Merchant Navy Officers

[cacique]

I note quite a few members are living outside of UK. I live in South America and receive my MNOPF pension but with UK tax deducted, is there a way to avoid paying UK tax ? I have lived outside of UK for over 20 years now.

Thanks,

Cacique

[coopbass]

I think you have to live in a country that has a reciprocal tax agreement with the UK and I don't think Venezuala is on that list.However you could check with the tax office S.Wales Area Service,Ty Glas,Llanishen,Cardiff CF14 5YA or try the tax website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.All the best with your search

[cacique]

Brian,

Many thanks for your most valuable help, the Inland Revenue website looks like it will keep me out of mischief for a while.

Looks like you're right about reciprocal taxation agreements, I'll keep you posted.

Kind Regards,
David Wilson

aka "Cacique"

[coopbass]

I know from living in Canada that I still have to pay UK tax and my Old Age Pension will remain the same as the day Iqualified.I guess it's the price one has to pay if you decide to spend ones declining years outside the EEC.

[mnoadmin]

Salaams,
my tax office declared that as my income was earned in the UK (British owned shipping company's) therefore British tax was payable on said pension. The French authorities stated that tax was payable in either of the two countries and I could choose which one, decided to stay put as the authorities over here can be a pain in the ass and English is my first language, French comes a poor second.
BR Fred

[mnoadmin]

Salaams,
I've lived in France since 1992 and have up and till quite recently paid British Tax, I was told by the seafarers office in Cardiff I had to! Wrong!
Having been refused every benefit going to OAP's and being reminded more than once that I contribute nothing to the British economy I decided to bite the bullet last May. I had to fill in a form claiming my tax paid to the British government for the whole of 2009 and part of 2010, this received some two months later I awaited my fate. At that time the British tax take on my MNOPF pension was just under £2,500, the tax demand from the French authorities in the September of 2010 was absolute zero, in France one still gets allowances for wife and children, its also possible to get allowances for any disabilities one has. I believe first time buyers also get an allowance for their mortgage, remember those? Last year my OAP started in the May and my income rose accordingly, the tax take in the UK would have been another £1,000 on top of the £2,500 rising of course next year, for a full tax year. The lady in the French tax office indicated that their tax take for 2010 would again be zero and if anything would be less than 200 euro's, is the UK one of the highest tax takers in Europe?
BR Fred