Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

Hi all, I am looking for some much needed advice.
We currently live in the UK and have a business in the UK and we are looking to relocate to Northern California in June 2016. We are looking to start a new business in the U.S. when we arrive so are looking to potentially apply for an L1 visa.
The advice I am looking for;
Does anyone know of anyone that has either recently been through a move to the U.S. from the UK who owns business in the UK and ideally has found someone really good for this advice or does anyone know of any really good tax advisers that have experience with this form of Tax advice?
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Alvin

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

I think you need to go and look at Pulaski's advice about how to move to the USA in the Wiki section at the top of the page.

You don't get an L1 visa for moving a business to the USA.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

Not for *moving* a business to the U.S, but if the existing business in the UK continues to operate then an L1 visa might be appropriate for someone starting a new business in the US

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

I am starting a new business in the U.S. hence the L1.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

You mean a US branch of your existing UK business (which will continue to operate)? If this is a total startup, that sounds more like an E-2.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

A new U.S. Ltd entity of the existing UK business.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

Surely the Company's current Accountants would be the ones to ask?

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

My UK companies current accountants are in the UK, there are not that many that specialise with US tax laws and even if there was I think I am better dealing with a U.S. firm.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

I realise that, my brother is an accountant and has worked for US companies and UK with US subsidiaries, they have partnerships relationships for multi national clients.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

You have to be dealing with one of the top 10 to get that service, this is not cheap and also not as transparent as it should be for the money. That's why I am trying to get a US accountant.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

Lots of CPA's. I got mine through local recommendation.

On a more logical front if your current Accountant can not provide the services the Company requires you need to shop around.

Ditto Insurance. For example.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

This is what I am seeking, a referral from someone on here who has already been though this and can refer me to someone. I don't seem to be having any luck yet though!

As for the UK accountants, for obvious reasons they don't have to know US regulations to advice on UK regulations for a UK co, so they very rarely know the in and outs. Even the bigger ones seem to have to have partners in the US to find out what is needed. They then like to charge you a reasonably high sum to find this out for you.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

OK Insurance was my speciality, I can ask my Brother about Accountancy but I am sure the principals are similar.

I dealt with multi national Insurance Programmes and obviously I did not know the details of every Country in the world. I also dealt with for example UK subsidiaries of US Multinationals and the people controlling the programmes in the US did not know the intricacies of UK practice and legislation.

Which is why you need to have someone on board who has the resources to meld it together.

The UK Company is going to have to account for its subsidiary in the consolidated accounts, seems you do not have anybody who can do that

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

I think you should ask your immigration lawyer to help you out with recommendations for a CPA. If this lawyer has sufficient expertise and experience to advise you to get an L1 rather than the E2? Then they should have some contacts since they've done it before. If they can 't help you then I would definitely get another legal opinion just to check you are going down the right path. As you may have gathered fromthe responses so far, what you are proposing is not something we have been able to help you with and that is despite a vast amount of collective knowledge and willingness to help.

FWIW, I'm not sure a normal CPA would have experience necessary to set up a subsidiary company that you are relying on to get your visa. But since you have decided to go to an area where there are many startups you could find a startup group and ask there for CPA recommendations for your specific needs. Just be careful to check out that they have done it before and ask for references.

Re: Tax advice for UK move to Nor Cal!
 

Thank you for your response.
He has passed me onto his accountant so we will see what happens there.
One thing I am trying is to gain referrals for my bank manager at HSBC. Most of their clients are UK business owners so surely they must have some referrals. I think this will be my best bet!