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Post by Fletchsmile on Oct 31, 2016 11:46:46 GMT 7
A thread on returning to the UK after living abroad.
I wasn't quite sure where to post it, and here seems as good a place as any
A few useful links: ------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Returning to the UK from abroad
This is a summary of generic information about what a British national returning to the UK may expect. As each case is different, details of specific social care issues, levels of medical needs, background info etc. may require additional specific advice / recommendations. Essentially, a returnee has NO automatic entitlement to anyUK welfare support on their return – such support can rarely be guaranteed.
heathrowtravelcare.co.uk/what-we-do/returning-to-the-uk-from-abroad/
------------------------------------------------------------ 2/ Tax if you return to the UK
If you come back to the UK after living abroad, you’ll usually be classed a UK resident again. This means you pay UK tax on: ##your UK income and gains ##any foreign income and gains - although you may not have to if your permanent home (‘domicile’) remains outside the UK
www.gov.uk/tax-return-uk ------------------------------------------------------------- 3/ Factsheet 25 Returning from Abroad Janaury 2016 Age UK (next update January 2017)
You may find this factsheet useful if you are a a British citizen over State age who has moved abroad and is now considering moving back to live permanently in the UK. It gives information about things to consider regarding your finances and housing also looks at eligigibility for health and social care services.
www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS25_Returning_from_abroad_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true ------------------------------------------------------------
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siampolee
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Post by siampolee on Oct 31, 2016 12:17:09 GMT 7
Thinking of returning then Fletchsmile ?
But the sad thing is that any so called ''refugee'' is treated much better than that at least they get some help albeit minimal.
For any U K citizen seeking to or actually returning to the U K deportation seems to be the best route.
'Tis now plainly a crime in the U K to have been born a U K. citizen irrespective of ones ethic origin if one has lived abroad for any length of time.
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pathumseb
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Post by pathumseb on Oct 31, 2016 12:47:23 GMT 7
Interestingly enough this has crossed my times a couple of times in Myanmar but...nah, just isn't worth the upheaval and getting hit for tax. Big advantage of Myanmar is the ability to save money- I bank 3/4 of my salary- and yeah, I make more than a NQT in England by quite a bit- going 'home' would be a financial step back at this stage. Another reason why I don't really plan on moving back to the UK is the boredom of the dratted place.
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Post by Fletchsmile on Oct 31, 2016 13:48:02 GMT 7
Thinking of returning then Fletchsmile ? But the sad thing is that any so called ''refugee'' is treated much better than that at least they get some help albeit minimal. For any U K citizen seeking to or actually returning to the U K deportation seems to be the best route. 'Tis now plainly a crime in the U K to have been born a U K. citizen irrespective of ones ethic origin if one has lived abroad for any length of time. We think about it from time to time.
Our youngest in particular always says she wants to live there and the Mrs likes the idea. I guess I'm the sticking point
One big plus in the last few months is the exchange rate. All of a sudden our Thai assets are worth 20% more in GBP terms. The other big plus would be free schooling.
But the kids seem very happy in their school here in Thailand now. It really is excellent.
Looking to the future I also often wonder whether they would have more opportunities in life in the UK.
The big ones on the negative side are exactly what Seb mentions: upheaval and tax!
Toughest call though is what's best all round for the kids.
Cheers Fletch
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smokie36
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Post by smokie36 on Oct 31, 2016 14:09:34 GMT 7
Interestingly enough this has crossed my times a couple of times in Myanmar but...nah, just isn't worth the upheaval and getting hit for tax. Big advantage of Myanmar is the ability to save money- I bank 3/4 of my salary- and yeah, I make more than a NQT in England by quite a bit- going 'home' would be a financial step back at this stage. Another reason why I don't really plan on moving back to the UK is the boredom of the dratted place. But you could go hiking in the Brecon Beacons and get yourself an SAS tattoo.....then you would be wellard on your two week millionaire trip!
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siampolee
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Post by siampolee on Oct 31, 2016 14:15:21 GMT 7
Indeed when you have children your lives are not your own. I was back in the U K around three years ago and society has changed dramatically and not in many cases for the best either. In my home town and village community spirit has all but vanished, people no longer socialise as they did, walking in the evening in large towns and even in some villages now is not a wise idea. All the reason I gave to naysayers concerning my departure from the U K 25 years ago have been proved to be correct. 90% of those naysayers are now retired and living abroad. Those that are still in the U K are indeed by their own admissions trapped either financially or health wise. Our family trust still maintains our country home the unstately pile that it is, the farm estate and the property is still in good condition and the other business concerns are chugging along. However with the exception of two great aunts and a couple of cousins who are of my age none of the family now reside in the U K permanently they just return on the occasional trip. I know that I could not ever return to live in the U K again even if I wanted to, the country is breaking up as is is its social fabric, I dread to think what the situation may be or will be twenty years hence. Perhaps King Arthur will return, Drakes Drum will beat and dear old Boudicca or Boudica,( have her name as you may) will liberate Pathumsebs home region too.
