Absolutelyalan

Many thanks to everyone for their advice. It seems that she would be subject to tax. We just have to work out if we'll be better off taking the hit and investing it in an ISA, or leaving it and taking the hit on charges on a annuity. Either way, you get screwed!

We will be moving to France within one year. My wife is about to turn 60 and her private pension will mature on her birthday. She has been told that her fund quailifies as a 'Trivial Amount' (about £13000), which means she can take the whole lot out if she wants, rather than being limited to a tax-free lump sum and purchasing an annuity. Does anyone know if she would be better off drawing it out, paying the tax and purchasing a QOROPS (or whatever they call the overseas funds), or investing it in the UK? I appreciate that individual circumstances vary, but has anyone else been in a similar position?

I'm a newby to the forum, and you may have bought your property and be digging your garden by now, but I wonder if you've investigated British agents based in France. I know many of them are really no different from French agents in the service they offer, but some we know do offer a more supportive service. Like you, we are looking in the Aude/Ariege departments, and there's a husband and wife team called Jeremy and Petra Campbell, trading as Cathar Castles. They are based there, near Chalabre. They've been agents for around 10 years and are now semi-retired, but they offer a property-finding service if you give them your requirements. Because they've been in the business for years, they are plugged into a lot of local agents and also know lots of properties that don't go onto any agents' books. I'm not related to them, by the way - they've been helping us look around for some time, and they'll also hold your hand on visits to the notaire, bank, etc. It might be worth looking up their website.