Ec Returns To Bulgaria 104 Million Eur 03/04/2008
To Bulgaria will be brought back 103,72 million EUR from the direct payments, stated Agriculture Minister Nihat Kabil. He was informed with a letter by the EC, received in the end of last week. The minister explained that there were no ceased sources by the Commission over the programs of the Agriculture Ministry. The EC's certificated agency sees 4 weaknesses of Bulgaria - in the administrative capacity, the need of better book-keeping of sources over market mechanisms, insufficient capacity in regional offices of the Agencies for applying the program for village regions and the need in the internal order of the repaying agency. It is about time Bulgarians to stop to believe that Brussels is one big cash bag and if something is wrong in here the bag is not coming, commented... more

Bulgarians Increasingly Buy Villas Far From Home 12/03/2008
The market in village property, until recently driven by interest among Irish and UK investors, is gaining popularity among Bulgarians. Instead of investing their money in holiday property at the seaside or in mountain resorts, many Bulgarians prefer to buy houses in villages so that they could use them as villas at weekends, Kapital weekly reported. Others are even ready to live in a village and commute to work. The main factor influencing purchases is the nearness of a property to a big town. Although most Bulgarians prefer to have a house near their city, they are increasingly focusing their interest on property at distance more than 20km out of town. Simeonovo and Dragalevtsi, formerly outlying villages, have become part of Sofia. Property prices in certain villages near... more

Cut Tax Ties Properly When You Retire Abroad 09/04/2008
There’s more than one difference between expatriating to live and work abroad and moving overseas to retire.  Clearly the first alternative requires you to work each day whilst the second will allow you to enjoy a more relaxed life of luxury!  But beyond these obvious differences there are some very important ones relating to your taxation treatment in the UK. If you move abroad to work it is far simpler to prove residence in another nation almost straight away to the Great British taxman, however, you have to ensure you cut tax ties properly when you retire abroad otherwise you could end up in all sorts of trouble! As an overseas retiree it is up to you to actively demonstrate to the UK tax authorities that you have moved abroad permanently and that you have no intention of returning... more