Saturday, 20 July 2013

UK Pensions transfer to a QROPS in India- LTA an important factor to Consider

While transferring  UK pensions to a QROPS in India or to any other OFF Shore QROPS outside UK, having look at Lifetime allowance (LTA) is an important factor to avoid serious tax implication .The lifetime allowance is a limit on the total value of retirement benefits one can build up in all of his/her pension arrangements. The lifetime allowance is £1.5 million for the 2012/2013 and subsequent tax years.

While considering the transfer of UK pensions to a QROPS to India or any to any other OFF-Shore QROPS outside UK, the UK pension member should consider the percentage of the lifetime allowance used that will be usually shown on the illustration. The value of these benefits is the percentage given multiplied by the current lifetime allowance. For instance, a figure of 7.5%  in the 2012/2013 tax year would be £1.5 million  multiplied by 7.5% giving £112500.

Any pensions (apart from State pensions and any widow's/widower's/surviving civil partner's/dependant's pensions) that you are already receiving, that started before 6 April 2006. The value of these benefits is the yearly pension multiplied by 25. As an example, a pension of £450 per month would be £5,400 per year. £5,400 multiplied by 25 is £135,000. If this is the first time you have taken retirement benefits since 6 April 2006 then you should use the current amount of pension you are receiving. If this is not the first time you have taken benefits since 6 April 2006 you should use the amount of pension in payment at the time the first benefits were taken. 

The maximum income from any pension fund withdrawal that started before 6 April 2006. The value of these benefits is the maximum yearly income multiplied by 25. As an example, a maximum income of £450 per month would be £5,400 per year. £5,400 multiplied by 25 is £135,000. If this is the first time you have taken retirement benefits since 6 April 2006 then you should use the current maximum income. If this is not the first time you have taken benefits since 6 April 2006 you should use the maximum income at the time the first benefits were taken.

Any retirement benefits (apart from State pensions and any widow's/widower's/surviving civil partner's/dependant's pensions) that you have taken since 5 April 2006. The company paying you the benefit  should have given you a statement showing you in percentage terms, how much of your lifetime allowance was used by this benefit. The value of these benefits is the percentage given multiplied by the current lifetime allowance. As an example, a figure of 5% in the 2012/2013 tax year would be £1.5 million multiplied by 5%, giving £75,000.

Any other retirement benefits you are planning to take at the same time as this one, including any other benefits you have with existing UK pensioner . Again, the illustration you are given should show you in percentage terms how much of your lifetime allowance will be used. The value of these benefits can be calculated as in the example above. Any other retirement benefits that you are not planning to start taking until a later date can be ignored at the present time. These will be tested against the lifetime allowance when you take them.

Transfers to a QROPS in excess of the lifetime allowance will be subject to a tax charge of 25%. The UK pensioner will take off this tax before benefits are paid and pass this to the trustees of the pension scheme to pass to HMRC.

There are three main types of protection:
Primary.
Enhanced.
Fixed.

To know more about LTA & many other important factors & to start up of transfer of UK pensions to India, please do contact us with below mentioned Contact details

FOR STARTING UP OF THE TRANSFER PROCESS CONTACT :
Anusuya .R
Financial Advisor
SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd, # 23, Yamuna Complex,
1st Floor, 7th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore: 560003. 
Bangalore: 560001.
M +91  9980927393

Saturday, 6 July 2013

SBI Life-Annuity Plus, HMRC approved 'QROPS' scheme in India

SBI Annuity Plus  is a “Qualifying Recognised Overseas pension Scheme” for company’s undertakings & for UK Purposes with effect from 11,September 2013, having its own unique reference number. SBI Life do confirm that the scheme does not ceases to be a recognized overseas pension scheme till date and the scheme still meets HMRC’s revised conditions to be a QROPS that apply from 6 April 2012. Also SBI Life confirms that, the Scheme is capable to accept pensions transfer from Recognized UK pensioner including NHS Pensions.


The scheme has notified HMRC that it is a recognized overseas pension scheme in terms of the finance act 2004 providing all suitable evidence required to HMRC. The scheme has received confirmation from HMRC that it has met all the relevant conditions under the finance act 2004 and other regulations to qualify as a Qualifying Recognised Overseas pension Scheme. Since, SBI Life- Annuity Plus is an immediate annuity traditional plan, the policy holder start receiving pensions as soon as the UK pensions transferred & pension policy commences as the feature of the scheme itself allows SBI Life  to pay immediate annuity. The scheme do pay immediate annuity as per the policy features and the same is in accordance with the regulatory rules and the payment of pension benefits (immediate annuity) as per policy features do not go against HMRC rule, since the scheme continue to pay pension benefits even after the vesting age of 55 years & till  lifetime of the annuitant . This pension scheme do not pay any Lump sum cash benefits before or after vesting age during the lifetime of the annuitant. 

As mentioned above, the pension benefits (income) will continue even after the vesting age of 55 years & till lifetime of the annuitant, as HMRC wants QROPS to pay pensions at the time of retirement of the members, since income is most required at that point of time for the members. In India, SBI Life is known for trust & customer centric approach & large number of clients have chosen SBI Life -Annuity Plus to get their UK /NHS Pensions transferred to India . SBI Life has  successfully transferred good amount of UK pension corpus & acquired large number of customers in this segment pan India.


FOR STARTING UP OF THE PROCESS CONTACT :

Anusuya .R

Financial Advisor,
SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd, # 23, Yamuna Complex,
1st Floor, 7th Cross, Malleswaram,  
Bangalore: 560003.

M +91  9844519872
     +91 9980927393