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The Daily Insight

Can US citizens have UK pensions?

Author

John Thompson

Published Feb 21, 2026

UK pensions don’t qualify as retirement plans under US domestic legislation because they are not established in the USA. Despite this, in theory, the current US/UK income tax treaty allows US citizens and residents to claim relief in three ways: On certain contributions to plans.

Can I take out my UK pension?

You can take up to 25% of the money built up in your pension as a tax-free lump sum. You’ll then have 6 months to start taking the remaining 75%, which you’ll usually pay tax on. The options you have for taking the rest of your pension pot include: taking all or some of it as cash.

Is my UK state pension taxable in the US?

You’ll have to report your U.K. pension on your U.S. tax return, but it can get complicated because of the tax treaty benefits. Not only will you have to include distributions on your 1040, but you may also have to file Form 8833 along with other financial reports like FBAR and FATCA.

Are pensions taxable in the US?

The taxable part of your pension or annuity payments is generally subject to federal income tax withholding. If you’re a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you must provide the payer with a home address in the United States (or its possessions) to be able to choose to have no tax withheld.

Do you have to pay US tax on UK pension withdrawals?

The income withdrawals will be subject to tax in the US. Fortunately, the US/UK tax treaty states that you won’t be taxed twice on your income withdrawals, and you should only pay tax on the withdrawals in the US.

What happens if I withdraw money from my pension?

This meant that people could now withdraw their whole pension fund in one go. In line with UK pension tax Law, 25% of this would be paid tax free, with the remainder treated as income and subject to tax. This could mean you are left with a large tax bill if you withdraw the whole fund.

Is there a UK pension plan for US citizens?

MyExpatSIPP is a type of UK personal pension plan that is designed especially for individuals who have previously worked in the UK, and are now resident overseas. It is a simple low cost pension fund that allows you to manage your UK pension online, and without having to use a financial adviser.

How old do you have to be to take a UK pension lump sum?

You will be able to take the lump sum from your UK pension fund from the age of 55, however some defined benefit pension schemes have a normal retirement date of 65. 2. What is the US tax treatment of UK pensions? As stated above, the 25% tax free pension lump sum is tax free in both the US and the UK.