EU Expats Should Not Worry About Their UK Pensions After Brexit

European expats worried about what happens to their UK pensions if Brexit negotiations fail to deliver a residency deal that allows them to stay in Britain need not worry. The money they have paid into personal pensions or in readiness to draw the state pension belongs to them and no one can touch the funds. […]

Watch Out For Australia QROPS Contribution Limits

One problem for wealthy expats wanting to set up an Australia QROPS is pension rules only allow payments in of £250,000 every three years. For many modest retirement savers that can sound like a lot of money, but for many entrepreneurs and executives, and average pension fund can easily breach this limit. The answer to […]

Isle Of Man QROPS May Get Flexible Access

Isle of Man Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) savers look set to win the same pension freedoms that are available in the UK. The Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s government has voted to back a motion supporting the introduction of flexible access pensions run on a similar model to those enjoyed in the UK […]

The QROPS Jurisdictions Embracing Pension Freedom

The UK pension reforms which allow savings to effectively be accessed as a bank account have been extended to the QROPS model, but not every jurisdiction is currently in a position to offer this. To allow ‘open season’ to take effect on overseas schemes, each individual QROPS jurisdiction must first amend their own legislation to […]

Expat Retirees Need to Check the Pension Legislation Changes

Brits planning to retire overseas must start to familiarise themselves with the pension changes due to kick in on 6th April 2015, according to industry analysts. A lack of knowledge could result in thousands of pounds being wasted, with the pension freedoms actually having the potential to be used advantageously as they are extended from […]

QROPS for US Residents

QROPS were seen as an impossible dream for US residents with UK-based pensions up until 2010. The reasons for this were mainly based around the reporting requirements to the IRS. Pension trustees used to tend to overlook US residents for QROPS, because of the resources required to fulfil the reporting necessities. The relatively low number […]

QROPS: Pension Liberation Scammers Looking Overseas Now

HMRC, the tax man and pension providers have all expressed concern that pension liberation scammers may now be using offshore schemes for their swindle, regardless of whether the saver lives overseas or not. A QROPS is a platform for those who either currently live overseas or plan to within the next 12 months. It offers […]

Malta Continues to Embrace QROPS

As a global financial hub, Malta continues to emerge, and pension providers continue to be drawn to the Mediterranean island to set up new schemes. With flexibility, stability and a high level of regulation being among its more prominent features, Malta also benefits from having more than 65 double taxation agreements in place (with more […]

Debate Continues Over QROPS 100% Access Rules

The freedom to access 100% of funds with an overseas pension will come into place on 6th April 2015, a move which coincides with the same rule change in the UK. Before the rule comes into play however, there is still many loose ends to be tied up by the Treasury. So far no detail […]

NHS Pensions Transferring to QROPS

NHS pension holders are currently the main sector looking to transfer their savings into a more beneficial QROPS, before this option is no longer available. As of April 2015 the door will be shut firmly on any kind of transfer to a scheme developed initially to allow expatriates living away from the UK – or […]