This guidance note provides support for those needing to report taxable events in relation to overseas pension schemes that are not registered in the UK. It provides an overview only, with reference to further research materials. You may need to take specialist advice.

The tax treatment of income from foreign pensions is discussed in the Foreign pension income guidance note.

HMRC guidance on reporting pension savings tax charges, including those arising on overseas pensions, can be found in HMRC Helpsheet HS345. See also PTM113200.

Significant changes have been made to the UK taxation of overseas pensions, broadening the application of UK tax to overseas pensions. Most of the changes in this legislation apply from 6 April 2017, but some provisions (for example, the overseas transfer charge below) date from 9 March 2017. See also Simon’s Taxes E7.248–E7.248B.

The abolition of the lifetime allowance charge from 6 April 2023 created circumstances under which transfers from registered pension schemes to a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme (QROPS) would be entirely tax-free. To remedy this, an 'overseas