With Brexit uncertainty and a range of options available, Final Salary Pensions can be a source of concern and confusion. For expats, however, there are opportunities on offer.

Final Salary (safeguarded) Pension providers under pressure:

Over recent months there has been a growing trend of expats looking at their Final Salary Pensions more closely. Recent media coverage of how sound these pension funds are has caused expats some concern.  Some pension funds have provided very generous transfer values.  This can be seen as a very attractive option.

Historically low interest rates and increased life expectancy lead to companies facing significant shortfalls in funding payments promised to members. Like BHS, with its £571 million pension deficit, companies with insurmountable deficits can fail alongside their pension schemes.

To offload pension liabilities, many companies are offering members large cash sums to leave. Calculated as a multiple of a member’s future pension payment, it is not unknown for pay-outs to double from 20x two years ago to 40x since the Brexit vote. In an extreme example, if you had a final salary of £30,000 per year, you may have been offered £600,000 two years ago – but £1.2 million today.

Although this example is unusual, even more modest sums could provide a retirement income that well exceeds the original annual payment. Today’s unusually high transfer values can outweigh the benefits of drawing a guaranteed pension for life, but professional advice is essential.

Expatriates can access tax-efficient opportunities

Many expatriates benefit from reinvesting their UK pension funds into an arrangement that is more tax-efficient in their country of residence. Alternatively, you could transfer to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) to unlock tax benefits where you live. This can also offer estate planning advantages. While most Final Salary Pensions are payable to your spouse on death, QROPS and other arrangements offer the flexibility to include additional heirs and roll your wealth across generations.

These options can be advantageous, but tax benefits vary greatly between providers and jurisdictions. Taking regulated advice is crucial to determine if this approach is suitable for you, navigate your options and avoid pension scams.

Advice is essential before transferring

As tempting as inflated pay-outs are, transferring from Final Salary Pensions comes with risks and many members are better off staying where they are. An adviser can help you weigh up the advantages, disadvantages and long-term implications. For benefits worth over £30,000, the Financial Conduct Authority makes it compulsory to take regulated financial advice before transferring.

You should at least confirm your current transfer value and check if your scheme is at risk. The government’s Pension Protection Fund offers some protection but only compensates up to £33,678 a year at age 65, so if your pension offers more and your scheme is vulnerable, consider transferring.

A lower pension allowance could catch you out

If your total UK pension savings (excluding the State Pension) are close to £1 million, you could breach the UK lifetime pension allowance. Anything you access over the limit is liable to 55% UK taxation when taken as a lump sum or 25% as income, even if you are resident in another country.

Calculating your lifetime allowance is complex and you could go over without realising it, for example through investment growth. Those close to or over the limit should consider HMRC ‘protection’ options or transferring to a QROPS before attracting further tax penalties. Once in a QROPS, funds are out of reach of lifetime allowance charges.

The window of opportunity may be limited

If you decide transferring is right for you, now may be the time to act. Some speculate that the UK government may change the rules to make withdrawals more difficult, or start taxing pension transfers for non-residents. While changes may not happen, if they do, there may be a limited time to transfer without penalties.

With so much uncertainty ahead, there has never been a better time to review your pension arrangements.  Contact Harrison Brook today.