US → UK Financial Planning
Specialist advice for Americans moving to or living in the United Kingdom
Relocating from the United States to the United Kingdom creates a unique set of financial challenges.
You are moving between two very different tax systems, investment rules, and retirement structures. Decisions that seem sensible in one country can create unexpected tax consequences in the other.
I provide specialist US → UK financial planning to help you structure your finances efficiently, avoid costly mistakes, and build a clear long-term strategy.
Who this is for
This service is designed for:
High Net Worth US citizens moving to the UK for work or family
Americans already living in the UK
Dual US/UK citizens
Individuals with US investment accounts, pensions, or income
If you have financial ties to the US while living in the UK, you need advice that considers both systems together.
The key financial challenges when moving to the UK
Dual tax exposure
The US taxes based on citizenship, while the UK taxes based on residency.
This often means:
ongoing US tax filing obligations
UK tax on worldwide income
reliance on tax treaties and foreign tax credits
Understanding how these systems interact is essential to avoid unnecessary tax.
The FIG regime (Foreign Income & Gains)
Recent changes to UK tax rules mean that individuals moving to the UK may be eligible for the Foreign Income & Gains (FIG) regime.
This can allow:
foreign income and gains to be excluded from UK tax for a limited period
greater flexibility in how and when assets are realised
However, this creates important planning considerations:
how to structure assets before and after arrival
whether to realise gains during the FIG period
how this interacts with ongoing US tax obligations
Used correctly, the FIG regime can provide significant opportunities — but it requires careful coordination with US tax rules.
Offshore income gains (OIG) regime
Many US-based investments are treated as “offshore funds” under UK tax rules.
This can lead to:
gains being taxed as income rather than capital gains
significantly higher tax rates
unexpected reporting complexity
Careful planning is required to:
review existing holdings
restructure investments where appropriate
ensure future investments are aligned with UK rules
US investment structures (PFIC risk)
While living in the UK, investing in non-US funds can trigger complex US tax rules.
This includes:
punitive taxation on certain non-US funds
complicated reporting requirements
Avoiding these issues requires careful selection of investments that work across both systems.
Managing US retirement accounts
Many individuals moving to the UK hold US retirement accounts such as:
401(k)s
Traditional IRAs
Roth IRAs
Each has different tax treatment in the UK.
Key considerations include:
how withdrawals are taxed
whether growth remains tax-efficient
how these accounts fit into your long-term planning
Understanding how to coordinate these with UK tax rules is essential.
UK tax wrappers and their limitations
UK structures such as ISAs are often attractive — but for US citizens, they may not provide the expected tax benefits.
This creates challenges around:
where to invest tax-efficiently
how to balance US and UK rules
avoiding unintended tax consequences
How I help
I provide joined-up advice that considers your entire financial position across both countries.
Review your current position
US accounts, investments, and pensions
UK tax residency and exposure
income and long-term plans
Build a cross-border strategy
align your investments with both US and UK tax systems
manage exposure to the offshore income gains regime
plan for efficient use of US retirement accounts
Investment structuring
I help ensure your investments are:
appropriate for US tax rules
aligned with UK tax treatment
structured to minimise unnecessary complexity
Ongoing planning
As your situation evolves, I help you:
adapt your strategy
manage changes in residency or income
plan for retirement across both countries
Why work with a specialist
US/UK financial planning is highly specialised.
Without coordinated advice, it’s easy to:
hold unsuitable investments
misunderstand tax treatment
create long-term inefficiencies
I focus specifically on cross-border financial planning, helping clients navigate these challenges with clarity and confidence.
Get clarity on your move to the UK
If you are moving to the UK or already living here with US financial ties, the right advice can help you avoid costly mistakes and make better long-term decisions.
Contact Me
