Any negative consequences of permanently leaving the UK (for tax purposes)?

[dmini]

Have a friend working out in Uganda for an NGO. She comes back only for a few months every 18 months / 2 years. One of the things she said this week is that she is no longer eligible for NHS care - except for emergency care. So - would make certain you have medical cover.

[doconline]

A slightly related question...

If one was to leave the country for good at some point in the tax year, I guess that the £ 11,000 yearly allowance that a contractor is often advised to use for the monthly £ 671.66 director salary (and the reminder for shares) gets pro-rated, right?

Does the same apply for the £ 5,000 shares allowance on top of the 11k?

I think this would depend on what point you left the UK during the year, if you are resident for a certain amount of the year, you would be a full time resident for tax purposes. Also, depending on the country you go to, if they have a dual tax treaty with the UK, and I guess depending on the new countries tax year too, as it may well not run April to April like the UK. Speak to an accountant / fiscal representative in both countries to get it right.

[theroyale]

Not that many on the list, I guess Norway, Denmark, Switzerland would be up there on the list, but I am nowhere near those countries, way further east I'm afraid
Brexit is a big unknown and I guess the only way to guarantee my low, low NHS pension would be to become a citizen (I am not right now) and that costs money, currently approaching 3000GBP - I think I'd have to get really lucky and live really long to reclaim all that with NHS pension

Hmm. My plan is also to settle down somewhere "way further East" in the far future (where I'm originally from). Is there any scope for you to keep paying in to that state pension - maybe do a month or two a year of contracting in the UK to keep things ticking over, or are you completely done with that?

[Lavarella]

A slightly related question...

If one was to leave the country for good at some point in the tax year, I guess that the £ 11,000 yearly allowance that a contractor is often advised to use for the monthly £ 671.66 director salary (and the reminder for shares) gets pro-rated, right?

Does the same apply for the £ 5,000 shares allowance on top of the 11k?

[NotAllThere]

If you've full contributions you'll get 2350CHF (about £1800) a month in Switzerland. But it's an expensive place to live.

[yasockie]

if you are in a decent European country you want their state pension not a UK one

Not that many on the list, I guess Norway, Denmark, Switzerland would be up there on the list, but I am nowhere near those countries, way further east I'm afraid
Brexit is a big unknown and I guess the only way to guarantee my low, low NHS pension would be to become a citizen (I am not right now) and that costs money, currently approaching 3000GBP - I think I'd have to get really lucky and live really long to reclaim all that with NHS pension

[skysies]

I have left the UK a while ago and I was drawing down the Ltd funds slowly. Now that's done and I am winding down the company.
On a personal level, I'd like to do the same a cut all ties to the Old Blighty.
I am told P85 is a good start.


My main concerns are:
I have been paying NHS + other taxes for over 13 years. Will I be eligible for state pension if I am ever so desperate to come back for it?
Will I be eligible to my other pensions if I ma not resident in the UK?
Is there anyone I can consult about this, for a fee, especially with a view to brexit?

Don't waste your money seeking advice on that one. It's a f*cked up situation right now with Brexit. No one knows what will follow next.

[SueEllen]

I understood that as long as the UK stays in the EU then the EU/EEA country you live in would count the NI payments you made in the UK as contributing to their state pension (and vice-versa if you came back to the UK). Then again my Dad is retired and lives in France and gets a UK pension, perhaps because he moved there after he'd retired.

Obviously nobody can advise you on what will happen after Brexit as nobody has the slightest idea.

You can make voluntary NI contributions, which could work out the best option if you weren't going to get any other state pension.

There are a couple of exceptions to that hence you should check the country you are in.

[VectraMan]

I understood that as long as the UK stays in the EU then the EU/EEA country you live in would count the NI payments you made in the UK as contributing to their state pension (and vice-versa if you came back to the UK). Then again my Dad is retired and lives in France and gets a UK pension, perhaps because he moved there after he'd retired.

Obviously nobody can advise you on what will happen after Brexit as nobody has the slightest idea.

You can make voluntary NI contributions, which could work out the best option if you weren't going to get any other state pension.

I believe that if you have a UK ISA you can keep getting interest tax free but aren't allowed to pay any more into it. But that could also depend on where you are (and Brexit).

[NotAllThere]

Depends where you're moving to, but you can often get your state pension paid overseas. With 13 years of contribution, you'll get about 1/3 of the full amount - not much, but every little helps.

You can check online how much you can expect. You can also check for missing years - I just did that and have found they've missed one of my years off. Fortunately, I still have the P60 for that year, so I'll get it rectified. It's £4.60 a week!

Best advantage is no more communication with HMRC. But make sure your account balance with them is zero.

[SueEllen]

Depends on the country you moved to.

Pensions are complex due to different ages needing to qualify so you best Google the pensions advisory service see if there is anything on their website then phone them up.

Also if you are in a decent European country you want their state pension not a UK one, as you get more money.

[Lavarella]

There should be means to move some of the tax you have paid (I guess that that went into your state pension) between countries within the European Union.
Hurry up before Brexit is finalised

[yasockie]

I have left the UK a while ago and I was drawing down the Ltd funds slowly. Now that's done and I am winding down the company.
On a personal level, I'd like to do the same a cut all ties to the Old Blighty.
I am told P85 is a good start.


My main concerns are:
I have been paying NHS + other taxes for over 13 years. Will I be eligible for state pension if I am ever so desperate to come back for it?
Will I be eligible to my other pensions if I ma not resident in the UK?
Is there anyone I can consult about this, for a fee, especially with a view to brexit?