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Could No-Deal Brexit Make British Pensions for Expats Illegal?

Following a question from committee chairman Hilary Benn in which she sought to confirm the situation, ABI director general Huw Evans said it was a “perfectly plausible risk in the future if no agreement is reached in some countries of the EU” that “pensioners couldn’t be paid their pension”.

Evans offered some reassurance saying that expats’ financial advice in the event of a no-deal Brexit would depend on where they resided. ‘It’s important to note here to avoid panic that each country of the EU has slightly different arrangements around this.”

He advised that each country would have to address the issue separately to ensure that it was satisfactorily resolved.

The comments come in the wake of a difficult period for British Prime Minister Theresa May who has sought to defend her Chequers plan in the face of resignations from her cabinet, numerous reports of internal infighting and near constant press reports of setbacks and troubles.

So it’s worth remembering that although financial advice for expats worried about Brexit is a good idea in the current environment, there is certainly less cause for panic than many believe to be the case.

In her blog, Rosemary Sheppard suggested that there will be some simple solutions to any potential problems arising out of Brexit in relation to expat pension rights.

Blacktower Director and General manager in Gibraltar Robert Mancera comments, “At the end of the day, Hard Brexit or not, common sense will need to prevail. Most EU countries have DTTs (Double Tax Treaties) with the UK and I can’t see these falling away as a result of Brexit. Therefore pension income received into the EU from the UK, I anticipate, would be taxed as it is today.”

Expat financial advice from Blacktower

Blacktower Financial Management offers expat financial advice to help you protect, preserve and grow your wealth.

Our service is based on expertise, strong relationships and a close understanding of you and your investment objectives. For more information about how we can help you successfully manage your wealth during the uncertainty of Brexit, contact us today.

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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Tax and Benefits Across Borders – Don’t Get Caught Out

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This goes some way to explain why thousands of British expats have recently been caught and penalised for either failing to pay taxes or unlawfully claiming British pension and other social security benefits while living and, in some cases, working abroad.

Cross-border taxation for expats is a notoriously confusing area of wealth management and can seem especially onerous with new data sharing and enforcement rules in place. Unfortunately, not all asset managers are as familiar with tax reporting requirements as they should be. This may seem inconceivable, but wealth management professionals in Spain, across Europe and indeed the globe have an obligation to clients to ensure that they understand and follow all the rules.

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Sweden offering expats one of the best work-life balances worldwide

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Of course, it’s not just in the UK where this is an important issue. Many workforces worldwide could do with a better work-life balance, and if you are soon to be moving to another country for work, it’s likely you’ll be wondering what the work culture is like. After all, spending long hours at your workplace without much else to do in your free time may mean you miss out on some of the best aspects of moving to a new country, such as forming a new circle of friends. And too much neglect of your personal life may end up affecting your emotional well-being and this is often one of the main stress factors expats have to deal with.

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