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293 Blog results found for 'spanish pensions'
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 17th May 2017
Spanish Inheritance Tax can be a very misleading subject due to the varying advice and "solutions" spoken and written about in Spain. Wincham have been providing professional, friendly and informative advice to our clients ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 18th Jan 2015
Three things that don't mix, and certainly don't bode well for a future of problem-free vision : A foreign country of residence; less than 20/20 vision, and condition of Pathological laziness.
... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 3rd Aug 2014
Close observers of the news in Spain will be aware that the country's first privately owned Airport launched in 2008.
... more
By Mr Grumpy - Tue 8th Apr 2014
Most level headed individuals would not so much as consider asking a Vegetarian for advice on how to prepare the perfect barbeque, so why on earth would a [celebate] Catholic Priest assume the right to lecture the Spanish ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 13th Mar 2014
During the 3rd & 4th of April Wincham will be at the Homes, Gardens and Lifestyle Exhibition (stands 4 & 5) located at The Diamante Beach Hotel offering new and existing clients the opportunity to discuss their personal ... more
By David Goodall - Sun 26th Jan 2014
QROPS : Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes
... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 21st Jan 2014
As of 11thJuly 2013 the Murcia region increased Inheritance Tax (IHT) payable by residents inheriting within this region. Before this time Group 2 Resident Beneficiaries (spouses, parents, biological & adoptive children over ... more
By The Equalizer - Sat 21st Dec 2013
Ten years ago the UK’s Road Haulage and Removals industry were able to use their initiative and capitalise on a reasonably unique set of circumstances and carve out a very lucrative niche for themselves ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 19th Dec 2013
It is probably abundantly clear to even the terminally short of wit that I am not an accountant. Nor am I a tax expert, a professional gambler, or a mole working within the Spanish Central Government ... more
By Sally Ferguson, Don Quijote Spanish Language Courses - Wed 18th Dec 2013
While Spain offers its visitors a proliferation of exciting cities to explore, there are few as beloved as Seville. Located in southern Spain to the southeast of Portugal, this provincial capital stands proud surrounded by ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 8th Dec 2013
This past weekend I had the misfortune to be stuck in an airport lounge for a couple of hours en-route to a business meeting somewhere, with nothing but one of those God-forsaken glossy “Spanish Lifestyle” Magazines for ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 13th Nov 2013
Spanish Inheritance Tax can be a very misleading subject due to the varying advice and "solutions" spoken about in Spain. Wincham have been assisting clients since 1994 to successfully and legally protect their loved ones ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 8th Nov 2013
Even the most basic of students of the English language will be familiar with the idiom "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime" ... more
By Sally Ferguson, Don Quijote Spanish Language Courses - Mon 28th Oct 2013
As a nation, Spain has a thriving fashion culture characterized by both international and home-grown brands which attracts consumers from all over the world.In total, Spain employs more than 200,000 workers in 21,000 fashion ... more
By Sally Ferguson, Don Quijote Spanish Language Courses - Tue 24th Sep 2013
The city of Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula and is home to more than 1.5 million inhabitants. Holding the title of the second largest city in Spain and boasting a tremendous variety of ... more
By Sally Ferguson, Don Quijote Spanish Language Courses - Tue 10th Sep 2013
Spain has long fallen prey to the stereotype that all Spanish men exhibit a degree of male “machismo” or, better said, an exaggerated sense of masculine pride which they shamelessly wield over their colleagues, friends and ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 29th Aug 2013
When I was ‘nobbut a nipper I used to love reading Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Parables and Aesop’s Fables and the like ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 22th Aug 2013
A couple of years back my Mother popped over to Spain for one of her regular visits / inspection trips ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 15th Aug 2013
The Tie-Dyed, Beard festooned activists at Greenpeace have done it again ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 8th Aug 2013
Ok, so my blog’s title is clearly lying, but now I have your attention why not read why I wouldn’t be too surprised if this may actually be headline news in the not too distant future.... ? ... more
By Simon Costa - Tue 30th Jul 2013
Relations between Spain and Gibraltar have always been fragile, regardless of the fact that Gibraltar employs, at a minimum, 7000 Spanish workers who cross the frontier on a daily basis ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 28th Jul 2013
Let’s face it : The Spanish Government are selfish Bastards ... more
With interest rates set to remain low for the foreseeable future and with the introduction of a cap on rates that Spanish Banks can pay on bank deposits it can be a challenge to ensure that your savings maintain growth at ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sat 6th Jul 2013
It might not come any great surprise, but I have never been spotted on the red carpet with Jean Paul Gaultier. Nor have I exchanged Christmas cards with Posh Spice, and I dare say that I am not in Gok Wan’s i-Phone ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sat 29th Jun 2013
“Exodus : Movement of Jah People” : Wise words indeed spoken by the great prophet, Sir Robert of Marley ... more
By Meg West - Wed 26th Jun 2013
The problems caused by the preterite and imperfect tenses are certainly up there along with those of the subjunctive and ser and estar for us poor Spanish students. Like both of the above, it’s also something that ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 17th Jun 2013
I think it was Sir Isaac Newton who famously concluded in his detailed study on the Spanish Toll-Road system, that two opposing forces meant that any private operator of the country’s highways were destined for ruin ... more
By Meg West - Mon 10th Jun 2013
In need of another weekend trip to let off some steam ? How about Zaragoza ?
I ... more
By The Equalizer - Wed 5th Jun 2013
A little over a week ago the The Instituto de Estudios Turisticos (National Institute of Tourism) reported how Expenditure by Foreign Visitors was up for the month of April ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 9th May 2013
Spanish Inheritance Tax can be a very misleading subject due to the varying advice and "solutions" talked about in Spain. Wincham have been assisting clients since 1994 to successfully and legally protect their loved ones ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 28th Apr 2013
There are few certainties in both the British and Spanish media ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 14th Apr 2013
My inability to converse freely and easily in Castilian – let alone Valenciano – can only be described as being legendary amongst the locals in my Valley.
