A SIPP is a self invested personal pension which is a type of UK pension plan that can allow you much greater control of your pension and increased flexibility in retirement than a typical company or personal pension plan.
If you’re a non-UK resident, it can be difficult to keep track of the pensions that you have in the UK, especially if you have multiple pensions from different employers. Transferring your pension(s) into a SIPP is an easy way to stay in control of your pension.
MyExpatSIPP is a flexible, online pension plan has been designed especially for expats and non-UK residents which enables you to stay in control of your UK pension without having to use a financial adviser.
➤ Why transfer your pension to MyExpatSIPP
Can a non-UK resident open a SIPP?
Many SIPP providers will not accept applications from non-UK residents. However, MyExpatSIPP is one of a small number of providers who will happily accept applications from expats and non-UK residents. In fact, our SIPP is designed especially for non-UK residents and our Account Managers are on hand to guide you through your options as a non-UK resident.
You are able to transfer existing pensions into a SIPP without any tax implications and is not dependent on where you are resident. As a SIPP is a UK registered pension scheme, it will be subject to UK pension rules.
Transferring a UK pension to a SIPP
Once you set up your new SIPP, you will be able to transfer your existing pensions and is especially useful to combine multiple pensions into one easy to manage pension plan.
You will be able to choose you own investment strategy to match your risk profile, and once you reach age 55, you will be in control of how and when you take withdrawals from your SIPP.
Transferring an existing pension into a SIPP is usually very easy and no longer requires reams of paperwork or expensive financial advice fees. You only need to consult a financial adviser if you’re transferring a pension that has some form of guarantee, like a final salary pension.
➤ Final Salary pensions – do I need Financial Advice for my UK Pension?
SIPP Investments
One feature of a SIPP that is different to standard personal pensions is that you can invest in a much wider range of investments which includes Shares, Bonds, Funds, ETFs and Investment Trusts.
MyExpatSIPP provides an online dealing account for your SIPP where you can trade investments and track the performance of the investments. If you’re not confident with selecting your portfolio of investments, you can choose one of our ready-made portfolios.
Contributing to a SIPP
A non-UK resident will still be able to obtain tax relief on any contributions to their SIPP if they are classed as a relevant UK individual. A relevant UK individual is someone who is:
- chargeable to UK tax, or
- resident in the UK, or
- who were resident in the UK in one of the previous five tax years and, at the time they were resident, became members of a UK registered pension scheme, or
- who are a Crown Servant, or a spouse of a Crown Servant and have earnings that are subject to UK tax.
The amount of tax relief will be limited to £3,600 or 100% of their UK relevant earnings. UK relevant earnings are:
- employment income
- self-employed income
- income from patents
- earnings from overseas crown employment
- NOT rental income from property
An overseas employer could contribute to an employee’s SIPP regardless of the employee’s tax status.
Making withdrawals from a SIPP
Withdrawals from your SIPP will normally be taxed in the UK. However, if your country of residence has a double taxation treaty with the UK, then in most instances the agreement allows your withdrawals to be paid without deduction of UK taxes.
If you are looking to take control of your UK pensions, MyExpatSIPP is designed especially for Expats and non-UK residents. It only takes a few minutes to complete the online application and usually there’s no paperwork to complete to transfer your pensions.
When you want to start making withdrawals, your Account Manager will guide you through your options and we’ll even pay your withdrawals directly into your local (non-UK) bank account, something most UK pension providers won’t do.
Get in touch to discus transferring your pensions.