International Bonds
A tax-efficient and flexible way of investing
The award-winning International Bond from Standard Life International* is a tax-efficient bond that gives you more control over when you pay tax. While you’re invested in an offshore bond, you won’t normally pay tax on any growth**. Instead, tax is paid when you take money out of the bond and will be based on your circumstances at that time. It’s ideal for a range of needs including estate and retirement planning, tax-efficient saving or even if you’re planning to move abroad.
* For company and regulatory details of Standard Life International see the Legal Notice.
** There may also be withholding tax payable on certain investment funds. This is a tax that some countries deduct from dividends and interest payments to foreign investors.
To apply call 0845 272 8810
International Bonds overview
There are many reasons to choose our International Bond.
- Investment choice – The international bond offers a wide range of investment options. Choose from over 2,000 investments funds or from the range of Discretionary Investment Managers, Deposit Accounts or Structured Deposit Accounts we make available
- Stepped Product Charges and Discounts - Clients with larger investment holdings are rewarded
- Switch funds – match your attitude to risk or access new investment opportunities. There may be a charge for switching into and out of some investments
- No fixed term – this bond should be seen as a medium to long-term investment and would be typically held for at least five years
- Transfer ownership – gift the bond to your children or grandchildren in the future. You can have more than 100 segments, so the bond offers ultimate flexibility on assignment
- Flexible withdrawals – you can make regular or one-off withdrawals whenever you like. Withdrawals are subject to an overall limit and will reduce the value of the bond
Investment returns
As with any investment the value of your fund can go up or down and may be worth less than what was paid in.
Find out more
To apply for an International Bond, speak to your Financial Adviser.
You can find full details of our International Bond in the Key features document (PDF, 139Kb)
To apply call 0845 272 8810
To apply call 0845 272 8810
How it works
- You must be habitually resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
- You must be aged 18 or over
- Up to six people can jointly own the bond, and up to six lives can be insured
- You can insure the life of persons between 3 months and 84 years old
Minimum and maximum amounts
- Minimum initial investment – £20,000. £100,000 for Discretionary Investment Manager and whole of market funds
Adding more money
- Lump sums – The bond gives you the freedom to make additional investments whenever you like. This is subject to a maximum age of 84 and a minimum additional investment of £2,500
- Recurrent single payments – you can also make recurrent single payments, minimums are illustrated in the table
| Recurrent single payments | £1,000 monthly £3,000 quarterly £6,000 half yearly £10,000 annually |
| Recurrent single payments if added to an existing bond or where paid in conjunction with a single payment of £20,000 | £500 monthly £1,500 quarterly £3,000 half yearly £5,000 annually |
Withdrawing money
- Lump sums – withdraw at least £500 each time
- Regular withdrawals – at least £200 a time, from one month to 12 months
Tax
You can withdraw up to 5% of the total payments made into your bond without any immediate tax liability. Laws and tax rules may change in the future. The information here is based on our understanding in September 2012. Your personal circumstances also have an impact on tax treatment.
Once you have taken withdrawals equal to the total amount paid into your bond, this allowance stops.
If you don’t use your allowance in a particular policy year, you can carry it forward, until you have used up the whole allowance. You need to keep at least £10,000 in your bond for it to remain open.
Please note that if you cash-in part or all of your bond, or take withdrawals in excess of 5% of the total amounts paid into your bond in a policy year, part of your benefit will normally be treated as a ‘chargeable gain’. This is added to your income and charged at the applicable rate. This is explained in the Key Features document (PDF, 139kb).
Investment returns
As with any investment the value of your fund can go up or down and may be worth less than what was paid in.
Find out more
To apply for an International Bond, speak to your Financial Adviser.
You can find full details of our International Bond in the Key features document (PDF, 139Kb)
To apply call 0845 272 8810
