Bit of a weird one and hopefully very simple:

Going back to England for the first time with wife and kids after 4 years of living here (have 10 year green card), and was wondering if there is something I should have done or some UK agency I should have notified when I was actually moving out of the country in the first place? I just sort of upped and left...didn't do anything with taxes or anything...never even really thought about it. My passport is valid and papers in order, etc. I just thought that maybe I was missing something when I originally moved...

Thanks.

The only tax related form you should have filled in is a P85. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/p85_p85s.htm

Hope that helps.

He also should have notified the appropriate dept regarding Child Benefit. If he's been receiving CB whilst living in the US he'll have to pay it back.

I haven't been receiving any kind of benefits or income from properties or whatnot since I left. I just went through the immigration process, quit my job and left! I should obviously have investigated what I needed to do on the UK end, but I was so preoccupied with the USCIS stuff I didn't think. Bloody hell!!

That's good...at least you won't owe anything. I would email/write/call the IR and explain your position....you may be due for a tax refund.

Have you been paying NI contributions (reduced rate)? If not it may be worthwhile paying them up to date.

Are you coming back?

What I really mean to ask is if you plan on going > 6 months or > 12 months, you may need to take some precautions to ensure your Green Card remains valid. It's only 'permanent' as long as you remain in 'residence'.

Thanks for that, Jerseygirl.

No, I have not been paying NI contributions. Very irresponsible of me to just totally disregard and not even research my UK end of procedures, I guess.

Man, I can just imagine walking through passport control and getting ushered in to interrogation or something!

Penguin: Yes, I'll be back in a week. I'm well up to speed on my US criteria, but not so much on my UK, apparently!

From what you have told us you will sail through UK immigration without any problems. You do not have to pay NI contributions whilst living overseas but many expats do to maintain their pension. Look into it further to see if paying back NI contributions is worthwhile.

Thanks for your advice! I appreciate it.

apart from P85...might be worth sorting out voter proxy as it's a hassle from abroad, that's if you've got family or someone you trust to vote on your behalf...much better that way than doing it by mail....

When the immigration officer swipes your passport it will come up then if there are any outstanding murders, fines, non appearances in Court, income tax owing etc.

I did the same thing back in 1983 ... got my visa, quit my job, and jumped on a plane! I have yet to fill out a form ...

I've been back about 5 times since (on my UK passport) and never been asked any questions, and renewed my passport twice.

I only worked there 3 years, and didn't own or sell property, so my situation was pretty simple.

I was the same way. But I have been wondering about paying NI again should I choose to move back in the future.

Let me know what you find out! I have no desire to go back to the UK, but I do consider going to Italy or Spain ... not sure if any of these things are transferable amongst EU countries - probably not!