Liquorice

siampolee, on 28 Mar 2015 - 07:58, said:

Faz.

Many thanks for your reply,Greatly appreciated.

siampolee, on 27 Mar 2015 - 10:50, said:

As a slight diversion from current matters, does anyone here have a working email address for the TPP international queries office @dwp.gsi.gov.uk .

The address I show above is not accepting mail even when entered as a cut and paste format [email protected]

That cut and paste comes from a recent email reply( 6 weeks ago) to me concerning a recent inquiry I made.

International Pension Centre

[email protected]

NancyL, on 26 Mar 2015 - 18:55, said:

They do sell special sticker remover fluid, you know. I found it at Central or Tops or someplace and attacked the stickers on the toilets and appliances in our rental condo. Those stickers had to be at least 6 or 8 years old and boy-oh-boy they sure were hard to remove. That fluid did a real number on my manicure, too.

Heat the sticker with a hairdryer to soften the adhesive first. Usually peel off real easy without any mess.

Derek M, on 27 Mar 2015 - 20:05, said:

ubonjoe, on 27 Mar 2015 - 08:29, said:

Once fully implemented it will be possible for those living in all parts of the country.

And by the time they get round to doing that will IE be long gone and queue's at immigration for 90 day reports will be growing! It has taken them years to cotton on to Mr Farang actually having a computer and knowing how to use it while..barely one in every street or moo in Thailand for locals.

I do know it is not available in Amnat Chareon and I have to either do it in person or via post. Is it available in your area?

let's try get a thing going on here as to where you can do the online 90 days reporting. Simple to find out. Call 1111 (how I found out) or call your local immigration office. Lets get the ball rolling.

90 day reporting online.

Available From

(Please add your local immigration office here if Available)

Not available from:

Amnat Chareon

(Please add your local immigration office here if NOT Available)

Copy and paste above format and keep the ball rolling.

Amnat Charoen stated they would be up and running in the next 4-6 weeks. That was 2 weeks ago.

alfieconn, on 26 Mar 2015 - 10:00, said:

Faz, on 26 Mar 2015 - 01:26, said:

You can take 25% of your total pension pot tax free.

Thereafter each year you can withdraw up to the personal allowance tax free.

QuoteQuote

Basicly from reading further there are 2 options :

A. You take the whole lot out and get 25% tax free.

B. You drawdown an amount as and when you need it and 25% is tax free each time

Assuming a pot of £100,000 to make it easier.

A. Yes. £25,000 tax free lump sum. £25,000 - £42, 285 taxed at 20%. Over £42,285 taxed at 40%

B. No. The tax free amount is 25% of the total pot. Once you've drawn £25,000 the rest is taxable.

@Chivas.

If you have a pot of over £100K, and having 10/12 years before you receive a state pension, personally I'd take the 25% tax free sum the first year, then every year thereafter the maximum your personal allowance will allow before paying tax. (£10,600 from April)

That will allow you to draw the complete pot tax free before you start receiving state pension.

That assumes that will be your only income.

You can withdraw amounts however you wish, but only the first 25% of the total pot is tax free.

Bare in mind that unless you invest or save those funds, then at age 65/67 you'll only receive the state pension

alfiecon, added a very useful link about the tax implications that I recommend you read; http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-2966766/Savers-using-pension-freedom-warned-pay-emergency-tax.html

Apparently HMRC will tax anything you withdraw after the 25% tax free sum at 40% tax and you will have to reclaim the tax back.

Not sure your correct on that one, so are you saying that if you only take 10,000 tax free in the first year and by year 5 the pot is at 150,000 you still can only take another 15,000 tax free ? so in other words the tax free lump sum is fixed even if the pot increases !

How you decide to extract your pot is between you and your Pension provider.

I said 25% of the fund is tax free. If your Pension provider allows you to take a £150,000 pot at £15,000 per annum, I suspect they will offer alternatives to how the tax free sum is taken. All at the beginning or spread over the period of the agreed payments. If it accrues interest over the next 10 years, then that should also be paid as the first 25% tax free, but that's up to the Pension provider to set the terms and conditions.

