In this article, we’ll cover UK pensions and taxes for retirees in Spain. It’s important to know what your options are when it comes to your UK pensions in Spain and what your tax liabilities will be before you move to Spain so you can make sure you have all your planning in order before you relocate.
Do you have multiple retirement income sources?
The first thing you need to know is that your pension income may come from multiple sources.
You may be in receipt of the government state pension as well as a government service pension. You may also have income from an occupational pension or a personal pension.
With the exception of any government service pension income that you get from the UK, all your worldwide pension income will be subject to Spanish income taxation.
Each type of income may be classed differently for taxation reasons in Spain.
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Your UK state pension tax in Spain
Your state pension income is taxed in the country in which you are a tax resident.
If you move to Spain permanently and have been in residence for over 183 days in their tax year, you will generally be considered tax resident in Spain.
Your UK state pension will be taxed as a regular income in Spain according to Spanish rates. Spanish income tax rates currently run in incremental stages between 24 to 43%, but these figures change annually so check.
Other pensions
How income from personal pensions is treated in Spain can differ from your state pension income.
This is because there is a slight differentiation between the true meaning of the term ‘purchased annuity’ in Spanish and in English when it comes to tax.
Basically, purchased annuities are taxed favourably in Spain. Some pensions allow the pension account holder to purchase an annuity from an insurance company with a percentage of their pension pot.
This annuity then pays out an income for the duration of the life of the account holder. This type of income from an insurance company is taxed favourably in Spain. So favourably, in fact, that 76 percent of it is tax-free.
When it comes to private pensions where a trustee has bought the annuity on behalf of the pensioner this can be taxed in the same way. However, many tax offices in Spain treat this income as pure income and tax all of it according to the usual progressive rates.
You really need to bring in an adviser at this point to help you find the most tax-efficient way of declaring this income because once it has been deemed taxable in a certain way, you cannot then change the way it is taxed.
Finally, you have your government services pensions that people who have worked in the civil service or as teachers or firemen might receive. This does not include NHS pensions. This type of government service pension income is taxed in the UK.
Transferring your UK pension abroad
In some cases, it might be worth looking at transferring your pension to QROPS (in either Gibraltar or Malta).
There may be benefits, such as accessing a bigger tax-free lump sum, protecting your assets from UK inheritance tax and gaining access to a wider variety of investment options. Again, it's important to seek qualified financial advice before taking any action.
Financial advice is important
At this point, it is important to mention that if you’re moving to live in Spain, you should really take taxation and financial advice from a qualified independent international financial adviser and/or an accountant.
Each individual’s financial situation is very different and you need personalised advice about your own affairs from a qualified person.
As you are leaving the UK and are about to acquire residency somewhere else, an international financial adviser might be the one you need to speak to.
An international financial advisor will be able to understand your expat status and how that relates to your tax position and can provide invaluable advice including:
- A detailed assessment of your current UK residency status, including recommendations on how you could reduce your tax burden
- A full analysis of your tax position in your country of residence
- Guidance on your current pension options, including any pension transfers which you may be considering
- Options and recommendations on how to tax efficiently manage UK assets, such as UK property
- Opportunities to reduce the inheritance tax exposure on your estate
How much can financial advice cost?
Usually, initial consultation with a financial advisor and the following report about your options come free. It is then up to you whether you are totally happy with the report and want to proceed.
If you do so, the fees that apply will be disclosed to you. You will have to pay for your pension transfer. If you want ongoing management of your investment, there will be annual charges for this as well.
It might be worth speaking to different advisories to see what they can offer; however, don’t expect the fees to differ too much.
Always ensure any adviser you work with is correctly regulated, qualified, licensed, and ideally backed by a brokerage large enough to have influence with the major financial institutions.
You might find useful:
- Living In Spain As An Expat: practical information and tips on moving to Spain from the pros and cons to visas and residency, to the cost of living and more.
- Best Places To Live In Spain – the best and most popular expat locations in Spain.
- Haven't found what you were looking for? Contact us or comment below with your question and we'll do our best to help.
Secure Peace of Mind with Best-Value International Health Coverage
International Citizens Insurance provide free, no-obligation quotes from the leading international health insurance providers with plans tailored to meet your needs. Trusted by thousands of expats worldwide.