popper

Thanks. I'll chase down Alan. 100% resident (the visa has just passed go!) and have been employed here for tax purposes both contract (sort it all out myself) and agency (they have paid my super / tax). They are never cheap!! The joy of having 4 incomes over 2 hemispheres huh!

I moved to Melbourne in Apr 2012 and have continued working as a freelancer for UK design agencies for most of the past year. I was still on the UK tax for the year ending Apr 2012 but have since been working for Australian agencies so and trying to figure out if it's wise, and for which country I should do my taxes (the other country would count as overseas earnings I gather). I have worked for Aus recruiters and thus paid a certain amount if taz and annuation and I join the real life by going full-time permanent in June. I will however continue to take on projects (and pay) from UK clients. Makes it a little confusing with my limited tax knowledge over here. I intend to stay in Australia for at least another year and now have residency so this may continue longer (potentially forever but that's way down the line!) so it's not a short fix but longer term choice. Has anyone else had any experience with this? Or can recommend a decent (cheaply decent!) accountant with knowledge in UK/AUS tax changes. I'm only just getting my head round some of the changes!!! Thanks

I'm just doing my tax returns for the UK (11-12) - I moved over to Melbourne in April 2012. As it looks as though I will be continuing to work freelance for UK agencies (and existing clients) I am hoping to find out whether or not I should continue to do tax returns in the UK or if I should claim it all when I do my Aus tax in June. The UK work pays enough to continue working this way but I'm unsure who the heck I should pay in taxes when I start the new tax year. (the return I'm currently oing will be fully UK based so this is a question for next years returns) Also in terms of expenses - are my expenses (equipment and clothing etc) that I purchase over here in Aus something that I can claim for on my UK tax return? Or will they only accept UK receipts? (or vice versa) All the work I have completed in Aus has been worked through an agency so tax and super has been taken off directly. Can I, and is it tax efficient, to pay tax in both countries? Obviously I can only claim expenses once on either...! Failing this... does anyone know a good (good = cheap and wise) accountant that deals with UK/AUS freelancers/self-employed? (1 tax return is always bad enough right!!!!) Thanks

HSBC Aus - so far.. have been OK to use. But they are not 'the world's global bank' and everything is separate to my UK account. They did sign me up easily though when I popped into a branch and I seem to have less charges than with other banks I've seen around. The current sign up included a bonus % on the internet saving account and they popped $10 a month in if I kept dropping over $1000 in a month (easy to do if you are still working from the UK!) HSBC UK have just had a bit of a policy change around. Transferring from the UK - This will charge £9 or £18 depending on the amount. You will be charged the full charge if you transfer you money across as £ - so make sure you transfer it as $AU HSBC Aus will now charge $10-$15 admin fee as the new transfers from the UK are now telegraphic (so they told me). It's fairly painless to be honest and my transfer landed the next morning - I even had a call from my Aus HSBC (branch) to say I'd added the money to my entire account but not to the correct saving account so they were just checking and dropped it in the right place for me. You do need to transfer on UK banking hours though so last minute weekend funds need to be planned ; )

Amazing thread here. Very interested to see if it was worthy to ship a Rover Mini Cooper RSP 1990 (classic) across to Melbourne. I'm heading there asap on a Partner (subclass 309) visa and it pains me to leave her behind. Value here is approx £2500-3000. Mods are 10" wheels and half roll cage but that's all now (all the meaty parts that made her race worthy fell off or died!). I know this is more of a love export but having only seen a small collection of minis during my 2 trips that way and a brief check on the costs for Leyland Minis looks like they hold value ok. Also are there any recommend RO-RO/container services? Thanks in advance.