If there going to manage your assets expect some charges.

KhunBENQ, on 25 Mar 2015 - 10:07, said:

Still waiting for a first hand report of someone using the new 1111 help/complain line.

I used it last week. Reported it in the topic http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809400-new-90-day-report-ruling/page-3#entry9220176 Post #24

Open 24/7. The centre is actually based in Bangkok Immigration 1 division.

Very cheap call rates. 90 minutes cost about 30baht from Roi Et.

English could be better, but understandable with repeats

Liaised between myself and Amnat Immigration over a problem a friend had.

They couldn't resolve the problem over the phone, but we visited Amnat and resolved the issue.

I'd certainly use it again.

Funny enough I received an e-mail today from my Pension advisors, which read;

During the recent budget the Chancellor announced a proposal which, if it is passed, will mean that from April 2016 people may be able to exchange their lifetime annuity product for a cash lump sum. Watch our exclusive video to learn more

As the Government have yet to pass this piece of legislation, there is no action that can currently be taken, however when more information becomes available we will provide you with a further update.

James Dean, Age Partnership's Pension Income Technical Manager, discusses the recent budget proposals which, if passed, will mean that from April 2016 people may be able to exchange their lifetime annuity product for a cash lump sum

The video link if anyone's interested is; http://www.agepartnership.co.uk/pension-income/aptv/your-pension-annuity-update/&link=3

Another example:

Assuming a pot of £150,000 and you have 8 years before reaching state pension age.

You want to withdraw equal amounts for the next 8 years.

That is £18,750 per year.

The tax free lump sum of 25% equates to £37,500

First year................£18,750 tax free

Second year...........£18,750 tax free (you have now used up your 25% tax free allowance)

Third year...............£18,750 taxed at 20%

Subsequent years £18,750 taxed at 20%

There are many different permutations and choices you could make, but however you choose to take the pot the fundamental rules remain.

Only the first 25% of any pot is tax free.

You will pay tax on any income above your yearly personal allowance

You can take 25% of your total pension pot tax free.

Thereafter each year you can withdraw up to the personal allowance tax free.

Quote

Basicly from reading further there are 2 options :

A. You take the whole lot out and get 25% tax free.

B. You drawdown an amount as and when you need it and 25% is tax free each time

Assuming a pot of £100,000 to make it easier.

A. Yes. £25,000 tax free lump sum. £25,000 - £42, 285 taxed at 20%. Over £42,285 taxed at 40%

B. No. The tax free amount is 25% of the total pot. Once you've drawn £25,000 the rest is taxable.

@Chivas.

If you have a pot of over £100K, and having 10/12 years before you receive a state pension, personally I'd take the 25% tax free sum the first year, then every year thereafter the maximum your personal allowance will allow before paying tax. (£10,600 from April)

That will allow you to draw the complete pot tax free before you start receiving state pension.

That assumes that will be your only income.

You can withdraw amounts however you wish, but only the first 25% of the total pot is tax free.

Bare in mind that unless you invest or save those funds, then at age 65/67 you'll only receive the state pension

alfiecon, added a very useful link about the tax implications that I recommend you read; http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-2966766/Savers-using-pension-freedom-warned-pay-emergency-tax.html

Apparently HMRC will tax anything you withdraw after the 25% tax free sum at 40% tax and you will have to reclaim the tax back.

Thaddeus, on 25 Mar 2015 - 10:41, said:

AlQaholic, on 25 Mar 2015 - 10:17, said:

How to tell the Dummy from the real police?

The dummy will be fitted with a moral compass and a degree of integrity.

This could give you a clue beware the police with a passifier.

@Maz3 and JB300

If you haven't already read this link http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-2634215/Why-millions-WONT-155-new-state-pension-theyre-expecting.html then I recommend you read the full article.

flashpanther, on 25 Mar 2015 - 09:54, said:

elicoz, on 17 Jan 2015 - 23:03, said:

Faz, thank you for giving us this information but you have copy/pasted a lot of details irrelevant to the latest posts.

I know this thread is about marrying a Lao girl in Thailand but as others said and the info you provided - you cannot get married in Thailand as they require the affidavit of freedom to marry.

