Originally Posted by Adam 66

Thanks Gina, but I'm talking about a much larger sum than £10k at a time.

Originally Posted by discobay

Strange. I use their online banking in that I I access my accounts over the internet using a customer number, memorable data and mouse-selectable pin.

Originally Posted by discobay

I can transfer funds between accounts but everytime I wish to transfer overseas or out of Nationwide I need to follow the same procedure that I mentioned. Not once has Nationwide suggested otherwise. What you're suggesting is how it should work. I'll drop them a message.

Originally Posted by janet66

Hi Craig, I'll answer using wifes account as shes browsing.

Mates already in Aussie Navy ex-RN say you have to declare ALL sources of income (be they Aus or UK) for your annual Aus tax returns hence you will pay tax in Aus on your UK pension regardless. If you fill in form P85 and send to UK tax office they will consider you for a tax free pension rather than you being double-taxed. You can get pension paid into an Aus bank account. I also found another very specific tax form for avoiding double tax on UK pension income via an official uk tax website but cant re-find it at present (HMRC perhaps??).

My pension now goes into my UK Barclays account, eventually it will go directly into my ANZ account held in Western Australia.

I also found out that National Insurance contributions for your UK basic state pension can be paid by direct debit in annual arrears (after end of tax year calculations) and that the qualifying period for a UK basic state pension is now 30 years of stamp paid. My previous state pension forecast estimated it at £88 per week, not much when I finally qualify for it but better than a poke in the eye. Even a slab of beer a week courtesy of the UK for all my years of toil is worth something.

I think the NI voluntary contributions form for "non-residents" is a CF38, I got it from the HMRC website. There are different NI levels to pay but all of them allow you the basic state pension. I believe that the level 2 contributions work out at £114 a year, level 3 at £440 a year and level 1 at over £1k. If like me you have already paid 25 years, its a no-brainer to keep paying UK stamp for another 5 years to qualify for a state pension, like the Tesco mantra "every little helps".

You can speak to the "Centre for Non Residents" helpline in Newcastle on 0845 915 4811 or surf to http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/

Sadly as an Australian resident, you will not get annual increases on your UK state pension after you recieve it unlike folks who move within EU as there is no longer a reciprocal benefits agreement between Aus and UK.

Hope this info is of use to you.

Originally Posted by GinaUK

So you *are* set up for online banking. That's great!

Just to be clear: I am not "suggesting" anything - I actually do transfers out of Nationwide on a regular basis . This has included one to Tranzfers and one to HiFX.

Next time you're in online banking, try and follow my explanations on where to click.

Gina

Originally Posted by Adam 66

I decided to use Barclays to move with HiFX as it saves hassle.

Originally Posted by tinalise

Hi Adam,

So how did you transfer the money into the HiFX account from your Barclays account?

I've tried to to it into UKForex (OZforex) but after 3 hrs of phone calls it appears I can't transfer the money without physically appear in a branch.

Easily said than done since I'm in the US now... so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Anyone got advice UKForex HiFX?