Warning from GBPensions
Is the clock ticking for NZ resident members of the Public Sector Transfer Club?
Due to radical plans to reform pensions currently under consideration by the UK Treasury, British ex-pats could miss out
on significant pension opportunities if they fail to act quickly. That's the warning from GBPensions, an Auckland based
firm who specialise in the transfer of pension schemes from the UK to New Zealand.
Those potentially affected by the new legislation are former UK state employees who have retained benefits in their
superannuation or pension schemes (collectively known as "the Club") and include:
· Teachers
· University lecturers
· Nurses
· Paramedics
· Armed forces personnel
· Police officers
· Prison officers
· Fire fighters
· Civil servants and local government employees
"Before the NZ IRD's deadline for overseas pension transfers had even been reached, these changes were proposed in the
UK’s Budget announcement," explains GBPensions' director Tony Chamberlain. "Now, if people don't act in time before
April 2015 they may never be able to transfer their pension scheme. They'll effectively be trapped into a tax liability
under the draconian NZ system for the rest of their lives, with no possible way to manoeuvre.
Notwithstanding these horrendous tax consequences, they will also have lost the ability to benefit from the numerous
advantages that NZ pension schemes have to offer."
Traditionally, Britons have been cautious about moving their UK pensions.
However, due to the current UK financial climate of low interest rates and even worse annuity rates, transfer values
quoted by schemes in the Club may never be as high again in relative terms. Therefore, combined with the new NZ tax
rules and the April 2015 deadline looming, it would seem that greater consideration than ever before is required in
assessing the viability of transferring a UK pension scheme.
GBPensions are keen for clients to have realistic expectations about the timescales involved in a pension transfer. Six
months is a reasonable prediction, especially since it is not unusual to wait 12 weeks (or longer) to receive
documentation back from the former UK employer.
Tony Chamberlain comments, "Members of the Club already account for about 15% of our clients. For obvious reasons, we're
expecting this number to increase dramatically over the next two to three months."
For a copy of the full list of UK schemes in "the Club", or to find out if you are affected, please email
admin@gbpensions.co.nz.
Tony Chamberlain is an authorised financial adviser whose Disclosure Statement is available without charge or obligation
by contacting the email address above.
ends