Tax guide for Americans in the UK

Social Security in the UK

Social security in the UK is a comprehensive system designed to provide assistance to individuals and families with their living costs.

This system is funded through National Insurance Contributions (NICs), which are paid by those who are working and by employers.

The UK's social security system covers various benefits, including state pension, unemployment benefits, sickness and disability allowances, and maternity and paternity pay.

Benefits for expats in the UK

American expats living and working in the UK may be entitled to certain social security benefits, depending on their NICs record and their current circumstances. Some of the key benefits include:

1. State pension: Expats who have paid sufficient NICs for a minimum number of qualifying years are eligible for the UK state pension upon reaching the state pension age.
2. Jobseeker’s allowance: This is available to those who are actively seeking work but currently unemployed. The eligibility depends on NICs and is subject to conditions such as attending regular interviews.
3. Statutory sick Pay: Employees who are too ill to work may be eligible for this payment for up to 28 weeks, provided they meet the qualifying conditions.
4. Statutory maternity/paternity/adoption pay: Expats who are expecting a child or are adopting may be eligible for these benefits, which provide support for those taking time off work for their new child.
5. Healthcare: Through NICs, expats contribute to the National Health Service (NHS), which provides access to healthcare services.

UK pension system

The UK pension system is a mix of state, occupational, and personal pensions, providing a variety of options for retirement savings. The State Pension is a regular payment from the government most people can claim when they reach State Pension age.

To qualify for the full State Pension, you generally need to have 35 years of National Insurance Contributions (NICs).

Expats who have not made enough contributions may still claim a partial State Pension or may be able to make voluntary contributions to increase the amount they can receive.

Besides the State Pension, individuals can contribute to personal or workplace pensions, which offer tax relief on contributions. The pension income is then partially tax-free, with 25% typically being withdrawable as a tax-free lump sum, and the remainder being subject to income tax.

Tax deductions for expats in the UK

Expats in the UK can take advantage of various tax deductions that can reduce their taxable income.

Employment expenses

For employment expenses, expats can claim deductions for costs that are exclusively related to their work and not reimbursed by their employer. This can include:

• Travel and subsistence: If you travel for work, you may be able to claim for public transport costs, hotel accommodation if you need to stay overnight, and meals on work trips.
• Uniforms, work clothing, and tools: Costs for repairing or replacing specialist clothing or tools for work can be claimed.
• Professional fees and subscriptions: If you must pay fees to belong to a professional body or to subscribe to a trade or professional journal, these can be deductible if they are necessary for your job.
• Working from home: If you are required to work from home, you may be able to claim a proportion of your heating, electricity, and internet bills.

Personal deductions

Personal deductions in the UK tax system allow individuals to reduce their taxable income, thereby lowering their tax liability. These deductions can include:

• Charitable donations: Donations made to charity through Gift Aid allow the charity to claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated. For higher-rate taxpayers, there is an additional tax relief, as they can claim back the difference between the basic rate of tax the charity reclaims and the rate of tax they pay.
• Maintenance payments: Qualifying maintenance payments to an ex-spouse or civil partner can be deductible if both parties are born before 6 April 1935.
• Blind person’s allowance: Individuals who are registered blind are entitled to an additional allowance on top of their personal allowance.

Marriage allowance

The marriage allowance allows a lower-earning spouse or civil partner to transfer up to £1,260 of their personal allowance to their partner. This could reduce the higher earner's tax bill by up to £252 in the 2025/26 tax year.

To qualify, one partner must earn less than £12,570 (the standard personal allowance) and the other must be a basic rate taxpayer (earning between £12,571 and £50,270).

Couples can also backdate claims for up to four tax years - currently from 2021/22 to 2024/25 - potentially reclaiming over £1,000 in total tax savings.

Business deductions

Business deductions are a crucial aspect of tax planning for self-employed expats and those running a business in the UK. These deductions can lower taxable profits and, consequently, the amount of tax owed. Common business deductions include:

1. Office costs: Rent, utilities, and insurance for business premises.
2. Travel expenses: Mileage, parking, train or bus fares related to business travel.
3. Staff costs: Salaries, bonuses, and pension contributions for employees.
4. Stock or raw materials: Costs of stock or raw materials necessary for the business.
5. Financial Costs: Bank charges, interest on loans, and credit card charges for business expenses.
6. Marketing and entertainment: Advertising costs and business entertainment expenses (though the latter has strict rules for deductibility).

