Belize is one of the most tax-friendly jurisdictions for foreign residents

As you consider the total potential tax liability as a foreign resident in some of the world's top overseas retirement havens, take a look at the following figures. Note that the world's most tax-friendly jurisdictions for foreign residents overall are Belize, Panama, Malaysia, and Uruguay.

Argentina

--Income tax: 9 to 35 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 21 percent

--Property tax: None in Buenos Aires; 1.2 to 1.5 percent outside Buenos Aires

--Capital gains tax: None

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Belize

--Income tax: Up to 45 percent on income earned in Belize only

--Sales tax: 12.5 percent

--Property tax: 1 to 1.5 percent

--Capital gains tax: None

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

Colombia

--Income tax: Up to 33 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 16 percent

--Property tax: Up to 1.6 percent

--Capital gains tax: 33 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Costa Rica

--Income tax: Up to 25 percent on income earned in Costa Rica only

--Sales tax: 13 percent

--Property tax: .25 percent

--Capital gains tax: None

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

Croatia

--Income tax: 12 to 40 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 23 percent

--Property tax: .70 euro to 1 euro per square meter

--Capital gains tax: 25 to 40 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Ecuador

--Income tax: Up to 35 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 12 percent

--Property tax: .25 to .5 percent

--Capital gains tax: Taxed as ordinary income

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

France

--Income tax: 17.8 to 53.3 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 19.6 percent

--Property tax: The two property-related taxes amount to about .2 percent

--Capital gains tax: 31.3 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Ireland

--Income tax: Up to 41 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 21 percent

--Property tax: None

--Capital gains tax: 25 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Italy

--Income tax: Up to 43 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 20 percent

--Property tax: .4 to .9 percent

--Capital gains tax: Taxed as ordinary income

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Malaysia

--Income tax: Up to 26 percent on income earned in Malaysia only

--Sales tax: 5 percent

--Property tax: 6 percent

--Capital gains tax: None

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

Mexico

--Income tax: Up to 30 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 16 percent

--Property tax: .275 to 1.35 percent

--Capital gains tax: Taxed as ordinary income

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Panama

--Income tax: Up to 30 percent on income earned in Panama only

--Sales tax: 7 percent

--Property tax: Up to 2.1 percent (some properties are exempt)

--Capital gains tax: 10 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

Philippines

--Income tax: 5 to 32 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 12 percent

--Property tax: 1 to 2 percent

--Capital gains tax: 6 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

Spain

--Income tax: 24 to 49 percent on worldwide income

--Sales tax: 18 percent

--Property tax: 3.3 to 3.4 percent

--Capital gains tax: 19 to 21 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? Yes

Thailand

--Income tax: Up to 37 percent on income remitted to Thailand

--Sales tax: 7 percent

--Property tax: None if owner-occupied

--Capital gains tax: None

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No

Uruguay

--Income tax: Up to 30 percent on income earned in Uruguay only

--Sales tax: 22 percent

--Property tax: .25 to 1 percent

--Capital gains tax: 12 percent

--Tax on foreign retirement income? No