Hi all,

Having seen a few threads pop up about tax, it has reminded me of the fact that I will have to fill out the form on the HMRC website informing them that I will be leaving for the USA (or do I do it AFTER I've moved informing them I have?) when it comes closer to that time.

With that in mind, can anyone direct me to a site/help me formulate a list of the legal things I need to do here in the UK before heading over to America (excluding visa-related stuff as I'm taking that as a given)?

Thanks to all in advance!

I contacted HMRC before we left, but they were fairly relaxed and just said to inform them of our new US address once we were settled. We didn't fill in form P85, because it doesn't apply if you will need to complete a self assessment form for the current tax year.

In terms of a checklist, I pulled together one from a couple of different sources that might help as a starting point - dates are relative to our move date of 11th August 2014:

Date Task
TRUE 24 January 2014 Arrange children’s Hepatitis B vaccination and TB Test
TRUE 11 May 2014 Cancel David Lloyd membership
TRUE 2 June 2014 Organise house letting
TRUE 2 June 2014 Arrange EPC
TRUE 16 June 2014 Complete NRL Forms
TRUE 27 June 2014 Give notice to cleaners
TRUE 30 June 2014 Request a copy of medical records/vaccination history from GP
TRUE 30 June 2014 Arrange pre-move eye tests
TRUE 30 June 2014 Arrange pre-move dental check ups
TRUE 30 June 2014 Notify HMRC
TRUE 30 June 2014 Book professional house clean
TRUE 30 June 2014 Give notice to window cleaner
TRUE 4 July 2014 Arrange gas safety certificate
TRUE 7 July 2014 Give notice to gardener
TRUE 7 July 2014 Cancel Sky
TRUE 8 July 2014 Cancel ADT
TRUE 8 July 2014 Amend house insurance
TRUE 11 July 2014 Buy new luggage
TRUE 14 July 2014 Arrange mail redirection
TRUE 28 July 2014 Notify local council
TRUE 28 July 2014 Apply to vote by post
TRUE 28 July 2014 Advise Co-Op Energy of moving date
TRUE 28 July 2014 Advise Southern Water of moving date
TRUE 28 July 2014 Close unwanted accounts
FALSE 28 July 2014 Notify change of address and fill in “Not ordinarily resident” forms for open accounts
TRUE 31 July 2014 Produce house summary
TRUE 1 August 2014 Complete customs forms
TRUE 1 August 2014 Review US health insurance plan
TRUE 1 August 2014 Book rental cars
TRUE 1 August 2014 Confirm flights
TRUE 1 August 2014 Order dollars
TRUE 1 August 2014 Confirm arrival date with SIRVA
TRUE 3 August 2014 Thoroughly clean bikes, scooters and shoes
TRUE 3 August 2014 Sell/donate TV, electric tools, old furniture, kitchen appliances, personal appliances, old clothes and old toys
TRUE 4 August 2014 Copy passports
TRUE 4 August 2014 Copy visas
TRUE 4 August 2014 Email copies of passports and visas to Mum
TRUE 4 August 2014 Copy birth certificates
TRUE 4 August 2014 Copy marriage certificate
TRUE 4 August 2014 Copy recent tax records and credit reports
TRUE 4 August 2014 Sell cars and cancel car insurance
TRUE 4 August 2014 Pack luggage
TRUE 8 August 2014 Empty and defrost fridge and freezer
TRUE 8 August 2014 Take electricity meter reading
TRUE 8 August 2014 Take gas meter reading
TRUE 8 August 2014 Take water meter reading
TRUE 8 August 2014 Lock up and hand over house keys to letting agent
TRUE 10 August 2014 Pack travel documents, passports, dollars, medicines in hand luggage
TRUE 11 August 2014 Move!!!
TRUE 12 August 2014 Open US bank account
TRUE 12 August 2014 Upload bank details to SIRVA Connect
TRUE 12 August 2014 Apply for SSN
TRUE 4 September 2014 Make appointment for drivers license

That's fantastic, thanks. A couple of things:

- What is SIRVA exactly? Had a little Google and they are some sort of move facilitator I guess?


Also:

- TRUE 1 August 2014 Complete customs forms
- TRUE 1 August 2014 Review US health insurance plan

What custom forms are those? Was wondering what you have to do in terms of declaring anything considering what you have to fill out when going over on the Visa Waiver Programme? Secondly, by 'review US health insurance plan' was this just a case of doing some research into your options?

Sorry, should have filtered a bit more - they were our relocation agents.

The customs forms were provided to us by SIRVA - they all related to our container shipment. Quite a few of these and fairly incomprehensible!!

Yes, by review the US health insurance plan, I meant just researching the alternatives on offer. We had the choice of three, so needed to pick one, which was a bit tricky!

List of what to do and when about Moving : British Expat Wiki

In the wiki, above, might be a good starting point.

Thanks Bob, I did find that afterwards! Looks a good place to start as you say. On this issue of customs forms - has anyone going over on a technically nonimmigrant visa (I.e. K1 etc.) had to declare anything going through customs (I.e. their belongings they are taking with them!)