If you have come across this article, you are probably one of the many investors who are looking to purchase a little piece of heaven alongside Saint-Barths’ beautiful beaches or observe breathtaking views from the top of one of its hills. Wherever you are located on the island, paradise is accessible by living simply and freely. No matter where you are coming from, you will feel an instant sense of belonging, or a deep connection with its peaceful surrounding. So why not invest today by buying real estate in Saint Barths?
The attractiveness of Saint Barths’s local market of immovable assets has been proven valuable by the great public figures who have already joined it. As the prices have always followed a positive trend, reaching the peak of the global real estate luxury market has been reached progressively.
Saint Barths is probably the only Caribbean island that has witnessed an uninterrupted expansion in the real estate segment, even during recent economic recessions.
For those convinced by this destination’s potential, wishing to acquire real estate property in Saint Barths, there are some particulars to be taken into account.
1. Saint Barths is an open territory
Saint Barths is entirely open to foreign investment, which means that one can buy and sell movables or real estate freely. European, U.S., and Canadian citizens can also manage any local company or corporation. Furthermore, European Union citizens can reside in Saint Barth without any restrictions compared to other nationalities which must get a long-term visa to stay in Saint Barths for more than 90 days.
2. Saint Barths is not a tax heaven
The media has tried to represent Saint Barths as a tax heaven because it is located in the Caribbean and its residents don’t pay any income tax, however it is entirely wrong.
Saint Barths is an overseas territory of France with a special autonomous status taking into account its specificities and its high cost of living. Taxation, urban planning, environmental law, transportation, and tourism are the Territorial Council’s independent fields, governing local affairs.
Apart from these specific local laws, Saint Barths remains ruled under French Law.
Consequently, there is no bank secrecy, no off-shore banking or fiduciary services while all the Island professionals are submitted to the stringent anti-laundry French regulation.
Thanks to its good governance, there has hence not been a need to set an income tax. The primary tax resources of the Island are the registration tax applicable to the sale of properties (5 %) or of businesses (1.40%), the real estate capital gain tax (35% the first eight years then 20%), the touristic tax of 5% on hotel and villa rentals, the customs duties of 5% applicable on all imported goods, a symbolic corporate tax and also some taxes on the consumption of utilities (water, electricity) that are enough to finance the island needs.
3. Sale and Purchase transactions on immovable assets: how does it work ?
The sale and purchase transaction is usually conducted with cash, using the local currency (the Euro) to fix the costs. As a result, the parties can mutually decide if they will use the Euro or the U.S. dollar to fix and pay the price of the transaction; however the costs will always be calculated and paid in Euros at the exchange rate in force on the transaction date. Mortgages are quite challenging to obtain from local banks, notably for non-residents and are sometimes non-practicable due to the market’s extreme liquidity.
It is highly recommended to consult with a business attorney’s specialized assistance, who will be able to advise you on essential matters such as negotiating the price and conditions while giving you all the information you might need before you make an offer such as urban planning rules applying to a real estate property, any environmental or construction risks, feasibility of your project on the land you chose, easements, etc.
A business attorney will also determine the methods and the manners of a potential purchase, while taking into account one’s estate and tax planning. He/she will analyze and manage the prospective risks of the procedure and negotiate the terms of the sale and purchase agreement for you. He/she will set up the best corporate structure for you to invest.
The procedure is closed in two steps.
First the parties sign a preliminary sale and purchase agreement, and the buyer pays a deposit to secure the deal of usually 10% of the purchase price. Any number of conditions precedent may be included in the agreement, and the same can be used to protect the potential buyer from the loss of his earnest money deposit if a condition important to him is not satisfied on the last possible date set for closing.
After a period of minimum two months, the parties close the deed of conveyance which is the repetition of the preliminary contract but that includes the performance of all the conditions precedent set in the preliminary contract, and all of the information and formalities which were carried out to clear the transfer.
The transfer of real property occurs using a « Notaire ». The French Notaire is essentially an officer appointed by the French government to carry out certain transactions, notably those involving a modification of the land registry. So, he/she drafts and files the deed that the parties and their lawyers have negotiated. The French Notaire is also a “title insurer” since he/she must secure the transfer of a clear title. This is the reason why French people don’t use any title insurance because they don’t need it.
In the French tradition, the buyer usually bears the transfer tax, the land registry fee, and the notary’s fee entitled by the sale, which altogether amounts to roughly 6% of the total price.
4. What are the taxes applying to the holding of real property in Saint Barths
No tax applies to the possession of the real property in Saint Barths, and there is no income tax applicable to the income retrieved from rentals.
However, rentals are subject to a payment of a touristic tax of 5% on the amounts paid by the tenants. It is generally collected and paid by the brokers on behalf of the owners.
Finally, a capital gain tax applies “to any transaction on immovable assets made in any capacity whatsoever, by a natural person or legal entity, trust or another group, regardless of the form, domiciled or not on the territory of Saint-Barthélemy and resulting from the transfer against payment of all developed or undeveloped real estate properties, any property rights on these real estate properties or shares, units, securities or other interests in a real estate property company.”(article 100 of the internal revenue clode)
The capital gain tax is set at a 35% rate during the eight first years of holding, then decreases to 20%. However, the considered capital gain is reduced by 10% for each year beyond the eighth year of holding.
For example, if one sells a real property making a capital gain of 1 million Euros after ten years, the calculation of the capital gain tax will be set as follows:
(1,000,000.00 – 20%) x 20% = €160,000.00
5. Is St Barth’s inheritance Tax exempt?
According to the local tax law, all the rights, moveable and real properties located in Saint Barths and comprised in an estate are exempt from any local taxation.
In order to benefit from the full advantages of tax treaties and applicable laws, depending on the individual circumstances, one may want to consider the incorporation of a Saint Barths company, hold through one or various foreign corporations, before closing a purchase agreement. If one needs a local bank account or a mortgage loan, the use of a simple shareholding chain to hold the Saint Barths company is recommended because local banks refuse to open bank accounts to entities when they cannot ensure identification of all of the ultimate beneficial owners at all times.
This article was written by Emmanuel Jacques, MBA from NYU Stern Business School, HEC and LSE, attorney at law for 30 years. Emmanuel Jacques is the founder and managing partner of Emmanuel Jacques Almosnino SAS, a Law Firm located in Gustavia, which is collaborating with Andersen Global, and is also the corresponding firm for most of the big US, UK and French law firms.
About Premier Properties St Barth
Premier Properties is a leading real estate agency located at “Le Carré d’Or” in Gustavia (where Chopard, Bulgari, Vuitton, Hermès and Cartier stores are located), which offers luxurious villa for sale and vacation rentals since 2010. We take great care in serving our clients with full dedication, confidentiality and special attention making VIPs any and all of our clients.