At Best ... more
By Meg West - Sun 7th Apr 2013
Although it would be hard to get bored of Madrid, it’s always nice to have a change of scenery and explore a new place. Just over half an hour on the train from Madrid, cheap, easy to travel to and with loads of stuff to ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 4th Apr 2013
Citizens or Spanish companies that are legal tax residents of Spain are now obliged to file a declaration disclosing the ownership of all non-Spanish assets to include foreign bank accounts and real estate ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 3rd Apr 2013
I was looking over one of the Gazillions of expat forums there are on the net the other night ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 24th Mar 2013
There are few Guiris living in Spain who don't the Golden Rule : Don't talk about the Franco years ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 15th Mar 2013
Over the course of the last 6 months I have been fortunate / unfortunate enough to have travelled abroad on business, where I have had to pitch various projects to Engineers in Germany, Hungary, Greece, Ireland, Kuala Lumpur ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 12th Mar 2013
Why not Join us for "Tea on the Terrace" and find out more about your Spanish Inheritance tax liabilities ? ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 6th Mar 2013
... No it probably Isn’t even a word, but I can’t be bothered to check my thesaurus ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 1st Mar 2013
And before anyone gets all defensive with me, note the ironic use of the speech marks ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sat 23rd Feb 2013
When I moved to Spain my reasons for doing so were very few, and very simple : ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 13th Feb 2013
Wincham now has offices located on the Costa del Sol in addition to our existing Head Offices at Calpe, Alicante and Cheshire, UK. The launch of our Marbella based service will be managed and operated by Mark Bailey and ... more
By David Goodall - Sat 2th Feb 2013
Many of the Financial Advisers operating in Spain are doing so without any regulation, with no authorisation and if anything goes wrong you the client has no recourse to putting this right. The only acceptable Spanish ... more
By Meg West - Fri 1st Feb 2013
Fed up of studying in your room? Fancy a new, interesting environment where you can get your head down and learn those stem-changing verbs ?
... more
By The Equalizer - Fri 1st Feb 2013
Sometimes there is nothing more amusing, or ironic than the juxtaposition of two pieces of news ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 31st Jan 2013
It is some years since I last worked in a predominantly Spanish office, and with native Spanish colleagues, however there are some things you never forget ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 7th Jan 2013
Over the course of the last 3 weeks somebody in Government, high up in their Ivory Tower and with their heads lodged firmly up their well-fed arses, has yet again taken the decision to continue with the infamous "Spanish ... more
By The Equalizer - Sat 8th Dec 2012
Stoical, Practical, Pragmatic, level-headed... just a few words that could be applied to describe the stereotypical Spaniard ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 30th Nov 2012
I normally pride myself on having in excess of sub-normal intelligence, however this week I had one of those moments where you finally see a connection between two situations or circumstances. One of those things that is ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 20th Nov 2012
Wincham International would like to advise you that you are obliged to submit a Non Resident Tax Declaration to the Hacienda (Spanish Tax Office) if you own a Spanish property as a holiday home or a Spanish property that you ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 1st Nov 2012
Banking : I look back with dewey-eyed nostalgia to a time when communicating with my Bank of choice was so much easier than it is today ... more
By Jo Green - Fri 26th Oct 2012
If I haven't Blogged for a while you will have to excuse me, having a new baby* and all that and trying to simultaneously entertain a hyperactive 5 year old at the same time ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 24th Oct 2012
Our clients were aware of the problem that would face their family upon their deaths and the fact that they may have to pay Inheritance Tax both in their country of domicile and in Spain. Spanish law dictates that the ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 9th Oct 2012
Both clients and local industry professionals were invited to the second seminar held at the Manchester Airport Marriott hotel on Wednesday 19th September. Two sessions were held at the Conference centre with a presentation ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 5th Oct 2012
Let me explain, before any of my many detractors shoot me down in flames and remind me that I am spouting unfounded crap again :
The Spanish (in my opinion at least ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 30th Sep 2012
And no, this isn´t about to lead to the punch line of a joke ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 16th Sep 2012
Following the end of this year's holiday season Spain's Dirección General de Tráfico - or DGT for short - got busy congratulating themselves that there had been "just" 262 fatalities on the country's roads in the months of ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 12th Sep 2012
Most owners are not aware that their beneficiaries and their estate may have to pay Inheritance Tax both in their country of domicile and in Spain. Spanish law dictates that the beneficiary of your estate must pay tax on the ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Mon 10th Sep 2012
Wincham International Ltd would like to invite you to attend our Roadshow taking place on the 19th September at the Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel. ... more
By David Goodall - Wed 22th Aug 2012
New Generation QROPS 2012 have changed the face of UK Pension transfers to Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes. The inclusion of professional advice and the exclusion of ‘cashout’ schemes have improved this ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 10th Aug 2012
Over recent years we have become used to seeing our TV screens, magazines and newspapers - even advertising billboards - full of the grinning faces of the many victorious Spanish sportsmen ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Tue 7th Aug 2012
News from Spain's National Institute of Statistics (INE) released over recent days has demonstrated two disturbing things ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 7th Aug 2012
Wincham Consultants Ltd is a legal, taxation and accountancy practice, specialising in clients with International assets. With a combined experience of over 65 years and professionals that are leaders in our field we are ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 12th Jul 2012
”The head is engaged”; “The final countdown”; “Friday the 13th”.... the potential cliche’s are too numerous to mention, and would quite possibly make a News of the World Journalist choke on his Woodbines ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 11th Jul 2012
Many of our clients tell us that they have been advised by other professionals that Spanish Taxation is likely to decrease in coming years and that Inheritance Tax (IHT) should not be an issue. ... more
By Jo Green - Sun 8th Jul 2012
If I haven't blogged for a month or so you will have to excuse me and put it down to the fact that I am entering my 39th week of pregnancy and as such I have a few more pressing issues on my mind ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 29th Jun 2012
Following this week's news I fully intend to get my application in early for my chosen vocation in my next life ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 20th Jun 2012
I consider myself a pretty normal / average kind of person, and on balance I’m guessing that there must be quite a few of us out there.... ( ? ) ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 13th Jun 2012
It is only after staying with my Mum in the UK for these past few weeks that I have realised just how difficult we as Expats have it when it comes to actually conversing with the native Spanish ... more
By The Equalizer - Tue 12th Jun 2012
It has taken approximately 48 hours for me to calm down and be peeled from the ceiling after hearing the news that Spain has officially asked for a bailout from the b-euro-cratic zone (Eurozone) ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Mon 7th May 2012
Wincham International will be attending This is Spain on the 19th and 20th of May 2012 at the Diamante Hotel – Calpe, Alicante. ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 26th Apr 2012
Before anyone accuses me of prejudice or discrimination they should first of all understand that I have taken 4 flights to and from Spanish airports in the space of last two weeks. Likewise I have dropped off and collected ... more
By Jo Green - Sat 21st Apr 2012
Perhaps it is because there are so many similarities between the Spanish and British cultures, it is when there are slight differences that they are all the more obvious ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Thu 19th Apr 2012
The period from August 2011 to April 2012 has seen a period of significant but controlled change in the QROPS marketplace ... more
By Mark Woodward, Ibex Insurance - Thu 19th Apr 2012
For many of us living in Spain, our home is a culmination of a life long dream, fantastic weather, a relaxed lifestyle and more for our money. It is easy to believe that once the difficulties of buying a property in a ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 29th Mar 2012
Way back before I moved to Spain, and when I was earning a half-decent salary and with little else to spend it on, I was the member of gym. The Gym was part of chain and was seemingly more popular with middle aged women who ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 22th Mar 2012
When Mrs Grumpy and I first moved to Spain 7 years back, little did we imagine that we would end up living with a hyperactive chainsaw ... more
By The Equalizer - Sat 17th Mar 2012
The subject of Spanish airports has been written about in the form of news stories, blogs and editorial opinion ad nauseum lately, and it seems that everybody has an opinion on the matter ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 14th Mar 2012
Yes, I know – yet another stereotype and sweeping generalisation from Mr Grumpy... however, the paradox that is Spanish eating habits has been intriguing me for a while now ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 13th Mar 2012
We are delighted to announce that from the 7th March 2012 all Clients who use our services to purchase or invest a Spanish property into a UK limited company will now be covered by Title Deed Insurance. We are the only ... more
By Mark Woodward, Ibex Insurance - Tue 13th Mar 2012
Car insurance is not the most exciting of subjects to discuss, but an essential expenditure for all of us nonetheless.
... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 8th Mar 2012
Shameful as it is to admit, after living in Spain for almost 8 years I have never once made a trip to Valencia – the regional capital ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sat 18th Feb 2012
I was stopped by the local Police last week and given a very stern telling off for walking my Dog, Lenny*, in the field behind my House whilst off the lead ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 16th Feb 2012
I am quite possibly the last person in the world, let alone Spain, to cast criticism over the way in which most Expats speak – especially when I am just as guilty of the said crime which drives me mad : ... more
By Jo Green - Sat 11th Feb 2012
Valencia is apparently the most indebted of all of the Spanish regions, with debt currently standing at around €20 Billion ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 8th Feb 2012
Non-residents purchasing properties in Spain are often urged to set up a Spanish Will in the belief this will shield them from Spanish IHT. ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 2th Feb 2012
We have received almost 1,500 enquires in the past 12 months alone from owners of Spanish property who are concerned about Spanish Inheritance and Taxes in Spain. ... more
By The Equalizer - Tue 31st Jan 2012
I know about the Spanish ITV : What it is and why I need one etc... However, my Spanish is not what you may call fantastic, and neither am I particularly familiar with the mechanical working of a motor vehicle ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 26th Jan 2012
The eternal Spanish Car-Parking question loomed large once again this week : Do I park ‘nose in’ and risk having my passenger and driver doors scraped by some obese shopper who doesn’t have enough space to squeeze into their ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 19th Jan 2012
The high number of 'Spanglish' relationships going on here in Spain has been intriguing me for a while ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 13th Jan 2012
I had this really great idea for a blog a few weeks back. All lofty high-brow stuff that would need loads of research and take ages to write and make me look really knowledgeable and stuff ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 5th Jan 2012
Just announced - a second hike in the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) levied on non-residents by the Spanish Tax Office in as
many years ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Thu 29th Dec 2011
So That’s another year gone! A year ago we were brave enough to make some predictions about what we thought might happen in 2011 with the promise to revisit them to see how right or wrong we were.
... more
By Jo Green - Fri 23rd Dec 2011
Thursday was the last day of school before the Christmas break for my daughter ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 9th Dec 2011
Any expat who has lived in Spain for more than a few months has more often than not already got their head around the whole 'two surnames' thing. In short, that the first surname comes from the father, the second from the ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 2th Dec 2011
After living here in Spain for as long as I have, the things that I miss about living in the UK get fewer and fewer. Infact, there are no material possessions or consumables that I can think of that I simply can't live ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Mon 21st Nov 2011
After reading the news story, published on the 10th November 2011 by Tumbit (Click HERE to read), I felt that I should expand on some of the problems that the new HMRC unit is likely to be targeting ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Mon 21st Nov 2011
If at some stage in the past you have worked in the UK then the overwhelming probability is that the answer to the question, “do you have a UK pension fund?” is “yes.”However, it is likely, if past experience is anything to ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 18th Nov 2011
If there was one thing that would set aside a Brit from a Spaniard more than anything else it would probably be their attitude to queuing ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Fri 11th Nov 2011
The power of the internet means that articles about QROPS posted here on Tumbit are picked up all over the world. So this article is not just aimed at those in Spain, but at all (including other practitioners) with an ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 11th Nov 2011
A quintessential Spanish tradition in our valley is the weekly Rastro ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 2th Nov 2011
As the Spanish tax year draws to a close we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the benefits of placing your Spanish property into your own UK Company (which we can provide) before the end of this year to ... more
By The Equalizer - Wed 2th Nov 2011
December the 6th in Spain is celebrated as Constitution Day in the majority of Regions, where offices and medium to large businesses are obliged to close to observe the fiesta ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 27th Oct 2011
I live in the campo, about equally distant from a small village of about 500 residents, and a larger village of about 2000 residents.
... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Mon 24th Oct 2011
A couple of weeks ago, the Bank of England (BoE) surprised the financial markets by announcing that it was embarking on a second round of quantitative easing (QE) ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 20th Oct 2011
I was on my way to my Spanish language class the other night. The course, which is kindly funded by my local Ayuntamiento for the benefit of foreign residents, is held in the local village school, and as I live in the campo ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 18th Oct 2011
It has been recently announced that Wealth Tax is to be re-introduced in Spain for a limited period of time. This is a temporary measure and will be reviewed on 1st January 2013. So for tax years 2011 and 2012 (submitted in ... more
By Jo Green - Fri 14th Oct 2011
October means winter hours for schools in Spain - in other words 9am - 12noon, break for lunch and then back again at 3pm - 5pm ... more
By David Goodall - Thu 13th Oct 2011
In July 2011, the EU announced the names of the eight banks which failed the ’stress tests’ to measure how each institution could copy with a challenge to its liquidity, Of those 8 who failed none of them were British ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Mon 10th Oct 2011
It's UK party conference time again and so a good opportunity to consider politics and pensions.
