Moving to France holds tremendous appeal for those who are keen to make the most of their retirement years and a key question for many is whether it is possible to have any UK pension paid in France. In principle it is both possible and perfectly legal to have your UK pension paid to you in France if you are becoming a full time resident there and have years of pension entitlement owed to you from the UK. 

Of course, there is a difference between state, private and Government pensions, although all types are portable to France. You will need to inform the UK Pensions Service in Newcastle of your move and give them your new address. Their website is: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/. It deals with all enquiries regarding payment of the State Pension for those who wish to move overseas.

You can have your UK state or Government pension paid directly into your French back account if you wish although remember that this will involve currency exchange since it will be paid in sterling. In this case you will be wise to consult Smart Currency Exchange (www.smartcurrencyexchange.com) for working out the very best in terms of future payments which involve changing sterling to euros. Alternatively, you may be better of simply having your pension paid into your UK bank account if you are keeping this.

In the case of private pensions which can be drawn earlier than state pensions, it is best to take advice from your pension provider who should be able and willing to pay it into your French account if desired, although the same considerations regarding currency exchange obviously apply.
It is important to consider taxation on your UK pension in France and we strongly advise taking the advice of a pensions expert who can guide you through this somewhat complex subject and make sure you receive exactly what you are entitled to without overpaying any tax. 

Once you are resident in France you will have to declare your UK pension on your French tax return. In this case you should receive a rebate of tax paid in the UK. Bear in mind that it is normally better to opt for your pension income to be taxed in France since the rates of income tax in France are lower than in the UK. We can help put you in touch with our recommended experts in this area.

Recently the fluctuations in the financial markets have meant that many UK pensions paid to retirees in France have become less in value. The subject of taking pensions overseas can be a complex one and also subject to change.  Again, for up to date information, consult the Department of Work and Pensions at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

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