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