The problem with politicians is that they cannot resist the temptation to interfere. Back in 2006 the ‘old’ pension tax rules ... more
By The Equalizer - Sat 8th Oct 2011
Dia de Hispanidad - or 'Spanish Day' - is celebrated throughout Spain and the Spanish speaking world to celebrate the anniversary of the date when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the new world : October 12th 1492 ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 6th Oct 2011
I badly needed to renew some UK documentation, and so with my parents coming over for a few days last week, I decided to seize the moment and do it there and then, giving me the opportunity to send the information back with ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Sun 2th Oct 2011
Has your pension fund fallen by 15% last month? August 2011 has been a month to forget for stockmarkets. Unless your pension fund was invested in Gold or Silver it will likely have taken a bath ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 29th Sep 2011
Now is not the time or place for me to bore you with all the details of how I came to end up in Spain (although if you really must know you can read the whole sorry episode by clicking HERE). However, it seems a good enough ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 22th Sep 2011
In fact, moments of panic happen for me so infrequently that I can probably categorise the three different circumstances that they would ever usually happen under for ease of reference : ... more
By David Goodall - Fri 16th Sep 2011
They don’t make it easy for infrequent travellers but I think I’ve come up with something for readers which your family, friends and neighbours will find helpful too.
I’ll set out the seven main budget airlines ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 16th Sep 2011
I was going to call this Blog entry "White Lines : Don't do it", but wasn't too sure if anyone would get the 1980's music reference ? ... more
By The Equalizer - Wed 14th Sep 2011
I would imagine that the description would be something like this : " Balconing : A Sport enjoyed by British Youths under strictly ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 6th Sep 2011
The Spanish Government has recently reduced IVA (VAT) on new build purchases from 8% to 4% until 31st December but not for resale or second hand properties to encourage the sale of properties bought directly from builders in ... more
By Jo Green - Tue 6th Sep 2011
Further to Blog the other week, where I shared a bit of 'Emergency' Pregnancy vocab, I thought I continue in a similar vein an share a bit of 'Post-Natal' vocab ... more
By The Equalizer - Sat 3rd Sep 2011
One thing that really winds me up about Spanish bureaucracy is it's total lack of flexibility when it comes to working around any problem that may occur ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 1st Sep 2011
Why is it that all the D-List celebrity, perma-tanned orange chavs from the UK decide to grace us expats in Spain with their presence whenever they go abroad for one of their many holidays ? ... more
By Jo Green - Mon 29th Aug 2011
I was looking back in an old diary a while ago and noticed that it is almost 5 years to the day since I first found out that I was pregnant ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Sat 27th Aug 2011
So far my colleague Stephen and I have looked at Guernsey and the Isle of Man as jurisdiction for the release of your QROPS Pension. In our third article of our world QROPS tour we are inspired by recent press articles ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 25th Aug 2011
I was watching Karl Pilkington on SKY TV's 'An Idiot Abroad' last night, which is based around the subject of the seven wonders of the modern world. The programme discussed what the best attractions in world were considered ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Mon 22th Aug 2011
In our previous article, my colleague wrote of the existence of various jurisdictions around the world that are available for UK expats to transfer their UK pension rights to. He specifically looked at Guernsey, considered ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 19th Aug 2011
As much as I love living in Spain and the Spanish, it winds me up that not one of them could organise a prayer in a Mosque.
And this observation of mine was demonstrated with staggering (in)efficiency at the yearly ... more
By The Equalizer - Thu 18th Aug 2011
As a regular contributor on a number of forums it always frustrates me when I see the number of questions or comments that unfairly brand Spain and the Spanish as being overly racist – or Xenophobic at best ... more
By David Goodall - Tue 16th Aug 2011
It seems that every year, in the UK, there are new laws, new regulations, new ideas or changes to pension plans or schemes. Just to complicate matters there are still many arrangements which have different names! ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 11th Aug 2011
One of the biggest and most important days of the fortnight long Summer Fiesta is Parade day ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Thu 11th Aug 2011
Over the last couple of years we and others have written numerous articles about the ability of non-UK residents in particular to transfer their UK pension rights to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS), ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 31st Jul 2011
Let's get one thing straight : In Spain ham (And any other Pig by-product) is NOT meat ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 28th Jul 2011
Given that my daughter has become very much a part of the community, I am quite rightly dragged into most of the 'commitee' meetings - official and otherwise, when it comes to the various Fiesta, of which there are many ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 25th Jul 2011
The Spanish Postal Service, or 'Sociedad Estatal de Correos y Telégrafos' to give it it's full name (although everybody just calls it 'Correos') is massive. It has offered an (almost) daily service across the whole of ... more
By Jo Green - Fri 22th Jul 2011
The old Spanish 'communication is overrated' thing kicked in again this week ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Tue 12th Jul 2011
We thought it would be useful this week to remind you about the attractions and versatility of QROPS for the UK non-resident who has come to live in Spain. In particular, for those who left the UK more than five complete UK ... more
By The Equalizer - Sun 10th Jul 2011
I have just spent the last two months trying to open another Spanish Bank account ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 8th Jul 2011
I usually try and make it a personal rule never to read, let alone buy any 'Expat Book' that promises that it is full of 'many amusing anecdotes' or that it is 'highly informative'.