Losses

In the UK tax system, if a business or self-employed individual makes a loss, this loss can be used to reduce the tax liability in several ways:

• If you have other income in the same tax year, you can offset the loss against it, reducing your overall taxable income.
• You can carry the loss back to the previous tax year (if you had taxable profits) and claim a refund on taxes paid in that year.
• If you can't use the entire loss in the current or previous tax year, you can carry it forward to offset against future profits.

Tax advantages for expats

American expats living in the UK may be eligible for various tax advantages that can reduce their tax burden.

These advantages are designed to prevent double taxation on the same income in both the US and the UK and to provide relief for taxes paid in the foreign country. Some of these tax advantages include:

• Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): This allows US expats to exclude a certain amount of their foreign earnings from US taxable income.
• Foreign Tax Credit (FTC): US citizens can claim a credit for income taxes paid to a foreign government, which can reduce their US tax liability.
• Foreign Housing Exclusion: Expats can deduct a portion of their housing expenses when living abroad.
• Pension Contributions: Contributions to UK pension schemes may be deductible or eligible for tax relief, and the growth within these pensions is often tax-deferred.

The tax treaty between the US and UK

The tax treaty between the US and the UK is designed to prevent double taxation for individuals who would otherwise be subject to tax on the same income in both countries.

The treaty covers various forms of income and provides rules for determining which country has the right to tax specific income types.

Tax treaties benefit

The benefits of tax treaties for expats include:

1. Residency tie-breaker rules: These rules help determine tax residency to avoid being considered a resident for tax purposes in both countries.
2. Reduced withholding taxes: The treaty may reduce the rate of tax withheld on interest, dividends, royalties, and other passive income from sources within the treaty countries.
3. Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP): Taxpayers can request assistance from the competent authorities of both countries if they believe the actions of one or both countries result in double taxation.
4. Pensions and social security payments: The treaty has specific provisions regarding the taxation of pensions and social security payments, which can often result in taxation only by the country of residence.
5. Elimination of double taxation: The treaty provides mechanisms such as tax credits to eliminate double taxation.

Totalization Agreement Between the US and UK

The Totalization Agreement between the US and the UK is designed to resolve issues of dual social security taxation and to help protect the benefit rights of individuals who have worked in both countries.

This agreement applies to US Social Security and the UK National Insurance contributions, which are the respective countries' programs for old age, survivors, and disability insurance.

Key aspects of the totalization agreement include:

• Avoiding dual contributions: It ensures that workers and their employers only need to pay social security contributions to one of the two countries, typically in the country where the work is being performed.
• Combining contributions: The agreement allows workers to combine their social security credits from both countries to qualify for benefits that they might not be eligible for in one country alone.
• Benefit payments: The agreement also covers the payment of social security benefits to those who reside in the other country, facilitating cross-border payments.

This agreement is particularly beneficial for expats who have not worked long enough in one country to qualify for social security benefits. By combining the periods of contributions made in both countries, expats can often meet the minimum eligibility requirements.

Most popular tax forms for US expats

US expats in the UK are required to file US tax returns and may need to file various forms depending on their circumstances. Some of the most commonly required tax forms include:

1. Form 1040: The standard US individual income tax return.
2. Form 2555: Used to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE).
3. Form 1116: For claiming the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC).
4. FBAR (FinCEN Form 114): Required if a US person has a financial interest in or signature authority over foreign financial accounts with an aggregate value exceeding $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.
5. Form 8938: Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, required if certain thresholds of foreign assets are met.
6. Form 8833: Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure, used to disclose positions taken on a tax return that are based on a tax treaty.

UK tax forms for US expats

While living in the UK, US expats may need to deal with various UK tax forms, depending on their circumstances. Some of the key forms include:

1. Self Assessment tax return (SA100): This is the main tax form for individuals to report their income to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
2. Supplementary pages: Depending on the types of income, additional sections or 'supplementary pages' may need to be completed, such as SA105 for property income or SA109 for non-residents.
3. P60: This form is provided by employers at the end of the tax year and summarizes the income and taxes deducted under PAYE (Pay As You Earn).
4. P45: Given by an employer when employment ends, showing tax paid and employment income to date within the tax year.
5. CT600: For those running a company, this is the Corporation Tax return form.