Moving/working abroad for a while... national insurance thoughts

mike_in_leeds

Hi there, I fancy a change and thus I've managed to get a job working in Germany, so I'm relocating (I will officially live in Germany)! It'll only be for a couple of years I guess however I'm interested to know what I have to do regards national insurance and tax. I've asked around and had a look on the HRMC website and I'm getting contradictory opinions.

The majority of people I've asked have told me that I'm allowed to work outside the UK for 5 without having to contribute to NI in the UK. Is this the case? Some people have told me that I have to register out of the National Health system and then register again when returning from working overseas.

Can someone set the record straight?

Oldernotwiser

If you move to another EU country you'll have to register with their health service on the same terms as a native of that country (which may not cover all costs). When you return you re register with the NHS. You'll also pay whatever income tax and social contributions are required in the country you move to.

bewildered123

Congratulations - I thoroughly enjoyed my couple of years working in Germany - hope it will be the same for you. This is what you need to do: tell HMRC - there's a simple form to fill in (P85) and you enclose your P45 from leaving work and with a bit of luck, you'll get a nice tax rebate. Tell Council - again you might be owed some Council tax rebate. If you've got any regular prescriptions / chronic illnesses get a letter from your GP explaining the situation.
When you get to Germany you need to do the following: register your address with the local council (the office is called the Meldeamt), they will register you, give you a tax card (Steuerkarte) which you then give to your employer and start the process for getting you a residence permit (pretty much a formality for EU citizens but needs to be done). Without this registration you can't open a bank account etc and the fines for not doing it go up, so it's important to make this one of your first moves. Through work you register with a health insurance company - there are loads, all pretty expensive but you've got no option - work should be able to advise you. There's no NHS but most things are covered by your health insurance although there are some small fees to pay yourself if you visit a doctor. There's a PAYE tax system but everyone fills in an annual tax return - get a German to help you with it as what you can claim back is much more generous than here. You'll also pay towards a state pension (Renteversicherung) and social care (Pflegeversichering). Keep a note of your Renteversicherung number as when you retire, the pensions authority here need it to claim what ever you are entitled to from Germany.

get05up

Hi bewildered123, thanks for the information. They were very useful for me. I am planning to move back to my hometown in Germany and wondered what I had to do in the UK to close all matters. The info for HMRC was very helpful for me.

bewildered123

Mike I just thought of something else. When you register in Germany, leave the space for religion blank - if you declare one you become liable for church tax. Trying to undeclare a religion afterwards is a nightmare if you are German, and if you aren't even worse.