... more
By Jo Green - Thu 7th Jul 2011
From the start of June Schools in Spain switch across to summer hours - meaning that classes run from 9am until 1pm Instead of 12 Noon, however in summer there are no lessons in the afternoon between the hours of 3pm and ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 30th Jun 2011
I was reading another 'Expat Mum in Spain' blog the other day (and yes, there are thousands of us out there...) on the subject of - well, being a Mum. The subject struck a chord with me and was something that I had long ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 24th Jun 2011
The Ayatolla and I have been quite fortunate in our move to Spain, in that the vast majority of our visitors have always been thoughtful and respectful and have never really taken advantage of the 'free holiday' in any way ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Thu 23rd Jun 2011
It would be interesting to know how many column miles have been devoted to QROPS over the last few years. As a concept it has captured the imagination of many advisers. Unfortunately, this often includes those who know so ... more
By Jo Green - Wed 22th Jun 2011
Tomorrow marks the last day of my daughters first whole year of pre-school ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 17th Jun 2011
If there is one lesson I have learned from my many years living here in Spain it would be this : Under no circumstances stare, and instead act with total passivity and nonchalance in the presence of the 'Spanish Mullet' ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 9th Jun 2011
I saw a question on a forum recently about a gentleman who was concerned that when his wife passes away that their bank in Spain will freeze the account and he will not have access to the funds. ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Wed 8th Jun 2011
Over the last few weeks things have happened which should have cause to make you think.. ... more
By Jo Green - Mon 30th May 2011
As the end of my daughter's first school year at pre-school approaches, the developments in her learning - particularly her speech - have been amazing ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 27th May 2011
I was reading somewhere the other day that birth rate in Spain was appalingly low when compared to other European countries ... more
By The Equalizer - Wed 25th May 2011
It's not a nice subject to blog about, but it's one that frustrates me quite a bit ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 19th May 2011
Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few weeks, nobody can fail to be aware of the fact that this coming weekend is election weekend ... more
By Jo Green - Wed 18th May 2011
The Spanish disease of not being able to buy anything, or get anything done has struck me down again earlier this month - two things compounded, which have resulted in a mammoth pile of ironing for me to do ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Mon 16th May 2011
THE QROPS market is pretty crowded now as is evidenced by the relentless advertising seen in many expat newspapers up and down the Costas. However the majority of advisers out there are looking to jump on what they see as a ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 6th May 2011
Where I was born and bred, if I had gone into a pub and asked for a Schooner of sweet sherry, I would have been lucky to have escaped the establishment without having received a sound thrashing ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 29th Apr 2011
The whole of my daughter's life has, to date, been Spanish. Spain for her is 'the norm'. Most of her friends, schoolmates and teachers are Spanish and she talks and sings to herself in Valenciano - she speaks English as ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Wed 27th Apr 2011
One of the strangest things we encounter from clients referred to us is their knowing very little about their pension rights. Often we have to dig quite deep to work out what there is. For most however, the exercise is ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 22th Apr 2011
I think I mentioned in a previous blog about the misery of gardening in Spain
- I hate every second of it, and having a 2000 sq mt plot of knee-high weeds and trees, means that whenever it is either A) Rainy or B) Sunny, ... more
By The Equalizer - Thu 21st Apr 2011
I don't consider myself to be an un-intelligent person, but when it comes to anything remotely concerning finance, or anything requireing an attention span of more than a few minutes I generally glaze over. I've never had a ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 15th Apr 2011
... or at least as far as the British media would have you believe ?
... more
By Jo Green - Thu 14th Apr 2011
We were fortunate in getting jobs almost as soon as we first arrived in Spain, however, that was over six years ago and I'm sure it wouldn't be the same these days ... more
By Stine Kuskner - Thu 14th Apr 2011
Today is Albert and my 6th knowing-each-other anniversary - and Albert had forgotten..... It's no big deal, it's not a day we really celebrate after having a real (wedding)anniversary to celebrate, it was just funny seeing ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 8th Apr 2011
I know of many people back in the UK who are friends of the sitcom ‘Benidorm’, and, in my experience, many of them seem to be split into two distinct camps : ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Mon 4th Apr 2011
WELL ANOTHER Budget has come and gone and the usual rumours about the new government changing the legislation as it relates to QROPS prove once again to be ill founded ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 1st Apr 2011
There is no use denying it, every expat who has ever lived in Spain has done it ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 31st Mar 2011
WINCHAM WAS the runner up in the AIPP Awards 2011 announced in London at ‘A Place in the Sun Live’, Earls Court on Friday 11th March. Wincham was nominated in the category of ‘Most Outstanding Example of Customer Service’ ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 24th Mar 2011
Along with other specially invited dignitaries and respected members of the press, I arrived at Alicante’s El Altet airport to see the new airport terminal for myself, and also to take a commemorative flight back to the UK ... more
By Jo Green - Tue 22th Mar 2011
I am very fortunate that my daughter loves to read all kinds of books, and has a reasonably good standard of reading for a child of her age (then again, I expect that most parents say that!) ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 18th Mar 2011
If you are waiting for the punch line you're going to be disappointed ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 17th Mar 2011
I read with interest recent articles in the press on the future of IHT and the principal that owning a Spanish property in a Spanish SL Company is expensive to set up and expensive to maintain. ... more
By David Goodall - Tue 15th Mar 2011
This complex issue is often ‘swept under the carpet’ but eventually everyone is affected. In particular, the prospect of a widow(er) paying inheritance tax on the death of their spouse can come as an enormous shock ... more
By Jo Green - Mon 14th Mar 2011
I know a lot has already been written about Telefonica - significantly, how they are a bunch of incompetent, thieving and lying idiots, however, I felt that I needed to blow off a little bit of steam and add my feelings into ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 10th Mar 2011
We are pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for the AIPP Awards 2011 ahead of the presentation ceremony in London at 'A Place in the Sun Live' on Friday 11th March where the winners names will be revealed ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 4th Mar 2011
Further to one of my previous blogs alienating me against quite a large demographic of those living on the Costas (click here to read my thoughts on Golf in Spain), I have decided that I am quite missing the hate mail, and ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 3rd Mar 2011
Wincham has been operating in Spain since 1994, helping Clients locate property and purchasing using a corporate structure to combat Taxation in Spain. Since 2005 we have seen a significant increase in the number of people ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 25th Feb 2011
The other week I offered to help a Spanish friend out who had managed to pick up a bit of work translating a menu at a local Spanish restaurant. She was fluent in English, but just needed a bit of help of anglicising the ... more
By The Equalizer - Thu 24th Feb 2011
I know what you are thinking : this guy is neither Spanish, nor a smoker so what authority is he on waffling on about the subject of smoking in Spain - or smoking anywhere for matter ? ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 18th Feb 2011
Growing up on a farm in the People’s Republic of Yorkshire back in the ‘80’s, my education to food was somewhat retarded ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Sun 6th Feb 2011
The greater flexibility offered to UK expats following a transfer to a QROPS are reasonably well understood. Namely: ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 4th Feb 2011
