Specialist Advice
If you are an investor looking to move permanently to New Zealand, our specialist advice can help you manage the complexities.
- International and overseas investors
- United States citizens
- New Zealand investor visas
- UK pension transfers
Are you considering a move to New Zealand and unsure of the implications of your overseas investment portfolio? Cambridge Partners specialise in navigating and minimising risks related to the complexities of offshore assets. We take a holistic and long-term approach to help ensure that all cross-border obligations are achieved.
No matter your situation, if you intend to move to New Zealand and have overseas investments, a range of financial and tax implications must be considered.
In a world where information sharing between tax regimes is increasing, it is more important than ever to ensure that your financial assets are structured to maximise your long-term outcomes.
At Cambridge Partners, we have experience advising clients from the US, UK, Australia and many other jurisdictions, ensuring appropriate tax and legal advice is sought where necessary. Our goal is to make your financial transition to New Zealand as smooth as possible and to provide you with clarity and confidence about your financial future.
If you are a citizen or a permanent resident (green card holder) from the United States, you remain a US taxpayer irrespective of where you live globally.
Before the rollout of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), US taxpayers faced the minimal risk of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) sanctions if they failed to comply with their US tax obligations fully.
Now, with the global rollout of FATCA, there is nowhere to hide, and US taxpayers must assume the IRS has complete visibility of their international assets and income. The penalties for non-compliance are substantial.
The US tax code is one of the most complex in the world, and this complexity is amplified when both the US and NZ tax codes must be adhered to simultaneously. One fundamental issue is the December US tax year and the March NZ tax year, which require financial records to be maintained and reported for both fiscal periods.
Another is the US-NZ Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) and its interaction with the tax codes of both countries, which often leads to unexpected outcomes.
In this cross-jurisdictional world, the conventional US or NZ approaches to financial advice are unsuitable for US citizens and can often lead to unintended consequences. These must be understood and factored into financial and investment decisions.
We are specialists in managing these cross-border complexities for US citizens intending to live in New Zealand.
Cambridge Partners does not provide NZ or US tax advice or file NZ or US tax returns. Where required, we work in partnership with our network of US-NZ accountants and US-NZ legal advisers to ensure the holistic requirements of our clients are met.
If you are interested in applying for residency in New Zealand, the Government offers a pathway through the Active Investor Plus Visa.
The Active Investor Plus Visa is for high-net-worth investors – individuals and families. To qualify, you must have NZ$15 million, or the weighted equivalent in available assets or funds, and spend at least 117 days in New Zealand during the 4-year investment period.
Changes to legislation now remove New Zealand-owned property from the list of acceptable investments. Property investments can be made in managed funds or ETFs. Conditions apply. Please visit Immigration New Zealand for more information.
We work with your immigration consultant to ensure the investment strategy complies with visa criteria and reflects your situation and goals. More importantly, we ensure that there is a focus on holistic planning to simplify and bring peace of mind to your financial life.
Every UK pension scheme and person is different. So, while a general understanding of the critical issues is valuable, getting personalised advice from a Financial Adviser is essential to help you make an informed decision. You must understand the risks and benefits associated with a UK pension transfer.
For those who have lived and worked in the UK, the question of whether you should move your Defined Contribution or Defined Benefit pension plan is often front of mind. There are several advantages and risks involved in any transfer, and the advice can be different for each pension and person, depending on their situation.
There are several advantages and risks involved in any transfer, and the advice can be different for each pension and person, depending on their situation.
These include (but are not limited to):
- Understanding your UK pension and any guarantees or safeguarded benefits
- Assessing the tax implications for leaving your benefits in the UK, transferring now, or at some point in the future
- Whether you qualify for the 48-month transitional residency exemption and how this may affect your planning
- Your future plans, goals and income requirements
- The New Zealand retirement market and selecting an appropriate Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS)
We have in-depth experience advising clients from the UK and helping them navigate the different pension and savings plans, taxation and regulations around QROPS.
Contact us for more information.
Would you like to know more?
Talk to us now to find out how we can help you achieve your goals.
Would you like to know more?
Talk to us now to find out how we can help you achieve your goals.