Moore Stephens warns that UK shipping competitiveness is under threat
faces a growing threat from other jurisdictions Leading accountant and shipping adviser, Moore Stephens, has welcomed the UK government's decision to issue consultation papers on statutory residence and the taxation of non-domiciliaries. But it warns that the UK shipping industry faces a growing threat from other jurisdictions.Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs' consultation papers propose a statutory residence test and certain changes to the taxation of non-domiciliaries with effect from April 2012. "These could have important implications for shipping," said Moore Stephens shipping partner, Richard Greiner, "and are generally to be welcomed".The stated objectives of the non-dom taxation reforms are to ensure that non-doms make a fair tax contribution and to encourage non-doms to invest in the UK. To achieve the latter objective, the government intends to allow non-doms to remit overseas funds to the UK tax-free for commercial investment in a qualifying business. Greiner added: "Although these measures are at present the subject only of a consultation paper, and could change as a result of responses received by the government before the cut-off date of 9 September 2011, they represent a positive development."Similarly, the draft proposals for a statutory residence test should result in rules which are clear and fair, ...
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