I want to propose a study to further my theory that most of the Spanish hibernate for the winter ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 3rd Feb 2011
Barely a week seems to go by without one of the expat newspapers reporting how some crazed guy has stabbed or strangled his wife or girlfriend to death, or some husband and father has blown his family to bits with his ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 28th Jan 2011
I'm an Englishman. And one that likes his own personal space at that, so it is usually only begrudgingly when I kiss a Spaniard on both cheeks whenever I meet them (the Spanish ladies that it - and ones that I know too. I'm ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Wed 26th Jan 2011
For non UK residents who have lived outside the UK for five complete tax years or more there may be the possibility to release capital from your UK pension fund via a New Zealand QROPS. In certain circumstances this may even ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 21st Jan 2011
Following on from my problems in attempting to spend some of my hard earned cash a couple of months ago (click to read "Everything but the bathroom sink"), my well-intentioned attempts to single-handedly rescue the ailing ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 20th Jan 2011
Last week the kids at school were being taught about pets as a prelude to St Anthony’s day (dia San Antonio), which is essentially a day dedicated to animals and where many of the Spanish will take their pets (sometimes ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 14th Jan 2011
Every blue-kneed brit taking their yearly pilgrimage to sample the delights of one of Spain's chosen tourist resorts knows that the word for 'Beer' is 'Cerveza'. What they may not know is that there are dozens of ways in ... more
By David Goodall - Wed 12th Jan 2011
So you’ve moved to Spain (or are planning to do so in the near future) and you wrote out a ‘To Do List’ (well its probably in your head at least) but have you missed anything, lost an old bank account, maybe even a small ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 7th Jan 2011
Please click here to read Part 1 of 'My Merry, Festive, Yuletide Expat Diary ... more
By Jo Green - Sat 1st Jan 2011
The school year started for our 3 year old daughter on the 13th of September. The 'soft start' system that they have - whereby the class of 16 is split into 4 groups of 4, and then they are slowly brought together - was an ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Tue 28th Dec 2010
For the sixth year running we decided to spend Christmas at home in Spain. I'm not Christmassy at the best of times, but traveling back to the UK to spend Christmas fills me with terror, and after seeing the recent problems ... more
By The Equalizer - Sun 26th Dec 2010
Perhaps one of the lesser know fiesta days or traditions of a Spanish Christmas is the 'dia de los Inocentes' - Innocents day ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 23rd Dec 2010
Sometimes it gives me the Thrup'ny bits when I'm speaking to friends and family back in the UK and they express complete and utter surprise when I tell them that the weather over here in Spain is anything other than ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 17th Dec 2010
I hate gardening with a passion. I did when I lived in the UK, and I especially do now that I live in Spain ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Thu 16th Dec 2010
In order to surprise us just before Christmas the Government published a discussion document on December 13th titled “Early Access to Pensions Savings“. One can only imagine that this has at least in part been prompted by ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 10th Dec 2010
Now that the Mrs & I have served our probation here in Spain, it finally seems that we have sloughed off our 'Guiri status' (or at least as much as an expat ever can) and have started to make inroads in being accepted into ... more
By Robert Burns BA (Hons), FCCA , Cert PFS, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Wed 8th Dec 2010
We continue to receive enquiries on a daily basis from people who, either because they are short of funds now, or because they are simply disillusioned with the UK pension system and prefer to control their own investments, ... more
By David Goodall - Fri 3rd Dec 2010
Good news for some owners of Spanish property – and that's something that I haven’t said that for some time! ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 3rd Dec 2010
To say that I didn’t really enjoy Christmas would be an understatement – or at least I didn’t before I became a parent. Back in the days before we relocated to Spain and spawned our offspring I would tut whenever the Mrs ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 28th Nov 2010
Like most people, when I first moved to Spain to live, I continued to live and behave as a tourist for a while, and it wasn't until I started work and had been living here for a good few months that I started to feel that I ... more
By Cheryl Summers, Telitec Communications - Wed 24th Nov 2010
We are often approached for advice on our best mobile phone package for clients who may travel between Spain and the UK often, and those who make regular calls to the UK on their mobile phone ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 19th Nov 2010
I have lived in the same village for the last 6 and a bit years – a very small, inland village with just (Officially at least) 952 Inhabitants and just under 500 (legally recognised) homes ... more
By Neil Harrodine, Telitec Communications - Tue 16th Nov 2010
Voice over Internet Protocol (Voice over IP, or VOIP) is a term that basically describes the delivery of your voice over the internet and can be used in much the same way as an everyday traditional telephone - but with ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 12th Nov 2010
I was chatting with friends a couple of weeks ago and one topic of conversation came up that seemed to keep us talking throughout the evening. If you could send yourself a letter from the future, back to the weeks before you ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Sat 6th Nov 2010
Well, I thought I knew a bit about pensions but recently another IFA I know muttered the irresistible words “have you heard of section 615 pension schemes - you should have a look...” - This one had managed to pass me by - ... more
By Cheryl Summers, Telitec Communications - Tue 2th Nov 2010
Anybody who has lived in Spain for even the shortest period of time will know how much of a problem getting English TV of any description can be. One minute you can have a signal, the next minute not – seemingly at the whim ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 29th Oct 2010
I have always been puzzled by the number of different security forces / armies / police forces / whatever... in Spain ... more
By Stephen Ward BA (Econ), ACII, APMI, APFS, AIFP, Premier Pension Solutions SL - Wed 27th Oct 2010
Much has been written about Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) in the press and on the web. Some of the articles I have seen are helpful and accurate, others are less so. The purpose of this article is to ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 14th Oct 2010
Perhaps the differences between Spanish and British culture are more apparent in a Bar or Coffee shop than in any other situation and anywhere else in the world ... more
By Barry Floyd, Golden Leaves Limited - Thu 7th Oct 2010
None of us will
live forever, it's
a fact, but
making plans for your
funeral can lessen the
burden on your
surviving family or
friends ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Fri 1st Oct 2010
I felt that I MUST respond in respect of a number of articles that have been published in various local Spanish newspapers recently... ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 24th Sep 2010
Do you see what I did there ? - I took the name of a popular cookery reality TV programme and cleverly used a play on words - with recourse to a pun - to make it into the title of my recent blog ?..... No...? ... more
By Jo Green - Wed 15th Sep 2010
On leaving the initial meeting for registration of our 3 year-olds at pre-school in Spain back in June (click Registering For School Part 1 to read blog), us parents were told that the school would 'be in touch' with details ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 23rd Aug 2010
The glut of sickly-sweet travel brochures and holiday programmes always seem to want to show the centrepiece of many a Spanish fiesta as being the giant communal paella, lovingly cooked by a team of smiling cooks adorned in ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 18th Aug 2010
As Spanish Tax Consultants we provide an alternative method of ownership of your Spanish property to help protect against Spanish Inheritance Tax ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 16th Aug 2010
Our local fiestas take place over the first two weeks of August every year. Always the same – this has been the case over at least the last 30 years – maybe even more. I suppose what I am getting at is this – that they don’t ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 8th Aug 2010