That's why we are going to Hong Kong to get married, in HK it is only required to have your passports and the marriage certificate is valid worldwide (HK is also part of the hag apostille convention unlike China) (refer to nottocus original post).

Ceedub, I'm from Israel and we are planning to live here. Unlike what you described, my spouse cannot stay and work here legally if we are not married, and unfortunately we cannot get married in my country as marriage here allowed only between people with the same religion.

My spouse is on her way to Laos now to get the papers done, once I have an answer for you on where to get the single status and the rest I will let you know.

I said before that she already have the single status but I mislead you as she did me, sorry about that.

I believe it can be obtained in the Ministry of Home Affairs (moha.gov.la) but I'm not sure and will let you know once we get it.

Any news or info from others experiences so far. Could do with an update.

The UK laws and visa regulations are changing again from 6th April.

Now there is an additional cost of a Health Surcharge of £500 per spouse/fiancee and dependant for 2.5 years. for any visa over 6 months. So £1000 each extra during the settlement visa process if you look to relocate your Laos nationals family members to UK (off topic a little but another kick in teeth for my position).

There has been experiences (Successful) of people getting married in UK on a visit visa. Not strictly allowed and wording on visa previously was ambiguous with use of the term 'no intent' to marry. Saves on additional cost of a fiancee visa which lasts only 6 months so an extra cost of around £900.

Checked with registry offices and designated ones in UK for marriage. No affirmation of freedom to marry required. But from 6th of April the registry offices will now check the foreign nationals visa and confirm with Home Office. So getting married on a visit visa looks dead and buried now.

If you are not looking to live in the UK coming to the UK on a marriage visa may be an option depending on peoples circumstances (i.e. not looking to live in UK or Laos). Esp. with all the paperwork involved in getting marriage done and recognised in Laos. Maybe an option for those who stay in Thailand. I dunno.

I am looking to bring my family, Laotian - one fiancee and her two daughters (one is Thai), to the UK for settlement. We are trying for a visit visa again this summer. Lost the option now to get married on visit visa with new check ups. Marriage in Laos too difficult as I am not located there. Will cost more with fiancee visa application. But with my fiancee having two dependents I feel it would be better to get married before any visa settlement application otherwise the acceptance of the two dependents I feel would be a lot harder to get accepted. Considering a flight to Hong Kong now to get married. Making further inquiries with Hong Kong government regarding. My Laotian fiancee I believe would require a visa to visit Hong Kong though. If we went ahead with it we can try to register the marriage afterwards with Laotian consulate in Hong Kong as previous posts.

Love to hear if anymore updates or experiences of getting a marriage registered in Hong Kong.

You need to apply for the Marriage Visitor Visa

https://www.gov.uk/marriage-visa

They are not your dependants unless you are married or in a civil partnership.

She will then have to return to Thailand and then apply for ‘Family of a settled person’ Visa in order for her to remain in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/remain-in-uk-family

MAZ3, on 24 Mar 2015 - 21:05, said:

I wonder where this rule change will leave me?,paid over 35 years NIC,but 29 were opted out. Only 1% less,but may make a big difference?.

Not even our Pension Trustees could explain how much less we will get!.

I've got over 10 years(at the present rate)before I draw the BSP,I'll wait and see if paying extra to top-up any deficit is worth it.

Maz. at a guess you'll get 6/30 of the old rate state pension because you opted out.

Where you will be worse off is had you not contracted out, you would get the new flat rate pension, which will jump approx. £40 a week from the old rate, whereas your private pension will have no such increase other than the average interest it accrues.

If your reading all the posts, you'll see we have established that it is beneficial and viable to pay shortfalls.

In your case I don't think you will have the option to pay for shortfalls for the years you were contracted out.

That was a choice made by yourself or the company at that time and you didn't make the same NI contributions as those who didn't contract out.

You do have the choice to pay class 3 NI for the remaining 10 years, but you really need to know if you will be paid your state pension at the lower rate or the new flat rate in order to calculate what period of time it would take for you to recoup those payments. Your Pension provider should be able to tell you that.

