The Pitfalls of Overseas Investments

It is not uncommon for New Zealanders to have overseas investments. Migration to New Zealand, working holidays overseas and inheritances can all lead to investment assets being held outside the country. Examples might be shares in foreign companies, foreign unit trust investments, foreign superannuation schemes and foreign life insurance policies. There are some pitfalls in leaving these investments overseas.

If your overseas investments have a value greater than $50,000, they could well be liable for tax in New Zealand. This is called a Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) tax. There are a number of options you can choose from as to how this tax is calculated and you will need help from an accountant or financial adviser. Certain overseas investments, particularly Australian investments are exempt from FIF tax.

Under current New Zealand legislation, an overseas adviser who provides investment advice to a New Zealand resident must be an Authorised Financial Adviser (AFA) as determined in the Financial Advisers Act. Australian advisers may in some circumstances be exempt from this requirement. Exemptions also apply to wholesale investors, for example those whose investment assets are $1million or more.

If, for example, you have a share portfolio of around £200,000 in the UK on which personalized investment advice is provided by a broker, the broker will be in breach of the Financial Advisers Act if he or she is not registered as an AFA in New Zealand. Not only that, but you will not have the protection of the disclosure requirements, dispute resolution schemes and Code of Conduct which are mandatory for Authorised Financial Advisers.

Finally, having assets in currencies other than the New Zealand dollar will exposure you to exchange rate risk.

Obtaining advice from a New Zealand accountant or financial adviser on the implications of leaving investment assets overseas is highly recommended.