There seem to be hundreds of well-meaning travel websites and holiday guides out there who paint a rosy picture of the idyllic Spanish fiesta, but in all my years in Spain I have never once come across this stereotype – if ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 22th Jul 2010
After almost 6 years in Spain, I have made no formal attempt to learn the language. I say ‘formal’ because I had studied a language ( German ) in the past and knew that I had a pretty good memory, and started of being pretty ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 16th Jul 2010
Much has already been written about the eating habits of the Spanish - significantly how they can make a quick snack seemingly last all afternoon, how they will go out to eat for dinner when most of us brits are tucked up in ... more
By The Equalizer - Fri 16th Jul 2010
Well, I do not profess to be an avid football know it all, nor do I even fully understand the reasons why there should be NO technology within the glorious game ... more
By Jo Green - Mon 5th Jul 2010
The two of you who have read my blogs in the past ( thanks Mum, thanks Dad ) will know that I live in a rural inland village in Valencia, and that my daughter goes to a Spanish nursery in the Pueblo, so I won't dwell on that ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 29th Jun 2010
Paul Austen, Chartered Accountant and Associate of Wincham Consultants discusses some of the Tax updates in last weeks Emergency Budget which may have an effect on our Spanish Tax solutions of UK Company ownership for ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 24th Jun 2010
I don't consider myself a massive football fan, but I do like to jump on the bandwagon for games that actually 'mean something' like Cup finals, European games and of course, the world cup ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 14th Jun 2010
If you scour the various on-line forums, or read the countless free expat newspapers over here in Spain - even listen in on the hundreds of conversations going on in the bars up and down the Costa's and inland, sooner or ... more
By Jo Green - Mon 7th Jun 2010
It was our daughter's 3rd birthday at the weekend, and naturally we wanted to take advantage of our garden and the great weather we seem to be having at the moment, to throw a birthday party for her ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 4th Jun 2010
I never thought that hiring a car could be so stressful or so complicated ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 24th May 2010
Click here to read How NOT to buy a house and move to Spain – Part 1 ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Fri 14th May 2010
Then why not investigate purchasing in a UK Limited Company structure? ... more
By Jo Green - Fri 7th May 2010
I have often wondered if there was a specific period of time that it takes for the average British expat living here in sunny Spain to become fully indoctrinated into the ways of the culture of their new home country. Like ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 29th Apr 2010
There is no subject or procedure that I could ever stand up and claim to be experienced or an expert in. That said, there are countless subjects and procedures that I am fully experienced and proficient in how not to do. It ... more
By John Harris, International Mortgage Brokers - Wed 28th Apr 2010
If you are an expatriate living or working in Spain, then chances are that we have a product or service that could be of interest to you. Whether you are planning to purchase a property as an investment or even if you are ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 8th Apr 2010
Barely a week seems to go by without the British press (or Spanish for matter) reporting some case of corruption amongst public figures. For the British in particular, Spanish corruption is something of a stereotype – but is ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 7th Apr 2010
Detailed below is the procedure concerning the transfer of a property in Spain from a person, to a UK company : ... more
By Michelle Thomas, International Mortgage Brokers - Fri 2th Apr 2010
Due to the recent collapse of the construction industry and the surplus of property on the market in Spain, many banks are desperate to turn their ‘assets’ back into cash and as such are offering attractive discounts ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 1st Apr 2010
Over here in Spain children are able to start school as early as three years old. Well it’s not ‘proper school’, but it is actually called ‘pre-school’ and this is usually for 3 – 6 year olds and leads nicely into primary ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 18th Mar 2010
You would have thought that in this day and age, that choosing, buying and keeping a mobile phone would be pretty straightforward – anywhere in the world ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 17th Mar 2010
"The creation of a tax efficient United Kingdom company is a sensible strategy for reducing inheritance taxation" - Joe Howard is the Senior Partner of Howard Mathews LLoyd Accountants UK ... more
By Keith Morris, International Mortgage Brokers - Wed 10th Mar 2010
Spanish Banks finally seem to be relaxing their lending criteria, and a few of them are now offering more attractive deals and higher Loan to Value (LTV) percentages. But, that said, it does seem that many banks are still ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 5th Mar 2010
Shopping of any description (or at least as the non-Spanish would understand it) is always difficult in Spain. As with so many aspects of the lifestyle here, on the surface it can often seem idyllic, but when you look below ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 25th Feb 2010
Since Wincham has been writing our blogs, we have received many enquiries about our company and solution to avoid Spanish Inheritance Tax and I have supplied a number of the most popular questions posed by our clients ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 24th Feb 2010
Anybody who has read 2 of my earlier blogs on the subject of Ryanair will know the extent of my hatred of the airline and the standards of so-called ‘customer care’ that they offer ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 14th Feb 2010
Over the past few months I have blogging about just a few of the many and diverse languages spoken within Spain – ranging from the widely spoken “Co-official languages” to the lesser spoken and “protected” languages. Some, ... more
By Jo Green - Tue 9th Feb 2010
Every ex-pat that has ever lived in Spain for even the shortest period of time has had to adapt in some way to the subtle differences in everyday life. Setting aside the obvious issue of Spanish timekeeping, I have listed ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 31st Jan 2010
The Region of Castile y Leon is the largest of the Spanish Autonomous Regions (with a population of 2.5 million) and, as it's name suggests it is also home to the Offical language of Spain - Castilian ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 27th Jan 2010
Wincham believes that it is the market leader in the provision of Consultancy Services in respect of corporate ownership of Spanish property. Not only have we been operating in Spain for almost 20 years but we also own a ... more
By Tony Green - Thu 21st Jan 2010
I have been a regular visitor to Spain now for almost 6 years – sometimes visiting family 4 or 5 times a year. 5 Years ago, when it was possible to enjoy 1.45 Euros to the pound on even relatively small sums, the fees and ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Fri 15th Jan 2010
After writing a number of blogs on Spanish Regional Languages, I realised that I hadn’t actually paid any attention to the largest Region of Spain – Andalusia ... more
By John Harris, International Mortgage Brokers - Thu 14th Jan 2010
When you have arrived at the decision to purchase a property abroad, unless you are one of the Privileged few, you will more than likely require a mortgage or loan to finance your purchase. But who do you turn to in order ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 7th Jan 2010
After researching some of the better known and more widely understood Spanish regional languages, such as Catalan and Valenciano, my intrigue was piqued by reading about some of the quirkier ones like Basque. I decided to ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 24th Dec 2009
I was chatting with friends in the local bar the other week when we were joined by one of the Village elders. A Nice old guy, very chatty in his broad dialect and always curious to get to know more about us “Guiris” , so he ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Tue 15th Dec 2009
Having just spent the last weekend in Barcelona made me realise exactly how much regional languages play an important part of everyday life in Spain. In my neck of the woods, Valencian is obviously spoken and understood, but ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Wed 9th Dec 2009
The Padron or, to give it its full name, the Padron Municipal de Habitantes, is the municipal (or electoral) register. This is a list of all the people who live in a particular town, and is held in the local town hall ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 3rd Dec 2009
In essence, your Domicile is the country which you consider is your permanent home.
