Property purchase structure

A client, who was looking to purchase a holiday home in Spain used Martin Howard to look at alternative tax structures through which to own their property. They weren't sure whether they wanted to let the property but wanted to maintain their options open in the future. They were also very concerned with inheritance tax issues and the implications for their five children.

Martin Howard set up a corporate structure of a Spanish and offhshore company, which dealt with the variuos income, capital gains and inheritance tax issues while keeping the flexibility the client wanted.

Valuations

As a means of settling a dispute between shareholders Martin Howard valued the clients business under a series of scenarios to offer the disputing parties a range of solutions with the aim of minimizing the impact of the partners dispute on the operations of the business. Martin Howard then worked with the partner who remained in the business to formulate a medium term strategy to improve the profitability of the business as well as developing an exit strategy for the remaining partner.

Accounting Services

Martin Howard carried out the accounting and reporting function for a popular bar, which after being refurbished, expanded to the extent that it would be beneficial to bring the accounting in house. A full time accountant was hired and Martin Howard managed the change over returning to supervise the quarterly closing and VAT reporting. The accountant unfortunately left after six months, at which point Martin Howard returned to take back the accounting and look for a suitable replacement as well as a business development manager. Once in place Martin Howard has again stepped back from day to day involvement but continues to offer functional and strategic support.

By knowing and understanding the client so well helped enormously in being able to select the correct personnel to take the client's business forward, while this depth of knowledge also meant the to and fro transfer of the accounting function went as smoothly as possible.