Bare a thought for those retired expats already in receipt of their state pension, who are probably sickened to the teeth reading this thread, because their pensions are frozen..............they have no options.

steve187, on 25 Mar 2015 - 09:30, said:

Having developed a new hobby of reading up on state pension changes, i see that as from April 2016, a state pension deferment will be reduced from 1% for every 5 weeks deferment to 1% for every 10. making a maximum of 5% a year.

at the below class 3 rates it will take 3 years to break even on a new single tier pension

If you’re a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953

You’ll pay different rates if you pay voluntary contributions by 5 April 2019 to make up for gaps between April 2006 and April 2017.

Your contribution What it covers Rate you pay until 5 April 2019 Class 2 Gaps between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2011 £2.65 a week Class 2 Gaps between 6 April 2011 and 5 April 2017 Rate from the year your contribution covers Class 3 Gaps between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2010 £13.25 a week Class 3 Gaps between 6 April 2010 and 5 April 2017 Rate from the year your contribution covers

Isn't the UK Pensions system so marvellously simplistic that each individual can work out exactly what they've paid and what their entitled to....NOT!

steve187, on 25 Mar 2015 - 07:51, said:

class 3 NI are about £13.55 a week lets say £15.00, that's £780 a year, say a state pension will be £150,00 a week divided by 35 years = £4.28 per week for every year you buy. thats £222.56 a year. so 3.5 years to break even. If somehow you can pay class 2, its less than a year to break even.

Steve is correct.

Using Steves figure of £150pw as full pension.

Someone falling short of 4 years contributions would only get 26/30 of £150. i.e. £130pw.

Paying a years class 3 contribution would be £13.55 x 52 = £704.60

£704.60pa x 4 years shortfall = £2,818.40 total.

The difference between the £130pw pension (shortfall payment) and the full pension £150pw is £20.

£2,818.40 shortfall payments divided by £20 = 140.9

So after 140 weeks (just over 2 1/2 years) on full state pension of £150 you would recoup your outlay.

£20 x 140.9 weeks = £2,818.

Bare in mind if you paid the shortfalls at £13.55 but your pension increased annually, then your outlay could be recouped in just over 2 years.

Chivas, on 24 Mar 2015 - 23:00, said:Chivas, on 24 Mar 2015 - 23:00, said:

Anyone care to Comment on this...........I was going put in the dedicated thread but it attracts less visitors

Pension Pots can be taken from April 6th in Cash rather than having to Purchase an annuity as at present........

Now if the entire Pot is taken in one go 25% is tax free and 75% is subject to tax at your prevailing rate........Am sure we all agree......Life Companies issues tax paid certificate and you can submit this to the Inland Revenue and you may receive a rebate depending if you didnt use all your Personal allowance.......hopefully we all agree

However

What if you only want to take £25,000 out of Pot thats valued at £100,000..........

Now my interpretation is that quarter is tax free hence £6250 and the balance is taxed and remitted to you...............

But reading other forums and other Poster views many are under the impression that the entire £25,000 will be tax free because it equates to 25% of the Pot

However I personally cannot see that this is correct BECAUSE the Value of the remainder of the Pot will still be fluctuating and could soar to 200k as an example or worse case scenario drop to vitually nothing..........Now if that happened you having drawn out 25k would have had your entire Pension Pot tax free..........

Surely EACH drawdown/withdrawal whatever you want to call it is subject to the first scenario I stated..........?? ie £6250 tax free the balance taxed....??

Hope to hell thats clear for others to understand......!!

Hi Chivas, do you mind if I clarify some points you made.

Firstly from April 2015 only those aged over 55 and considering retirement will be able to access their pots.

Those who are already drawing from a private/company pension will not get access to the remainder of their pots until April 2016.

You also misinterpret the tax implications.

Scenario 1.

Assuming you retire April 2015 and working on your figure of a £100,000 pot.

You can withdraw 25% tax free, that is £25,000. That does not affect your personal allowance.

The remainder is taxed at 20% up to the higher tax limit (around £42,285).