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siampolee
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Post by siampolee on Oct 31, 2016 14:18:19 GMT 7
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AyG
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Post by AyG on Oct 31, 2016 14:34:48 GMT 7
If you come back to the UK after living abroad, you’ll usually be classed a UK resident again. This means you pay UK tax on:
##your UK income and gains
If you've been non-resident for less than 5 complete tax years you'll pay CGT on all capital gains whilst non-resident upon your return.
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Post by Fletchsmile on Oct 31, 2016 14:45:51 GMT 7
If you come back to the UK after living abroad, you’ll usually be classed a UK resident again. This means you pay UK tax on:
##your UK income and gains
If you've been non-resident for less than 5 complete tax years you'll pay CGT on all capital gains whilst non-resident upon your return. Luckily Fletch has been wandering Middle Earth and Thailand longer than 5 years
But yes that's another rule that would suck for some people.
One thing I would look into doing if we ever did move would be selling all overseas investments I have to reset the clocks on the purchase dates. I'd need to look more into the rules around those. Some of the Thai investments I have were bought late 1990's and have up to 15/20 years of capital gains rolled in. I'd want to make sure if there's say a 1000% gain I'm not handing over a large share of that to the UK Revenue to pass on to all the UK's hangers on
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pathumseb
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Post by pathumseb on Oct 31, 2016 14:46:00 GMT 7
As I understand it I can keep around 12,000 GBP in the UK tax free a year. Now, my old man moved to the Isle of Man when I was much younger so I have a Manx passport and bank account over there- would recommend opening one up. Also have Thai accounts and try to spread my savings around as much as possible. I be dammed if I'm using my money to help some sponging immigrant back in Blighty
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 14:59:47 GMT 7
Funny little country that one, cannot understand it. Back in the fifties a lot of Brits were climbing over the top of each other to get out of the place, my parents included.
Nowadays people from the ME and Africa, Europe are risking their lives to get there.
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pathumseb
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Post by pathumseb on Oct 31, 2016 15:07:26 GMT 7
Another thought, but probably quite a significant one: I no longer have many friends back in the UK. Just kinda lost contact- not surprised, 8 years is a long time to not live in the UK full time.Plus, our live turned out rather differently, so not sure we would have all that much in common these days. My social life and circle of friends are important to me and I think I would struggle without either in my life. It would seem that once you go expat it's hard to go back- fine with that, I don't even want to.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 15:36:26 GMT 7
I agree seb, the last 18 months were hard for me as I spent most of that time in Oz, either in hospital or after release doing rehab and having follow-up scans etc. Missed my wife and son in Thailand like crazy and felt so much better when I came home a few weeks ago. I could not go back to Oz to live again, it would kill me. I laugh when I hear expats here complaining about certain things, like the countries they are from are perfect. I accept Thailand for what it is, warts and all.
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GavinK
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Post by GavinK on Oct 31, 2016 16:28:06 GMT 7
Thinking of returning then Fletchsmile ? But the sad thing is that any so called ''refugee'' is treated much better than that at least they get some help albeit minimal. For any U K citizen seeking to or actually returning to the U K deportation seems to be the best route. 'Tis now plainly a crime in the U K to have been born a U K. citizen irrespective of ones ethic origin if one has lived abroad for any length of time. We think about it from time to time.
Our youngest in particular always says she wants to live there and the Mrs likes the idea. I guess I'm the sticking point
One big plus in the last few months is the exchange rate. All of a sudden our Thai assets are worth 20% more in GBP terms. The other big plus would be free schooling.
But the kids seem very happy in their school here in Thailand now. It really is excellent.
Looking to the future I also often wonder whether they would have more opportunities in life in the UK.
The big ones on the negative side are exactly what Seb mentions: upheaval and tax!
Toughest call though is what's best all round for the kids.
Cheers Fletch
If you want your kids to go to Uni in the UK there's an element of timing involved if you want to ensure they are not considered to be overseas students. If I recall correctly they need to have been in the UK for 3 years prior to starting Uni and none of those 3 years can have been solely for education purposes. The Uni makes the assessment based on info from the application forms (presumably they look at parents info as well as where the kids studied).
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AyG
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Post by AyG on Oct 31, 2016 17:15:47 GMT 7
The big ones on the negative side are exactly what Seb mentions: upheaval and tax! I can think of a few others: - The almost universal presumption that one's better half is an ex-whore - The manifold problems of taking a Thai person out of Thailand. Lack of contact with family and lack of Thai food are really serious issues - Limited language skills for the children, meaning they might be in a lower level class than one that would challenge them - The generally shittiness of what England has become, with atrocious, foul mouthed and violent behaviour from children, mass immigration meaning that children might end up in a classroom where few of their classmates are native English speakers, and the general erosion of British cultural values. Actually, on the subject of "what England has become" and, more generally, "why I felt I had to leave England" is something upon which I could expand at great length. Personally I would never want to return to the UK. They are no longer the countries of my childhood, and I don't like what they've become.
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