The OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS) is probably going to impact directly every STEP member outside of the US – the only major international financial centre not so far committed to joining the CRS. Even STEP members in the US, however, are likely to have to consider CRS’ implications for any clients they have with… Read More CRS and charities: watch out for reporting obligations
The Contentious Trusts and Estates SIG Half-Day conference is designed to appeal to litigators interested in the latest cases in the field. It’s also relevant to non-contentious practitioners wishing to avoid problems in the future. It will feature leading speakers, in many cases with a direct involvement in the cases considered. Nicholas Le Poidevin QC of… Read More Knowledge pool: why you should attend the Contentious Trusts and Estates SIG Half-Day Conference
The Family Firm Institute annual conference is a mixing pot of those who advise family businesses and business families – family counsellors, management consultants, mediators, accountants, lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists, academic commentators, a good few family members and, interestingly, consultants who have come from businesses, families. A good few of the above are TEPs. This year’s… Read More Business, family and ownership: working in three dimensions
The Financial Times (FT) ran a story on Saturday 18 October about confusion over the Foreign Account tax Compliance Act (FATCA) deadline for trusts. It’s certainly true that the US has provided no clear deadline for trusts that need to register with the IRS under a Model 1 IGA. As the FT notes, the collective… Read More FATCA deadline looming
‘Ask me anything’ online engagement events are increasingly being used by public personalities and organisations to offer direct responses to questions posed by fans, followers and, indeed, members. In the spirit of talking directly to our membership we, STEP worldwide Chair Hélène Anne Lewis, and CEO of the worldwide Secretariat David Harvey, are inviting you… Read More Straight from the top – ‘Ask the Chair and CEO’
As you may be aware, STEP’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) represent opportunities for practitioners to take an active role in a particular area of practice to drive change and share ideas with like-minded colleagues across jurisdictions. Given the continued interest from practitioners in becoming involved in STEP’s SIGS, I think it’s worth detailing why now… Read More Above and Beyond: Channel your passion through a Special Interest Group
Through the Finance Act 2013, the UK-US ‘Agreement to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA’ is now part of UK law. It is imperative that all UK trusts and trustees urgently consider their status — regardless of any known US connections. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), part of the US Hiring… Read More Trusts: how to comply with US FATCA rules
Over the last six months, the England and Wales Regional Committee has been involved in some significant changes to policy, education and business planning initiatives. These adjustments have presented both challenges and opportunities and have been received with enthusiasm by our members. The Committee spent time at the beginning of the year providing input to… Read More STEP England & Wales Biannual Statement – June 2014
Welcome to the wrap-up of the top ten most popular stories in the STEP online Digests throughout April. In case you missed them, here are the top STEP News Digest stories most clicked by our readers. Probate court fees to rocket: The government is going ahead with dramatic increases to court fees. From 22 April the… Read More STEP News Digest wrap-up – April’s top stories
One of the recent debates on the Trust Discussion Forum has been about the circumstances in which a lasting, enduring, continuing power of attorney can properly be handed over. To whom does such a power of representation belong? When does ownership pass from the granter to the grantee? One solution can be to agree with… Read More Please Release Me, Let Me Go
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