Thereafter the remainder would be taxed at 40%

i.e. £100,000 pot.

£25,000 tax free

£10,600 tax free personal allowance (assuming you have no other income. i.e. early retirement,not taking state pension)

£35,600 - £42,285 taxed at 20%. That's £6,685 taxed at 20% (£1,337 tax deducted)

£42,285 - £100,000 taxed at 40%. That's £57,715 taxed at 40% (£23,086 tax deducted)

If my maths is correct from a pot of £100,00 you'd pay £24,423 tax.

If at the same time of cashing your pot you started to receive state pension, then that would take up most of your personal income allowance and you'd pay around £25,000 tax.

You can only receive the tax free lump sum once, thereafter you are subject to tax above your personal allowance of £10,600.

Assuming you retire April 2015, the state pension is £155 per week, personal allowance is £10,600, and you have a private pension pot of £100,000.

You can withdraw £25,000 tax free from your pension pot.

Your annual state pension would be £8,060pa

You could withdraw another £2,540pa from your pot tax free. (£8060 + £2540 = £10,600)

Anything above that extra £2,540pa from your pension pot would be taxed at 20% up to the higher limit of £42,285pa

ThaiTerry, on 24 Mar 2015 - 15:25, said:

Mario2008, on 24 Mar 2015 - 14:36, said:

ThaiTerry, on 24 Mar 2015 - 14:25, said:

I am about to renew my extension of stay (retirement) we now need to here in Phuket provide a copy of the owners house book (tambian ban) my landlord will not give me a copy of his. Does the Thai government require him to do this? Saw this posted on Ask The Lawyer the other day the lawyer told the OP to move. Suggestions!

He is required by law to report your stay (and probably also to pay taxes over the rent he recieves and that will be his main problem). Enforcement might well mean that he terminates the rental agreement.

You have to simply inform him that it is only for immigraiton and that the informaiton is not past on to the revenue department and see what he says.

So all I should do is simply inform him to trust me that this information will not be used except by the immigration department. And if he still declines what do you suggest I do? Sure there will be many more who have a problem with this. Immigration needs a form in Thai that can be given to the owners that explains this process to them. Also need to require them to comply with this new requirement for me having to get a Thai to give me a copy of his house book and copy of his ID card. I know if in my home country if my tennent asked me for a copy of my deed and ID I might be a bit suspicious.

You need a copy of his ID card and his Tabian Ban, both signed by the landlord.

Download a copy of form TM30, hand that to him and tell him the Immigration Department want you to fill in that form and supply a signed copy of your ID card and Tabian Ban.

My tact would be let him think Immigration are asking for it, not you.

If he supplies them, take plenty of copies so you don't have to ask him again.

Otherwise I'd ring 1111, tell them the problem and let them ring your landlord.

steve187, on 24 Mar 2015 - 08:36, said:steve187, on 24 Mar 2015 - 08:36, said:

ricardo ,

if you became self employed in the UK again you could start to pay class 2 again. but they announced in the last budget that class 2 is being scrapped, i can not find any details on the web, at the moment maybe too soon.

as it stands you will get a 31/35 pension should the 35 years come into play. it will work out at about £4.28 per week per year paid, giving you about £133 a week.

What i can not understand is that it was 44 years for men, they then reduced to 30 years, where was the sense in that, it would bring a lot more immigrants into the pension bracket, they are now going to change back to 35 years, which has caught me out a bit.

@Steve and Ricardo.

Maybe it is my interpretation of the information you so kindly gave the link to Steve, but I think Ricardo would get a full Tier State Pension based on the 30 year qualification rule. Single Tier State Pension Fact Sheet - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181237/single-tier-pension-fact-sheet.pdf

Quote

If you contribute entirely to the new single-tier scheme, it will replace today’scomplicated state pension with a single amount based on 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. If you have fewer than 35 years when you reachState Pension age you will get a pro-rata amount.

The key word here being 'entirely'. Ricardo hasn't/wouldn't have contributed a single penny to the new scheme, so that suggests his state pension will be based on the scheme he paid into, which was only 30 qualifying years.

