Insights & Resources
Practical, compliance-aware guides on cross-border pensions, destination-specific financial planning, and expat financial topics.
SERPS ran from 1978 to 2002, and the earnings you built up under it did not disappear. This guide explains where it went, how to tell whether you were contracted out, and what it means for expatriates drawing a UK State Pension abroad.
The UK does not charge a general exit tax on emigration, and one was not introduced at the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025. Three mechanisms do reach people after they leave: the temporary non-residence rules, UK land and property, and the rules of the country they move to.
A practical guide to the HMRC NT tax code for expats: what it is, who qualifies, how to apply using form DT-Individual, how long it takes, and what a UK pension looks like with and without one.
A short, factual round-up of cross-border rule changes that affect internationally mobile UK nationals in the first half of 2026. Information only.
A neutral guide for UK expats on when and how a UK defined contribution pension can be accessed from abroad, covering tax, NT codes, and practical steps.
A factual overview of DB pension transfers for UK expats: what a CETV is, what safeguarded benefits you give up, the regulated-advice requirement, and cross-border considerations including QROPS.
Whether your UK State Pension rises each April depends on where you live, not where you worked. The GOV.UK country list, the arithmetic over a 20 year retirement, and what still grows while you are abroad.
UK expats in Australia face strict HMRC ROPS rules, an age-55 condition, and Australian tax on the transfer. This guide explains the landscape neutrally.
A neutral overview of the four main paths for UK expats with pensions abroad: leaving them, consolidating into a SIPP, transferring to QROPS, or accessing benefits.
QROPS has a long history of unsuitable, commission-driven advice. Here is what regulated QROPS advice should look like, the questions to ask, and the red flags that should end a conversation.
QROPS availability is country-specific, and the jurisdiction of the receiving scheme shapes the tax, the charges, and the risk. Here is why the country question comes first, with notes for popular expat destinations.
The rules are where QROPS decisions are won or lost. A plain-English guide to how HMRC recognises a scheme, when the 25% Overseas Transfer Charge applies, and the five-year rule that catches expats who move again.
QROPS taxation is layered: a possible UK transfer charge, continuing UK reach for a period, tax where you live, and from April 2027 a new inheritance tax dimension. Here is how the layers fit together.
From 6 April 2027, unused UK pension funds fall inside the inheritance tax estate for the first time. For British expats, a residence-based rule and a quiet double-tax trap make this one of the most important changes in a generation. Here is what to check, and why timing matters.
The 7-year gift rule and trust structures are among the most widely discussed IHT planning tools for expats. Here is how they work, where the limits are, and why timing matters before April 2027.
Your ISA stays open and UK tax-free when you move abroad, but contributions stop the day you become non-resident, and your new country may tax the growth. The rules by ISA type, and the traps to check before you fly.
From 6 April 2026 you cannot pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance for time abroad, and the Class 3 entry test rose from 3 years to 10. This guide covers the current rules, the CF83 application, the 2026/27 figures, and how to work out whether a year would add anything to your pension.
What UK expats in Australia should know about superannuation, tax residency, UK pensions, and finding qualified cross-border financial help.
Saudi Arabia expats should review end-of-service awards, GOSI limits, tax residency, remittances, and pension gaps before seeking specialist help.
Singapore expats should review CPF status, MAS rules, investment restrictions, UK pensions, and cross-border tax issues before choosing an adviser.
Spain expats should review Beckham Law, modelo 720, wealth tax, residency, UK pensions, and treaty issues before seeking specialist advice.
How SIPPs let expats hold and manage UK pension assets abroad: residency, tax relief, access, investment choice, and adviser rules once you leave the UK.
A decision-focused comparison of SIPP and QROPS for expats: where the two structures differ, the factors that point one way or the other, and two illustrative profiles. Factual only, not advice.
Expats often lose track of old UK pension pots after moving jobs or countries. How pension tracing works, how to find lost pensions from overseas, and next steps.
US citizens and green card holders abroad should understand FATCA, FBAR, PFIC, IRA, 401(k), and cross-border tax issues before seeking help.
A practical guide to expat financial planning, covering tax residency, pensions, currency, estate planning, and when specialist help may be needed.
A deep dive into the tax mechanics Portugal expats need to understand: NHR vs IFICI eligibility, how the UK-Portugal treaty allocates pension taxing rights, QROPS considerations, and what to ask a specialist.
UAE expats should review gratuity, DIFC rules, pension gaps, remittances, and home-country tax obligations before choosing a specialist adviser.
QROPS transfers can affect UK pension tax, charges, jurisdiction, and advice requirements. Learn the key risks before speaking with a specialist.
Good to know
No. The articles are general information about expat financial planning, pensions, tax, and cross-border topics. They are educational only and do not constitute financial, tax, or pension advice for your specific situation.
Read our disclaimersArticles carry a published or last-updated date, and we revise key guides as rules change, such as UK pension and inheritance tax developments. Always check the date and confirm specifics with a specialist, as cross-border rules change frequently.
Read the expat guideThe articles are produced by the Pharos Introductions team and reviewed for compliance before publication. Pharos is an introducer, so the content is informational and points you toward a regulated specialist where personal advice is needed.
About Pharos IntroductionsIf an article raises questions specific to your circumstances, request a free, human-reviewed introduction to a vetted expat financial adviser. There is no obligation, and your details are never auto-forwarded.
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