase your overall returns over time.
Inheritance Management
- Estate planning: Proper estate planning can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and minimize the tax impact on your heirs.
Yet, it’s important to remember that wealth preservation is a long-term process that requires ongoing attention and management.
That said, points 3 and 6, if not handled properly, can be excruciatingly troublesome for your beloved ones one day.
For the sake of clarity, let’s compare differences between UK and Serbia in taxation of inheritance of real estate from parents to their children.
What is Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance tax is a tax levied on the estate of a deceased person and is paid by the heirs who inherit the assets.
When it comes to inheriting real estate, there are differences in the inheritance tax laws in the United Kingdom (UK) and Serbia.
Below we will explore the differences in the inheritance taxation in these two countries in case of kids inheriting real estate from their parents.
Inheritance Tax in the UK
In the UK, inheritance tax is payable on estates valued at over £325,000 for an individual or £650,000 for a married couple or civil partners. If the value of the estate is above the threshold, a tax rate of 40% is payable on the amount above the threshold. However, there are certain exemptions and reliefs available that may apply in specific situations.
When it comes to real estate inheritance in the UK, the tax treatment depends on the relationship between the deceased and the beneficiary. If the property is inherited by the deceased’s children, it may be exempt from inheritance tax if it is the deceased’s main residence and is being passed on to a direct descendant. The exemption, known as the residence nil-rate band, is currently £175,000 per individual and is in addition to the standard inheritance tax threshold.
Inheritance Tax in Serbia
In Serbia, there is an inheritance tax on real estate and other assets that are inherited by heirs. The tax rate is determined based on the value of the inherited property and the degree of relationship between the deceased and the beneficiary.
Serbia NEVER had (and will likely NEVER introduce) an inheritance tax on real estate when the property is inherited by the deceased’s children.
In Serbia, the inheritance tax rates for other heirs vary from 0.4% for inheritances up to RSD 3,000,000 to 1.6% for inheritances over RSD 12,000,000.
Key Differences between UK and Serbia Inheritance Taxation
One key difference between the inheritance tax laws in the UK and Serbia is the inheritance tax threshold. In the UK, inheritance tax is payable on estates valued at over £325,000, while in Serbia, the tax rate varies based on the value of the inherited property and the degree of relationship between the deceased and the beneficiary.
Another key difference, yet perhaps the most important one from the standpoint of transfer and preservation of wealth, is the treatment of real estate inheritance by children.
In the UK, if a property is inherited by the deceased’s children and it is the deceased’s main residence, it may be exempt from inheritance tax.
But, in Serbia, there was no and will likely never be an inheritance tax on real estate inherited by children, irrespective of the fact how that property will be used in the future.
Conclusion
In summary, the inheritance tax laws in the UK and Serbia differ when it comes to real estate inheritance by children.
In the UK, if the property is the deceased’s main residence and is inherited by a direct descendant, it may be exempt from inheritance tax.
In Serbia, there was no inheritance tax on real estate inheritance by children.
Given the real estate prices and ROI which is surging in Serbia in recent years, the foregoing point may be a significant and determining fact when making a decision on where and in what to invest.
Especially, if you have your family’s best interest in your heart.
PS. It’s, however, important to seek professional advice from a legal or tax professional to understand the specific rules and obligations related to inheritance tax in each country.
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