loulougarthorpe

I saw this on the Daily Mail website. It says Canada is no.6 in the Top 10 Overseas Retirement locations.

Dream retirement destinations: Top ten revealed | Mail Online

There is a good section about 'Tips for Retiring Abroad'. Quite good tips for anyone who is just moving over there...

Ten tips for retiring abroad
1) Get an estimate of your state pension here.
2) Seek independent financial advice before you move.
3) Tell HM Revenue and Customs that you are moving overseas. This allows them to let you know of any UK tax liability you may have even though you are living overseas, and more importantly can allow any UK pension you have to be paid gross (no tax deducted) and taxed in your country of residence – if the country you live in has a double taxation agreement with the UK.
4) Check what reciprocal agreements are in place with the destination country regarding your UK state pension and other social security benefits.
5) Find out about your welfare rights while abroad.
6) Keep an eye on exchange rates.
7) Check the cost of healthcare in the country you are thinking of moving to, and consider some form of medical insurance.
8) If you decide to keep your property in the UK you will need to let your mortgage provider and insurance company know if it will be rented or remain empty.
9) Do your homework on the cost of living in the country you want to move to.
10) Notify utility companies, financial institutions and your local council when you are leaving. Contact the electoral register, and arrange for mail forwarding via the Post Office.

mikelincs

All good advice, however the bit about pensions being paid gros of tax might be a bit misleading. There are certain governmant pensions, notably civil service pensions that MUST be taxed in the UK, so cannot be paid gross, oherwise everything seems to be as it should.

Dashie

No mention of the need for visas...

Do they mean retirement as in a series of holidays so as not to overstay visitor visas?

mikelincs

It's a generalised list as it was part of an article on the top 10 overseas retirement locations, so it wasn't Canada specific, it even includes the USA.

Here is the full article..

Dream retirement destinations: Top ten revealed | Mail Online

and no, there is no mention of needing a visa..

izzi81

The survey seems to have asked people where their would like to retire to. So the respondents answering Canada or USA probably haven't considered that they would need a visa to be able to move, they're just at the 'that would be nice!' stage. The Daily Mail checklist should probably have included 'find out if you require a visa to move there' lol

BristolUK

A visa?
What on earth for?
Surely - Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary - covers such inconveniences.

JonboyE

I didn't know this. Do you have any background/links?

Hertha

I get a British civil service pension and a British police pension. Both are paid gross.

orly

Spain first? LOL'd

dbd33

Why? It's sunny, it's in the EU, it's easy to go home for domestic obligations and, if you want them, there are lots of English speakers there.

Canada strikes me as a bizarre choice, presumably people thinking of Canada have relatives there.

orly

Quite. Not sure I'd be that fussed on retiring to a place full of 50-60 something ex-cab drivers.

Jericho79

If the natives don't wanna stay here when they retire, shouldn't that set off alarm bells?

Siouxie

Did they read the wiki I wonder?



http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...gistics-Canada
Departure To Do List (UK to Canada) : British Expat Wiki

BristolUK

The UK tax office is aware I'm not UK resident - I did the form to get gross interest paid on money in the bank after my house sale.

The department paying my pension informed me that the pension was taxable even though not resident.

However, it doesn't matter as the amount is lower than the personal allowance, so there's no tax anyway.

I also get a small annuity and the tax office has issued two tax codes so that both CS pension and annuity can be paid gross.

Since the tax office knows I'm not UK resident but is still issuing tax codes in this fashion, it does suggest that UK source pension of this type is still subject to UK tax.

JonboyE

From the tax treaty (which is superior to national law):

Article 17

1. Pensions arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State who is the beneficial owner thereof shall be taxable only in that other State.

...

3. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "pension" includes any payment under a superannuation, pension or retirement plan, Armed Forces retirement pay, war veterans pensions and allowances, and any payment under a sickness, accident or disability plan, as well as any payment made under the social security legislation in a Contracting State ...

My bolding. I don't see any exception for a Civil Service pension.

In fact, Article 18 goes on to say:

Government Services

1. (a) Remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to any individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or local authority thereof shall be taxable only in that State.

If I am mistaken, I was hoping someone would save me some time and effort by directing me to a source.