Relocate To Alderney

Alderney is trying to attract more businesses and people to the Island and on the 11th and 12th October 2011 will be exhibiting at the eCommerce Expo at Olympia in London - www.ecommerceexpo.co.uk The island is working hard to raise its profile as a low-tax jurisdiction with no property buying restrictions.

So why relocate to Alderney?

There is a single rate of tax, no VAT, anyone can buy a property and unlike Jersey and Guernsey, Alderney operates an open housing market for EU citizens with prices on a par with the UK mainland. The island has no Corporation Tax, no Capital Gains Tax, no Inheritance Tax and no VAT. Personal tax allowances are generous and tax is much lower than in the UK with a maximum personal rate of 20%. Settlers also quote the Alderney lifestyle as a perfect environment in which to bring up children and as a key driver for their move to the island.

Alderney is strategically placed to provide businesses with excellent opportunities for eCommerce. The island has a permanent population of around 2,400 residents and is positioned just eight miles from France, this, combined with British traditions, language and culture, make Alderney an ideal offshore eCommerce location.

In Europe, but outside the EU

The Channel Islands are dependencies of the UK Crown but they are not part of the United Kingdom nor are they part of the European union. Alderney, the third largest of the islands, is a self-governing, democratic territory and one of the constitutive islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Although self-governing, Alderney - along with the other Channel Islands - enjoys all the benefits of being part of the European Economic Area which allows for free movement of goods, services and people. Alderney is not, however, part of the European Union and as such does not have Value Added Tax nor is it subject to EU directives.

Regulatory Environment

The Channel Islands are renowned for the stability of government and for the highest standards of regulation, accompanied by a sound judicial system. The island�s government has introduced legislation to facilitate the development of eCommerce on the island and to support the electronic transactions of business, in straightforward, non-bureaucratic form, thus providing an ideal framework.

Significant Tax Advantages

0% standard tax rate on company profits from 2008 (10% on Banking activities, 20% on Utilities and 20% on Guernsey/Alderney property income)
Low personal income tax (20%) and generous personal allowances on income of persons who live on the island
No taxes on trusts whose beneficiaries live outside the island
No Value Added Tax on goods imported from any EU country
Professional advice is readily available from local accountancy practices who are also able to advise on setting up of Alderney-registered companies

User Friendly Company Law

The Alderney Company Law was completely rewritten in 1994. The result is a modern, user-friendly piece of legislation that is ideally suited to today�s e-commerce entrepreneurs. The main features of Alderney�s Company Law are:

Only one shareholder required
Simplified filing procedures
Unlimited �Objects� clause
Inherent Flexibility
Low setting up costs

Infrastructure

Alderney has the perfect infrastructure to give small to medium sized businesses what they need and here is a natural fit with e-commerce companies and geographically portable businesses. The island�s business environment, in particular its user-friendly company law and the availability of good quality commercial properties, has been a key factor in the success of the island�s e-gaming industry which is world renowned. The island is also very close to the international offshore finance centres of Guernsey and Jersey so there is a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise just a few miles away. At present, the most common of eCommerce businesses found on Alderney are those associated with eGaming, many of which are back-office operations. However, there are a number of other entrepreneurial businesses operating on the island.

Quality of Life

�Work-life balance� is a contemporary expression, often found in personal development publications to explain why a successful working life also requires a fulfilling private life to achieve happiness. Of course this is not rocket science, but many people who are hungry for commercial success forget to focus on family and friends as much as they do on clients and suppliers. If you feel that you will miss the three-hour daily commute, the seven-mile tailback on the M4 or not seeing your children grow up then Alderney is obviously not for you. But for a growing community of ambitious entrepreneurs our island offers a compelling mix of state-of-the art technical resources, a supportive government, minimum taxation and a unique family-focussed lifestyle.

The perfect place for young families to live

Alderney resident and Entrepreneur Alan Friedman who relocated his business selling car parts online to Alderney in January 2007 said:

�Our family life is so different now, we live by the beach, we spend 10 minutes a week in the car instead of 10 hours. Also, there is a real sense of community so it is a perfect place for young families to live. We love the freedom here - freedom to leave our door and car unlocked, to let our children grow up and feel safe, and to feel that as a business owner we�re working for ourselves as opposed to giving everything away to the UK government!�

If you would like to read Alan Friedman�s story please then please download from the link on the right.

In summary, Alderney offers its residents an exceptional quality of life and is a wonderful place to bring up young children.