Qualifying Individual Status is available to all non-Gibraltarian individuals who establish a residential address in Gibraltar, have not been ordinarily resident in Gibraltar during the preceding 5 years, and do not derive any income from Gibraltar sources other than from Gibraltar Tax Exempt Status companies.
The Government of Gibraltar will normally insist that the address to be established in Gibraltar is purchased by the individual for his exclusive use during a minimum period of 7 months in a year, and that he resides in Gibraltar for a minimum of 30 days in each calendar year (which period need not be consecutive).
The costs of an apartment for this purpose will normally range from £100,000 to £300,000 and will have to be classified as an approved property for this purpose.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF QUALIFYING INDIVIDUAL STATUS?
Qualifying Individual Status is obtained by application to the Financial & Development Secretary of Gibraltar, and once granted allows the individual to elect the level of taxation which he wishes to pay in Gibraltar while being guaranteed that his total tax bill will not exceed GBP £20,000 per annum. The minimum amount of tax payable in Gibraltar under this status is £10,000 per annum with the provision that the tax is only levied on the first £45,000 of assessable income.
Qualifying Individual Status, therefore, can be particularly useful for those persons who may wish to show a tax authority in another jurisdiction that they are subject to taxation in Gibraltar with a view to persuading them that they should only be expected to pay a nominal amount of tax in their home jurisdiction, at the same time as they keep their taxation level in Gibraltar to an absolute minimum.
It should be noted, however, that simply because a Qualifying Individual pays tax in Gibraltar, this does not automatically mean that they will not be taxed by one or more other foreign jurisdictions. It would obviously be up to the individual himself to ensure that this does not happen and that his tax affairs are arranged competently to accommodate an annual tax commitment of £10,000 in Gibraltar (assuming that this represents a substantial saving to his tax bill in the country where he is currently tax resident).
DOCUMENTATION TO BE PRESENTED BEFORE THE FINANCIAL & DEVELOPMENT
Secretary together with the individual's initial application
- 1 Curriculum Vitae pertaining to the individual seeking Qualifying Individual Status in Gibraltar.
- 2 written references regarding the good character and financial standing of the individual in question from a lawyer, banker or accountant.
- Evidence that he and his family enjoy private medical insurance cover to include Gibraltar.
- A written undertaking from the individual's representative in Gibraltar confirming that his client will abide by the Qualifying Individual Status conditions.
- A fee of GBP £500. (This is not an annual fee, and is exclusive of any future tax payments made by the individual to the Gibraltar tax authorities).
Further documentation to be presented to the Gibraltar Immigration Department for the issuance of a Gibraltar identity card. The following documentation would be required to be presented in person by the applying individual after a period of about 2 to 3 working weeks from the time of the initial application:
- 4 passport sized photographs
- 1 copy of the individual's passport
- A fee of GBP £10
WHAT A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT CAN HOPE TO RECEIVE FROM THE FINANCIAL & DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY
- A Certificate stating that he is registered as a Qualifying Individual.
- A Gibraltar identity card which is, essentially indistinguishable from a Gibraltar residency card and which is valid for a period of 1 year, but thereafter may be renewed via a relatively simple process which requires the applicant to be present in person.
- A receipt/certificate from the Gibraltar Tax Department upon receipt of the first payment of tax.
ANNUAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE QUALIFYING INDIVIDUAL
- To be present in person once a year for the renewal of his Gibraltar identity card.
- To submit a statement of accounts in June of each year to the Gibraltar Tax Department testifying to the amount of worldwide income earned so that tax at the agreed rate may be properly assessed. There is no requirement for a full set of accounts to be presented, nor for the details contained therein to be audited.
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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
