International standards can be difficult to implement, requiring change and compromise. Once implemented, however, they ought to make life much easier for everyone. Indeed ideally they should become so universal that we barely notice them. A good example is Bluetooth, the international standard for how electronic devices talk to each other, which is now so… Read More When is an international standard not a standard?
The EU Succession Regulation comes into force today, giving much more freedom to families as to how they pass on assets they own in the EU in their wills. This could be particularly important for UK families with holiday homes in the EU or for those with parents and grandparents living in the EU. George… Read More New EU rules give UK families more freedom over legacies
Argentina topped our most read stories from the region last month, with changes to trust law and a succession ruling of most interest. In case you missed them, here are the top five: Regulation of Argentine trusts under the new Civil and Commercial Code: On August 1, 2015, a new civil and commercial code (the… Read More STEP LatAm News Digest wrap-up – July’s top stories
Presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders’ bid to increase estate taxes for the wealthiest proved of particular interest to our US readers. The top five news items for July follow, in case you missed them: US presidential candidate proposes increasing taxes on wealthiest: Presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, introduced on June 25 the Responsible… Read More STEP US News Digest wrap-up – July’s top stories
A focus on non-doms and offshore proved especially interesting for readers of our STEP International News Digests for July 2015. In case you missed them, here are the top ten worldwide industry items. Non-doms’ UK property to be drawn into inheritance tax net: The British government’s summer Budget announced yesterday includes two momentous measures affecting non-domiciled residents… Read More STEP International News Digest wrap-up – July’s top stories
The UK Budget delivered by Chancellor George Osborne MP on 8 July provided a focus for many of the stories of most interest to our readers. In case you missed them, here are the top ten most viewed items. Non-doms’ UK property to be drawn into inheritance tax net: The British government’s summer Budget includes two… Read More STEP UK News Digest wrap-up – July’s top stories
The Panel of Judges met yesterday to decide the winners of this year’s STEP Private Client Awards. Yesterday’s meeting was the culmination of a process that began in April when nominations closed and expert panels started sifting through well over 200 entries from 17 different jurisdictions to produce a shortlist of finalists in each category.… Read More STEP Private Client Awards Winners Chosen!
As many of you are aware, the 10th annual STEP Private Client Awards will soon be upon us. As Chair of the Presiding Judges I help review entries from around the world and coordinate the difficult task of helping choose the winners. There is, however, one category that is decided solely by STEP members. The… Read More Recognise excellence, cast your vote
Jan Wright, of STEP’s UK Practice Committee, and I attended the HM Revenue & Customs Annual Stakeholder Conference today. We heard from Financial Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke MP, that through policy changes and an investment of £800 million, the government was striving hard to find ways to incentivise tax compliance and make the… Read More The road to compliance
Another six months have flown by during which time plenty has happened on the international and national stage including the election of the Conservative Party into government. The first Tory Budget since 1996, announced on 8 July, was widely trailed in many respects. The UK Technical Committee has already been preparing for changes to the… Read More STEP England & Wales Biannual Statement – July 2015
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