Husband an Expat overseas

ConfusedExpat

I would appreciate any help of guidance on the following:

My husband works overseas and has done so for the past 4 years.

I am now back in the UK with our 3 children and wish to complete the normal tax, benefits admin as required.

It would appear that with my husband outside the UK tax system and me inside it I am treated as a single mother!

Can anyone tell me how to work out my UK household income? A simple question but I fear a complicated answer. Unless I can come up with a figure it is impossible to complete basic forms or applications/ i.e. with a threshold for child benifit being based on household income but with my husband overseas his income is deemed not relevant.

Confused.....

rogerblack

Have you split up?
If not, as I understand it, if you intend to live together in the future, you would usually be treated as a couple, as you have just temporarily separated.
Your household income would be your income plus his.

ConfusedExpat

Thanks for your reply.

But no we havent split up. He completed a P85 a number of years ago and is considered by HMRC to be permanently overseas. His income is not considered to be relevant by HMRC so that is the problem with regards what is our household income. I am a housewife (retired professional) and will continue being at home and not seeking employment.

Is the household income just my UK savings and investment income? The HMRC cant have it both ways if my husband is not subject to UK income tax and his income is therefore not relevant.......(by thier definitions)

Gentile

ConfusedExpat wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

But no we havent split up. He completed a P85 a number of years ago and is considered by HMRC to be permanently overseas. His income is not considered to be relevant by HMRC so that is the problem with regards what is our household income. I am a housewife (retired professional) and will continue being at home and not seeking employment.

Is the household income just my UK savings and investment income? The HMRC cant have it both ways if my husband is not subject to UK income tax and his income is therefore not relevant.......(by thier definitions)

If you two havent split up why are you filling up benefit admin ? Has he told you he is not supporting you ?

plum2002

Gentile wrote: »

If you two havent split up why are you filling up benefit admin ? Has he told you he is not supporting you ?

For child benefit, which until a week ago was for all, and now is not.

FBaby

Isn't he supporting you with the income he makes? If so, surely you are not like a single parent? If not, why not if you are married and happily so?

plum2002

OP, if your husband is deemed as living overseas, providing he has a minimum of 8 weeks (i think, it may be 12) out of the country you are deemed single - there was a thread regarding this just before christmas. I'm not sure what the time allowed for him to visit is though. Think carefully before you enter the system though, if you aren't in real need I wouldn't allow this government to have any say/control over how you spend your money, and that day is fast approaching with UC. However, if you need it, you need it and you are within the rules to claim it.

ConfusedExpat

When I say benefit admin, it is just basics.

i.e. child benefit this was not means tested until a few days ago. Now I am trying to determine what my household income is. HMRC state that my husbands income is not subjected to UK tax as he by thier rules is permanently overseas.

i.e. my eldest son is due to start university in the Autumn, the availability of loans/grants etc to him depends on household income and the same problem exists.

It is clear from HMRC that as my husband is not resident in the UK any claims are made by me and not him.

So the picture is not clear at all.....

skintandscared_2

But who is actually paying your bills? Even if your husband is working abroad and not subject to UK income tax, if he remits funds to the UK to pay your expenses (rent/bills/food, whatever) that is deemed income, surely?

For instance, if a foreign national lives in the UK and goes to a cashpoint to withdraw funds from an account held outside the UK, that is seen as remitting funds to the UK and they are expected to pay tax on that UK income.

If you are not working, how are you supporting yourself and your children? I'm not clear why you would come to the UK with no financial support and deliberately live apart from your husband?

Gentile

ConfusedExpat wrote: »

When I say benefit admin, it is just basics.

i.e. child benefit this was not means tested until a few days ago. Now I am trying to determine what my household income is. HMRC state that my husbands income is not subjected to UK tax as he by thier rules is permanently overseas.

i.e. my eldest son is due to start university in the Autumn, the availability of loans/grants etc to him depends on household income and the same problem exists.

It is clear from HMRC that as my husband is not resident in the UK any claims are made by me and not him.

So the picture is not clear at all.....

Regardless of what HMRC say, your husband is earning income and using it to support you. Which is pretty much the case in the millions of households where the husband is the only earner. The fact that the money is not taxed here in UK is not relevant is it ?

Unless you are trying to ascertain how you can exploit the single mum loophole as suggested above.

ConfusedExpat

I/We can live off our savings, my investment income and or my husbands income. That is not the issue it is determining a "household income" which is not adequately defined by those seeking a number.

Our houses are paid for and I am not seeking anything that is not due. If nothing is due then fine, but surely all should recieve what they are entitled to?