MNandMN

[QUOTE=dontheturner;8944533] I would be amazed if you pay more tax than me... but that is not question that was posed. The point of the thread was that an individual was wanting to return to the UK to purely get an increased pension and then leave again. Which, in my opinion, is abusing the system. I have no problem with people moving back to the UK and claiming their rightful pension. I lived overseas for ten years myself, but I don't expect other people to pay me the missing years pension which I didn't contribute to. I accept I will get a smaller old age pension, due to time spent abroad, and have I have put other things in place to replace this. Similarly, if I had stayed overseas then I would expect that my pension would be frozen, as the rules have been such for many years.

nun

I'm in US so I will get index linked increases (under current law) when I retire. The new flat rate reform will have to have various ways of qualifying. eg if you are resident in the UK and a stay at home spouse you might not need to have 30 years of NI payments to qualify or maybe you could be classified as self employed and pay voluntary Class 2 contributions like many expats. However, if you're an expat I think the 30 years of NI contribution to qualify should be kept in place.

Giantaxe

I would argue that the "abuse" is a system where, regardless of contribution record, one's pension can be frozen merely because you live in certain countries. The size of one's pension should be determined solely by contribution record, not by where one happens to reside.

Right, but that's a different issue: shorter contribution record should mean lower pension. I doubt many would argue with that.

Sure, you might expect this, but does it make the frozen pension policy fair?

dontheturner

GA, You know, that is my thinking exactly, as you so ably have pointed out, Why should I be penalised ( At the age of 80, I might add) just because I choose to live elsehwere? - and I still pay tax too, as many others do. Don

Bijilo123

[QUOTE=dontheturner;8944533] Don, as you are out of the country - not resident and not ordinarily resident then you do ot need to pay income tax - probably for the whole time you have been away. As you are British then you can use your personal allowance against any taxable income that you have. You are entitled to claim back tax you have paid for the whole period you were away.

richard47

Giantaxe. I have paid National Insurance and income tax for the past 48 years, so if anybody wishes to call this abuse, then I suggest they look the word up in the dictionary! It makes me wonder what benefits they are afraid of losing!

Agree 100% with all you say.

Cheers now

dontheturner

[QUOTE=Bijilo123;8946683]
Not so, I am sorry to say, It was not planned to stay here, so I am listed as ''Ordinarily resident'' and we are now returning, in February. Silly, I know, but this was really only going to be a holiday home. I did hope all the family would visit, whilst we were here, but they are all chicken, and said '' Wow, Asia, no thanks'' For some unknown reason, most folks think it is fuill of creepy crawlies - but it is not. I have only seen two flies all this year! don

Bijilo123

Don,

You are not listed as anything. Put in a tax refund claim and explain the circumstances - there is no list of people who are abroad and should pay tax!!

Good luck - I'm going to Thailand on 10 Nov.