This does not mean that it is the cou ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Fri 27th Nov 2009
18.) When to pay Plusvalia Tax and who’s responsible for paying?
When is it paid? ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 26th Nov 2009
Further to my recent Blog on Spanish Regional Languages, my ignorance prompted me to take a closer look and find out about the history, background and meaning behind some of the major regional languages spoken in Spain. The ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 24th Nov 2009
16.) I was told to place my property in Spain into a Spanish (SL) or Off Shore Company. ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Fri 20th Nov 2009
12.) If I am looking to purchase a property in Spain can I make any savings?
< ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Tue 17th Nov 2009
If there is one thing in life guaranteed to make me laugh more than watching a fat woman chasing a parasol down a beach on a windy day – it's driving on Spanish roads. Or, more to the point, watching how other road users ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Sun 15th Nov 2009
11.) What if I want to sell the property – will the fact that it is in a company be a problem? ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sun 15th Nov 2009
In writing my recent blog "Spanish Regional Languages – For or Against ?" I realised that I was completely ignorant of most of the languages of Spain, and like most of the English I simply stuck my head in the sand whenever ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Fri 6th Nov 2009
8.). So what does the UK Company option do for me? ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Fri 6th Nov 2009
4.) My wife and I are both residents in Spain so surely this does not affect us?
< ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 5th Nov 2009
1.) Why Do I have to pay Spanish Inheritance Tax? ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 2th Nov 2009
Speaking as little Castellano as I do, it should probably come as no surprise to anybody that regional languages frustrate me. It seems to me to sometimes be a conspiracy between the native Spanish to raise the bar to ensure ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Mon 26th Oct 2009
I don’t expect a bowing and scraping sycophant to serve me whenever I enter a shop or some other business in order to part with my hard earned cash - nor do I expect gushing gratitude from the owner of the business, or his ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Wed 14th Oct 2009
I have always considered myself to be fluent in the language. Unfortunately I (and those that I converse with) are a little unsure of which language it is that I am supposed to be fluent in ... more
By Jo Green - Tue 13th Oct 2009
On the whole we are very fortunate to have such a healthy baby. In her two and a half years, aside from the usual scheduled visits to the medical centre for her vaccines, we have only had a small bout of chicken pox to ... more
By Jo Green - Sun 4th Oct 2009
After living in Spain for 5 years, and 2.1/2 as a parent, it finally seems as though we are getting somewhere close to being accepted into the local community.(Speaking Spanish as badly as we do, and both working with native ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 29th Sep 2009
The Torrevieja No Smoking Club invited the Directors of Wincham Consultants, Mr Malcolm Roach and Snr Jaime Vives to attend their September meeting to provide a presentation on Spanish IHT planning for UK domiciled Spanish ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Tue 29th Sep 2009
I was recently asked by a client who was purchasing a property in Moraira, in the Costa Blanca, whether she could place the property in her daughter’s name to safeguard against Spanish Inheritance Tax (ISD). This is a ... more
By Jo Green - Tue 22th Sep 2009
Although my daughter is a year away from even starting pre-school, I have been doing my homework and asking around for the opinions and advice of various friends as to their experiences with the whole Spanish Education ... more
By Jaime Vives, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 10th Sep 2009
If your only asset in Spain is your property then you will not need to have a Spanish Will ... more
By Jo Green - Fri 14th Aug 2009
The biggest problem for us by far in August is the fact that most things shut down entirely for a whole month - in fact pretty much all manufacturing, Industry and commerce grinds to a complete halt for the whole of August ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 13th Aug 2009
The Spanish government would have us believe that Spanish property prices are still rising by 0.7%, but according to 2 new reports from UBS and Credit Suisse – 2 leading Swiss banks – Spanish property prices are already on ... more
By Malcolm Roach M.I.C.M, Wincham Consultants Limited - Thu 13th Aug 2009
For those who have lost a relative or friend, discussing the subject of probate is often a significant step at the outset; and one which we appreciate needs to be handled with sensitivity ... more
By Mark Roach, Wincham Consultants Limited - Mon 10th Aug 2009
Non-Domiciled property owners in Spain are sitting on a ticking IHT time bomb. Most owners do not understand that their Heirs and their Estate will pay IHT in two jurisdictions, Spain and their Country of Domicile. The ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Sat 8th Aug 2009
Anybody who has been living in Spain for more than a few weeks will know that Telefonica is a dirty word. Even my Spanish friends know that they are a fantastic example of how not to run a company and how to alienate your ... more
By Jo Green - Thu 6th Aug 2009
I was back at work 6 days after giving birth. My Partner had a legal contract with his employer and so as a new father he had a compulsory number of days to take , so he had Paternity leave while I wasn't eligible for ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 6th Aug 2009
Ask any of the armchair experts propping up the bars around Spain for their advice on anything concerning British TV and how to get it, and I'll bet you will be bombarded with a multitude of varying Information. The problem ... more
By Jo Green - Sat 1st Aug 2009
Before we could all leave the Hospital I had to be given a check by the midwife, and my new baby daughter had to be given a hearing test. The tests came back indicating very poor hearing in her right ear , but the Doctor ... more
By Jo Green - Fri 31st Jul 2009
The following 9 months were filled with many ups and downs. The first 3 months were a blur - although I didn’t suffer with sickness I felt exhausted almost all the time (And working 3 Mornings a week right up to the day ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 23rd Jul 2009
George Orwell famously wrote “ Every man is equal - but some are more equal than others… “ in his book Animal Farm. Scholars say that this quote, and indeed the book as a whole, is an allegory referring to Communism. At ... more
By Mr Grumpy - Thu 16th Jul 2009
If I had the energy and inclination to look up on Google who it was that first quoted the phrase " Only two things in life are certain - Death and Taxes..." then I would do so, but unfortunately I have just returned from my ... more