Is it REALLY better anywhere else?

[Lord Braykewynde]

"If the conditions were unbearable, I'd move on".

That's easier said than done Lutz. Scroll above and you will see where someone posted that their relative cannot afford to move. Is she supposed to walk to the coast and migrate to Africa with all her possessions in a case?

Someone mentioned "white flight" and that is happening throughout this country and again some who are poor will be left behind.

The elderly, and I can count myself almost in that category now, don't see why we should have to move because we don't want to live in a country within a country.

Put simply this is our land, our language, if they don't like it and refuse to integrate simply go somewhere that will accommodate their language/culture, why should WE leave or flee from the towns we grew up in?

 

[BrianStAlbans]

I would love to live in Oz and infact could as Bina's job would allow us to go. But Bina's pension rights here and my elderly parents mean it is not to be.

Not making a comment on immigration here but I'll just say that talking to my inlaws and friends of Bina's family who have been here since being thown out of Uganda a lot of them say the same things about the country with regard to eastern europeans and illegal imigrants so the concerns about the country are by no means a white thing more one of people who have worked hard for this country and see it being undermined.

Also,they tell me that it is not uncommen for 2nd and 3rd generation Indians in this country to go back to India for the education of their children as the standard there is much higher. I have no problems with my childrens school but take into account that they live in North London so the standards may be different for them.

Brian

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Above I mentioned my wifes Aussie friend who came over here four times to stay. One of the times she slipped on wet grass and broke her tibula and I managed to get her into my car to casualty. She was treated while here and when she went home she was given the X-Rays and medical notes for her hospital where she lives. She never paid a penny nor was she asked for any medical insurance certificates. All free, courtesy of us Poms.

 

[JasonR_374341560]

Whoops sorry Lisa, may be I didn't put that to well.What I meant was that the kind of house we could buy in NZ would cost

 

[BeemerMal]

What about paying income tax by someone who moves to another country?

I know there are different rules for EU and Commomwealth countries to the rest of the world but I believe a condition of receiving my company pension is that it must be paid into a UK bank account and therefore is subjected to UK income tax rules.

Anyone got any idea on what the tax rules are for those who relocate abroard particularly if they are in receipt of UK private and or Government pensions?

 

[mistermac]

Above I mentioned my wifes Aussie friend who came over here four times to stay. One of the times she slipped on wet grass and broke her tibula and I managed to get her into my car to casualty. She was treated while here and when she went home she was given the X-Rays and medical notes for her hospital where she lives. She never paid a penny nor was she asked for any medical insurance certificates. All free, courtesy of us Poms.

And quite right too.

I'm sure she was glad of it - and you too - that you didn't have to fork out for her.

 

[Juliec1]

We have lived in Northern France for nearly 5 years now. We previously lived in Cornwall. I can get to Staffordshire, where my family live, quicker and more cheaply than I ever could travelling from Cornwall. The roads here are much quieter and I never have to look at the clock to decide if I have time to fight my way through the traffic to get to the supermarket. Our council tax is a fraction of what it is in England and, of course, fuel is cheaper. We never feel intimidated if we go into the town centre in the evening and, when friends come over, the word that is often repeated is 'civilised' and my husband is always saying that this part of France is like England was when he was a child.

We get no satisfaction from seeing the news and sometimes I feel close to tears when I see what is happening in the country. Life here takes some getting used to, i.e. supermarkets closed at lunchtime, after 8pm and on sundays. French red tape etc. but, at the end of the day, it's a small price to pay for a life relatively free of the threat of crime.

With regard to taxable income from a pension that is paid from England, this has to be included on the yearly tax return, but any tax paid in England is deducted from the tax liability.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Julie

I am glad to hear that you are happy in your new life and you have highlighted one of the frustrations that has changed life here and that is the traffic. We too have to plan our day round the traffic situation whereas when we first moved here the roads were quiet and there was no such thing as a morning rush hour. This is one of the consequences of all the house building which is happening here, as the roads just can't cope with the extra traffic. We had a holiday in Europe last year and the French roads were a joy to use and just that fact alone made you realise just how less stressed we felt and that life was a slower pace. Very appealing. As a matter of interest what are your winters like.

 

[Juliec1]

Hello Chrissylizzie,

We have just spent our fist winter in Finistere in Brittany. We previously lived in Normandy where it was much colder than it is here. It is very much like Cornwall here,in fact this area is known as Cournouille. There are little white-washed cottages and the weather is very similar, maybe a little warmer in summer.

 

[Guest]

As far as taxation is concerned the rules are relatively?? simple. Most countries tax you on your 'global' wealth that is to say anything you earn anywhere in th world needs to be decalared for tax purposes. However, on the other side there are double taxation agreements with most countries which mean if the funds are taxed in one country they will not be taxed again the the second, unless the rate of tax is different. Therefore UK based pensions will be taxed in the UK and the tax 'credit' will be applied to the tax liable in the country you choose to be resident in. If your country of residence has a lower tax ratio then you win, if higher, then you pay the difference. Also bear in mind that all EU countries have now signed the 'Tax Harmonisation Agreement'. This means that a bank account anywhere in Europe wuill be subject to EU tax on the interest earned. This is currently 16%. You need to declare the interest earned, and the tax paid on your tax return in your country of residence. You can of course 'fail' to do so and will escape any extra taxes until caught. As all EU countries are now asking?? (demanding) that tax havens such as Jersey and Liechtenstein are to reveal the names of deposit holders, then the safe havens are diminishing rapidly. Blame Mr Brown for that one as he introduced it to the EU. If you are rich enough the tax havens are now Virgin Islands and some SE Asia countries.

The good side of things are that if your total income does not exceed 80000 euros per annum then living in France will make little difference to your tax, so move and enjoy.

 

[Juliec1]

In France, or at least from our last tax return and confirmed by our bank manager last week, I think I'm right in saying that unearned income from bank interest is 11%.

 

[Guest]

It depends on your total income. In France the household income is divided by the number of members in the household. A husband and wife equal 2, children are added on. Therefore the total income to the house is divided by the number of qualifying members and that net sum is subject to the various tax bands. The total tax liable for each member is then added together and that is what you pay on a sliding scale. The 11% is a tax band that is defined by your total income and number of household. Some may pay more, some less.

http://riviera.angloinfo.com/countries/france/intax.asp
may give some advice.

 

[Juliec1]

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[Chrissylizzie]

Hello Chrissylizzie,

We have just spent our fist winter in Finistere in Brittany. We previously lived in Normandy where it was much colder than it is here. It is very much like Cornwall here,in fact this area is known as Cournouille. There are little white-washed cottages and the weather is very similar, maybe a little warmer in summer.

Thanks Julie, sounds lovely.

 

[Essexeddie]

Your not taxed here on money earn't abroad, its just lumped against your allowances so you could be pushed into the 40% tax bracket.

If that makes sense.

Edd