Overseas/Offshore Bonds

Investments Quote Line

0845 108 0505

• Home
• Mortgages
• Online shares
• Banking
• Savings
• Pensions
• Car Finance

Overseas/Offshore Bonds

Offshore bonds - should you go continental? Anyone anticipating retiring overseas - or who currently works overseas - may find offshore bonds worth consideration.

However, offshore products can vary hugely in terms of complexity, the amount of safety your capital is underpinned by (offshore regulatory regimes can vary widely in quality) and, if you're not careful, be subject to higher on-going charges than conventional products.

Avoiding tax

This type of investment is not subject to tax on income or gains made by the underlying investment - a big sweetner, especially for higher rate tax payers.

Also the range of investment opportunities can often be broader than UK-only investment bond funds.

Offshore funds

Offshore funds often have a slightly murky reputation though many regimes - the Isle of Man is a good example - are highly regulated, offering stringent policyholder protection.

Offshore funds are often considered suitable only for wealthy people, though depending on your circumstances, this type of fund may well be useful for tax-planning purposes for a wide spread of personal circumstances.

• For people who have already exhausted their annual stocks and shares ISA allowance an offshore fund may have a place in their overall investment portfolio.