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Tax On Pensions

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Old Oct 22nd 2006 | 7:58 am
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Default Tax On Pensions

iHAVE JUST ARRIVED CAN I HAVE MY PENSION THAT IS PAID INTO A ENGLISH BANK T/F AND IS THERE T AX IMPLICATIONS i ONLY EARNED ENOUGH 2 PAY BASIC TAX?
 
Old Oct 22nd 2006 | 9:09 am
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by vox populia
iHAVE JUST ARRIVED CAN I HAVE MY PENSION THAT IS PAID INTO A ENGLISH BANK T/F AND IS THERE T AX IMPLICATIONS i ONLY EARNED ENOUGH 2 PAY BASIC TAX?
It really depends on your status, if you intend living in Spain more than 183 days P.A. you are effectively Tax resident and therefore all your worldwide assets/income come under the Spanish tax system. There are exceptions, IE if your pension comes from a UK government agency such as DSS or Civil service or military pension it is taxable only in the UK.

There is an agreement between Spain and UK tax authorities that you will be taxed only in one country (Your country of residence), I thought the whole subject was quite complex to understand in the UK, and when Igot to spain it turned into a nightmare, in the end I paid an Asesoria to sort it all out and Tax wise I am marginally better off in the spanish system.
all the info you need is here, But I suppose it really depends on personal circumstance.

http://www.windrammiller.com/tax_spain.html

For transfers to Spain there are lots of options, but again it depends on your circumstances. For example , UK Gov pensions can be paid direct, Spanish banks wont charge if it is a pension payment, Halifax will do direct transfers UK Halifax to Spanish Halifax FOC, Lots of options you will need to shop around for the best for u.

Last edited by Solarwhizz; Oct 22nd 2006 at 9:29 am.
 
Old Oct 22nd 2006 | 11:22 am
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by vox populia
iHAVE JUST ARRIVED CAN I HAVE MY PENSION THAT IS PAID INTO A ENGLISH BANK T/F AND IS THERE T AX IMPLICATIONS i ONLY EARNED ENOUGH 2 PAY BASIC TAX?
Check with your pension company, a lot of them can pay your pension in Euros, if you have a Spanish bank account, and generaly at a favourable exchange rate, but you must inform the tax people in the U.K. first. At first you could possibly pay tax in both countries, but there is a way to claim it back from the U.K.
 
Old Oct 22nd 2006 | 7:39 pm
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by Solarwhizz
IE if your pension comes from a UK government agency such as DSS or Civil service or military pension it is taxable only in the UK.
.
Civil service and military pensions are classed as "Crown" pensions and are, as you say, taxed in the UK.

Normal DSS state retirement pensions are not included in this category and are taxed in Spain.
 
Old Oct 23rd 2006 | 1:30 am
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by Fred James
Civil service and military pensions are classed as "Crown" pensions and are, as you say, taxed in the UK.

Normal DSS state retirement pensions are not included in this category and are taxed in Spain.
Sorry Fred, Your quite right I didnt make myself clear, I meant a pension from the DHSS after working for them and retiring , not the general state pension which we have paid into and get on reaching age 60 or 65!!
 
Old Oct 23rd 2006 | 7:11 pm
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Which brings up a good question, for those of us a few years away from retiring in the sun are pension credits transferred automaticly when you move?

My wife worked in Germany 7 years and I expect we'll be a few years in Spain and then after that who knows (hopefully not back to Germany) do pension credits follow you around. I know labour mobility is one of the bedrock baisis of the EU but what about pensions?

vox populia I would suggest picking up a recent (make that new) copy of "You the law and Spain" ISBN: 8489954410 he has a chapter dealing with that very thing. Being as I'm a few years away yet I skipped that one
 
Old Oct 23rd 2006 | 10:11 pm
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Post Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by tim hortons man
Which brings up a good question, for those of us a few years away from retiring in the sun are pension credits transferred automaticly when you move?

My wife worked in Germany 7 years and I expect we'll be a few years in Spain and then after that who knows (hopefully not back to Germany) do pension credits follow you around. I know labour mobility is one of the bedrock baisis of the EU but what about pensions?

vox populia I would suggest picking up a recent (make that new) copy of "You the law and Spain" ISBN: 8489954410 he has a chapter dealing with that very thing. Being as I'm a few years away yet I skipped that one
Thanks Tim I will get that book its all very complicated espically regarding company pension schemes as I have that there is no law to insist on your scheme being paid in euros to a spanish bank depite all those years of paying in !
 
Old Oct 23rd 2006 | 10:48 pm
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by vox populia
Thanks Tim I will get that book its all very complicated espically regarding company pension schemes as I have that there is no law to insist on your scheme being paid in euros to a spanish bank depite all those years of paying in !
True, but just phone them up, thats what I did , my pension company is quite small, yet they still have pensioners who live in EC countries, and already have a system in place to pay in Euros.
 
Old Oct 24th 2006 | 6:33 pm
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by jonsol
True, but just phone them up, thats what I did , my pension company is quite small, yet they still have pensioners who live in EC countries, and already have a system in place to pay in Euros.
Interestingly enough Canada is in the process of doing the same with pensions. Currently the GST (VAT) refunds are now paid in Euros and although I have many years to wait, pensions are as well (but not yet direct deposit)
 
Old Oct 24th 2006 | 9:57 pm
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by jonsol
True, but just phone them up, thats what I did , my pension company is quite small, yet they still have pensioners who live in EC countries, and already have a system in place to pay in Euros.
Cheers, I phoned them they said that if I wait until I have spanish residence then they maybe able to pay the pension gross and the spanish taxation system tax me there because it will be slightly cheaper? Does anyone know if this can be done?
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Old Oct 24th 2006 | 10:42 pm
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Default Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by vox populia
Cheers, I phoned them they said that if I wait until I have spanish residence then they maybe able to pay the pension gross and the spanish taxation system tax me there because it will be slightly cheaper? Does anyone know if this can be done?
Vox Populia
You need to get a form from the Revenue, fill in the details of any income you want paid gross and the form then goes to the Spanish taxman. He notes the details, stamps it and it goes back to the UK Revenue.

When they get it back you will get your income paid gross.

The Spanish tax is not due until June of the following year so you will effectively get a tax "holiday" of up to a year.

Depending on your income and personal circumstances, Spanish tax is about the same or slightly higher than the UK.
 
Old Oct 25th 2006 | 10:17 pm
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Unhappy Re: Tax On Pensions

Originally Posted by Fred James
You need to get a form from the Revenue, fill in the details of any income you want paid gross and the form then goes to the Spanish taxman. He notes the details, stamps it and it goes back to the UK Revenue.

When they get it back you will get your income paid gross.

The Spanish tax is not due until June of the following year so you will effectively get a tax "holiday" of up to a year.

Depending on your income and personal circumstances, Spanish tax is about the same or slightly higher than the UK.
Thanks Fred, It sounds like apart from the initial tax break i will be no better off financially!
 

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