Pension Ownership

A key feature of Small Self Administered Schemes (SSAS’s), Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP’s) and Approved Retirement Funds (ARF’s) is your ability to identify and acquire specific property investments. This allows you to use your own market knowledge and contacts to access unique opportunities and significantly enhance your retirement assets. With most pensions, year to date, are losing an average of nearly 35%. By purchasing at Caracola Beach & Spa Resort you can now guarantee your pension fund to grow by a minimum of 7% per annum plus any capital appreciation achieved by July 2020.



What is a Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS), Self-Administered Pension (SAP) or Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)?

These types of pensions are known by a variety of names including Self-Administered Pensions (SAP) and Self-Directed Trusts. It is a tax-efficient investment scheme, suitable for both controlling directors and employees, allowing the holder enjoy the greatest level of control over the direction of their investments. They also offers the greatest level of flexibility in respect of contributions. Unlike many pension arrangements offered by insurance companies there are no obligations to make regular contributions to a SSAS, SAP or SSIP nor are there any penalties imposed if further contributions are not made. They are designed to provide pension benefits to the company director or employee. Funds are kept entirely separate from the company’s funds and are therefore protected from company creditors. Technically, they are a trust, administered by trustees – one of whom is known as a Pensioneer Trustee. Each SSAS, SAP or SSIP is separately approved by the Revenue Commissioners as a tax-exempt scheme. Funds from existing occupational pensions CAN be transferred to a SSAS, SAP or SSIP.



What is the difference between a SSAS, SAP or SSIP and a regular pension product?

If you invest in an insurance company pension product, you must choose from the fund options available under that contract. A SSAS, SAP or SSIP will allow you to avail of all of the benefits of the pension structure without the obligation to invest in specific funds. It is possible to hold individual properties, land, deposits, equities and a variety of other investments directly in your scheme. You may also make significantly greater contributions to your SSAS, SAP or SSIP than with a regular pension.

• Freedom & Flexibility – A wide range of investments can be held in an SSAS, Sap or SSIP (subject to certain restrictions). Unlike traditional pensions, a SSAS, SAP or SSIP offers control and flexibility over the selection of investments.  It is possible to hold individual properties, land, cash deposits, equities and a variety of other investments directly in a scheme.

• Tax Efficiency – Contributions can enjoy Income Tax relief and Corporation Tax relief.  Income and capital growth on investments are exempt from Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

• Control – The trustees will have more control of a SSAS. SAP or SSIP fund than they would have in the case of an insured scheme.

• Cash Flow – Contributions, when and how much, can fit around the cash flow of the company and there is complete flexibility (subject to Revenue limits) over the amount. This could mean that in a bad year for the company no contributions need to be made. A SSAS, SAP or SSIP is an efficient way to transfer company profits into personal capital. All funds are held in trust for the investor.  Once invested in the scheme they no longer form part of the assets of the company.

• Costs & Value For Money – An insured scheme normally carries hidden costs and penalties if the scheme terminates early. The cost of setting up and managing a SSAS, SAP or SSIP is met by fees which are typically paid by the employer company and are fully tax deductible.
  

What are the tax benefits associated with a SSAS, SAP or SSIP?

A SSAS, SAP or SSIP has all the tax benefits of regular pension plans. Contributions enjoy personal tax relief and/or corporation tax relief. Returns are exempt from income tax and capital gains tax. A certain portion – typically 25% of the value of the investment – may be taken tax-free at retirement and the balance of the fund may be invested in a manner which similarly enjoys income tax and capital gains tax exemption subject to certain conditions.

A SSAS, SAP or SSIP carries substantial tax benefits. These include:

• All company transfers to a SSAS, SAP or SSIP are deductible for corporation tax purposes

• The costs of establishing and running a SSAS, SAP or SSIP are borne by the employer company and are tax deductible

• The proprietary director is not liable to tax in respect of these transfers, i.e. there is no BIK on company contributions to a SSAS, SAP or SSIP

• Investments held within an SSAS grow free of Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax, e.g. there is no DIRT on cash deposits held by the SSAS. SAP or SSIP

• Subject to certain recently introduced maximums, 25% tax free cash sums are available on retirement
  

What investments can be held in a SSAS, SAP or SSIP?

The scheme can invest in areas of personal interest to the director including property both residential and commercial, private companies, equities, gilts, tracker bonds, deposits, investment funds, etc. The involvement of the director in the management of the SSAS, SAP or SSIP depends entirely on the level of personal interest. It can be a hands-on or hands-off arrangement. Investment expertise is not necessary.

Caracola Beach & Spa Resort, Margarita Island complies with all regulations relating to being held in a SSAS, SAP or SSIP.