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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.

Other News

PM Johnson Could Halt the Threat of No-Deal Litigation

Houses of ParliamentBoris Johnson’s elevation to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has again raised the spectre of a potential no-deal Brexit.

Against this background, it is looking increasingly plausible that predictions of legal action against the UK government by British expats in the EU could become a reality unless the PM takes action. Even in the days before Johnson’s win over Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative Party leadership election, it was warned that expats in Europe could take legal action and sue for loss of rights.

Conservative MP Alberto Costa warned Boris Johnson in a letter dated 20th July 2019*, that unless he was able to tackle the many issues facing expats, his government could be overwhelmed by legal action.

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What happens if my UK pension company can no longer passport into France?

I recently attended the British Embassy Outreach Meeting in Perigueux and as you can imagine there were a lot of disgruntled expats wanting answers that, frankly, aren’t really available right now.  Understandably, for many living through the turmoil and uncertainty of Brexit, there is a lot to take into consideration and some may even be contemplating moving back to the UK. 

One issue in particular piqued my interest as a gentleman had a letter from his UK pension company informing him that, post-Brexit, they may no longer be able to passport into the EU, which means that they may no longer be able to pay his pension payments directly into his French account.

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