It then states:

Quote

If you have made National Insurance contributions or received credits under the current system they will be converted into a single-tier foundation amount. Providing you meet the minimum qualifying year requirement, you will get no less than the amount calculated using the present scheme rules.

Again, my interpretation is that if you have paid anything into the old scheme (prior to April 2016), then providing you have 30 qualifying years you will get the full amount of the new tier state pension at retirement.

I think Ricardo stated he had 31 qualifying years.

To me that also suggests that anyone who paid into the old scheme, even if they had a shortfall of contributions, would still have it calculated on the basis of 30 years contributions and not 35.

As an example, a person who reaches age 65 in 2018 but only has 27 years contributions.

Lets say the new flat rate pension is £165 per week in 2018.

I believe that person would get 27/30th of the new rate pension....................that would be £148.50

I'll stand corrected, but that is how it reads to me.

Providing you meet the minimum qualifying year requirement, you will get no less than the amount calculated using the present scheme rules.

Therefore Ricardo having 31 years contributions under the old 30 year qualifying scheme, would therefore receive the full new state pension at the time of reaching retirement age. Maybe I'm missing a factor in here but that's how I'm understanding the information.

thailien8, on 24 Mar 2015 - 10:14, said:

nzexpat, on 23 Mar 2015 - 23:30, said:

Are you SURE that there were at least 15 days remaining on the original permission to stay ?

There have been no "sudden" changes in policy

I went to CW immigration on 23 March. My 30 days will expire on 16 April. So her refusal was not for this reason.

Before going back to try this at Jomtien, I wonder if I could try one more time at CW. Maybe if I just write the name and address of the hotel I'm staying at in Bangkok?

Nothing to lose.

Trying to find out what the 'new orders' are exactly, is like trying to extract blood from a stone.

paz, on 24 Mar 2015 - 00:38, said:

thailien8, on 23 Mar 2015 - 23:02, said:

Has there really been another sudden change in Immigration policies?

I don't think so. I'm afraid you've been dismissed for no reason. Let us know from Jomtien.

This is probably something to do with the new order sent to every Immigration Office by the Commissioner of Immigration which was put into effect this week, and I reported in another thread. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809400-new-90-day-report-ruling/

The order stated foreigners must report to the Immigration Office where they received their extensions.

Looks like they are linking your address to your local office and saying that's where you have to go.

They are overlooking other aspects of Police Orders. This new order is being misinterpreted. It's gonna cause a few problems!

steve187, on 23 Mar 2015 - 23:39, said:

Faz, which consulates

some new stuff on there non imm 'O''A' for men married to a Thai, non imm 'O''A' issued in Thailand, multi non imm 'O' for over 50.

Came from the Embassy in London.

I know that Liverpool adhere to it.

Hull had it's arse slapped and seems restricted in what it can offer without Londons approval.

Jip99, on 23 Mar 2015 - 19:35, said:

Ricardo, on 23 Mar 2015 - 18:57, said:

steve187, on 23 Mar 2015 - 18:31, said:

contributions can be topped up by paying class 2 NI contributions about £2.50 a week, if living in Thailand

If only that were so !

I spent the last 15 years, of my working-life in the UK, paying self-employed ... then retired to Thailand aged 50. But when I now ask to pay an extra 4-years' worth at Class-2, because 'they' have moved the goal-posts subsequently so that I'd need an extra 4 -years to get the full pension, they won't let me, and insist that I must pay much-higher Class-4.

If I were self-employed here, and could show audited-accounts to prove it, then it might be different.

What part of the phrase "retired to Thailand at 50 years old" don't they get ?

A friend retired here at the age of 42 and topped his contributions up by claiming to be operating a taxi service in his Thai village. No 'audited accounts' (hahaha) required.

A nod's sometimes as good as a wink Jip.................amazing Thailand.

steve187, on 23 Mar 2015 - 19:26, said:

check again

here - http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions/the-state-pension/voluntary-ni-contributions

Steve go further with the link you provided.

Click on 'Periods spent abroad'.

You can only pay class 2 if you 'continue' to be self employed abroad.

Ricardo stated he has retired to Thailand.