UK pension transfer to USA rules have changed in recent years.

It also depends on the workplace pension’s policy.

A QROPS sits outside of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. Get your free UK pension transfer guide. In fact, there are only two such schemes currently listed on HMRC’s ROPS list – ‘Supply Chain RFID Consulting LLC SEP’ and ‘Transform Group Simplified Employee Pension Plan’.

What benefits can you take from UK pension?

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. To transfer a UK pension to the US you’ll have to first check to see if you can transfer your funds into one of the two US schemes which officially qualify as a ROP.

This also works in reverse (as in, you can qualify for an Irish state pension through contributions made in the US). Unlike most existing UK-defined benefit and personal pension plans, an International SIPP will offer you Flexible Access Drawdown. By making an enquiry you accept that your information will be passed to one of the specialists.

You can consolidate your various UK pensions into a SIPP. Theoretically, Irish occupational pensions can be transferred overseas, but many of the same restrictions as seen in PRSAs apply. We have a guide to UK pensions that you can download for free, or you can speak to one of our pension specialists. You’d need to speak to your provider, or get in touch with one of the experts that we work with. Make an enquiry with us today and we’ll connect you to the right advisor for your specific needs. This guide contains confidential and proprietary information of Atlantica Wealth and is intended for the exclusive use of the parties to whom it was provided.

A pensions expert can help make the process smooth and straightforward by talking you through your best options. You can get a State Pension statement if you need to find out how much State Pension you may get. If you die while living overseas, the full value of your pension fund will pass to your family. The tax implications around this are complex so you will need to seek expert advice. But if you choose to take the balance of the fund as a lump sum, you'll pay tax on it at your highest marginal rate.
You'll receive your UK pension payments in sterling, wherever you live. Make an enquiry to find out more.

It’s always recommended you consult a pensions expert who can help you find alternative options to save you hassle and protect your hard-earned pension funds. We'll look at your situation in detail and give you a full written report with our recommendations. Schedule a free (no obligation) 30 minute consultation call at a time that suits you. They are very often multi-currency too and can offer investments and benefits in USD as well as GBP.

You can try to transfer your pension to a US pension scheme that doesn’t have QROPS status, however, this would attract a UK tax charge of over 55% which is payable by you and the pension scheme and therefore most UK providers will block the transfer. If you're not a UK resident, you don't usually pay UK tax on your UK pension, but you may have to pay tax in the country you're living in – and if you live in a country that doesn't have a Double Tax Treaty with the UK, you may even have to pay tax in both countries. Some defined benefit UK pension plans and some older personal pension plans and money purchase/defined contribution UK pension plans may not be written under the new Flexible Access Drawdown rules and therefore may restrict how much and when you can take any benefits.

With that aside, you can draw from a pension that is registered outside of the US (for example, by keeping a pension in the UK). Its content may not be modified, sold or otherwise provided, in whole or in part, to any other person or entity, without Atlantica Wealth’s prior written permission.

If you’re not an employee of one of these firms, there’s no straightforward way to transfer your UK pension to the US. You may want to consider moving your UK pension to the USA and amalgamating it with your 401K, IRA or SEP – we can advise if this is the best route to help you achieve your goals.

yes or no? two US schemes which officially qualify as a ROP, Transferring your Overseas Pension to the UK, Transferring a Pension to Another Provider. If you live in the USA, but you're classed as a UK resident for tax purposes, you may have to pay UK tax on your UK pension.

The findings, rankings and/or opinions expressed herein are the intellectual property of Atlantica Wealth and are subject to change without notice.

Still, as we said earlier, you don’t have to transfer a pension to a 401(k) to draw from it. If you can’t move your pension to the US, you should look at choosing a UK pension plan that is catered to your needs as … With expert advice, you’ll soon be on your way to the results you want – with the right tools for keeping your investments safe. This means that most UK providers won’t allow you to transfer your funds into a non ROPS US pension scheme.

However, don’t forget that it’s still entirely possible, in most cases, to draw from your British pension while living in the US.

Many US citizens receiving a UK pension and living in the USA aren't sure if they should be declaring their UK pensions and annual gains to the IRS, or if they'll have to pay both UK and US tax on their income. Atlantica Wealth, LLC through its advisors offers investment and financial advisory services through WestFuller Advisors, LLC a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Both of these schemes are Simplified Employer Pensions and are offered by Supply Chain RFID Consulting LLC or Transform Group.

You can take up to 25% of a QROPS as a lump sum, tax-free in the UK.
This is really important, because if you choose to transfer your UK pension it's likely that you will lose some or all of these guaranteed benefits.

There’s a 25% tax charge for transferring your UK pension into a ROPS. A SIPP is a flexible type of personal pension.

A pensions expert can advise you on how to best transfer your UK pension to help facilitate your move to the US.

Transferring a pension from the UK to the USA is not always a straightforward process.

Most UK pension providers will block you from making any attempt to transfer your funds to a US scheme not approved by HMRC as a ROP, as you could incur a 55% tax charge on your pension funds if you do so. If you leave your pension invested in the UK, you should be able to start taking benefits from it … The first point is that ‘QROPS’ are now generally referred to as ‘ROPS’ – and that’s how we’ll refer to them from now on. Transferring your UK pension to the USA isn’t a new choice, it is however, an option that is often not discussed between client and adviser.

Our pension specialists are based in the USA – and they're experts in UK pensions and the options available to British expats living in the USA. Please consult a qualified tax and/or legal professional. Read from top to bottom for all the information on this topic, or use the links to jump straight to the information you want: 70% of customers who have a pension review find a better deal. We're a team of UK pension advisors based in the USA. If you do decide to go ahead with a pension transfer from the UK to the USA, there are also certain rules around the types of UK pensions you can transfer out of. You usually pay tax if your UK pension funds are worth more than this limit.