UK State Pension

[Bikboks]

I pay all my taxes here in France and am non-resident for tax purposes in the UK. When declaring my pension income here for taxation, I have always included the UK state pensions my wife and I receive.

However, someone has just said that UK state pensions are not taxed here.

I am seeking some re-assurance that I've not been wasting my money. The tax guidance forms published by the Connexion Newspaper confirm that I am correct but this doubt has now been raised by a friend born in France.

[EmilyA]

Sounds like the usual confusion between state and government pensions. You are quite correct - state pensions are taxed here in France. Government (Civil Service) pensions are taxed in the UK. Not everyone understands the difference!

[cooperlola]

UK state old age pensions are taxable here.  UK public sector pensions (civil service etc) are taxable in the UK but must be declared on your tax return here.  It's all in the tax FAQs at the top of this board. 

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1196188/ShowPost.aspx

 You pay less in tax here in general than in the UK so you certainly aren't "wasting" your money (but you don't have a choice anyway.)

EDIT : Emily and I did a bit of simultaneous posting but at least we agree![:)]

[parsnips]

[quote user="Bikboks"]I pay all my taxes here in France and am non-resident for tax purposes in the UK. When declaring my pension income here for taxation, I have always included the UK state pensions my wife and I receive.

However, someone has just said that UK state pensions are not taxed here.

I am seeking some re-assurance that I've not been wasting my money. The tax guidance forms published by the Connexion Newspaper confirm that I am correct but this doubt has now been raised by a friend born in France.

[/quote]

Hi,

     Your UK state retirement pension is indeed liable to be assessed for tax in France . Your friend may be making one of three mistakes;

         1. Many UK  state pensioners who declare their pensions in France may well have total incomes under the taxable limit and so pay no french tax.

         2.Government pensions -ie. paid by the government (or local government) to retired public sector workers (police , teachers etc) are taxable only in the UK, and not subject to french tax.Many people confuse "government" with "state" in this context.

         3.Although UK state retirement pension is subject to french income tax, it is exempt from french social charges (CSG etc.) 

[AnOther]

The fact that you get your state pensions paid net of UK tax (you do don't you !) is, of itself, confirmation that it is taxable in France [;-)]