… To be considering leaving the UK?

[globalnomad25]

We have been considering leaving, even if only for a few years. Many of our clients have already gone or are planning it, and some of our friends too.

I’m not sure where we’d go: UAE, Portugal, Jersey, Ireland, Canada, Australia? We don’t currently want to move to the US, even though that would probably make the most sense from a business/client point of view.

For those out there who have already left, how has it gone? Was it a horrible mistake or are you glad you did it?

For those also thinking about it, where would you go?

Kids are school-aged and smart and used to international travel as our work already takes us all over, although they’d miss their friends (as would we). We aren’t English so our family is already based all over the place, although we visit them frequently.

Canadian doctors are in a special position vis-a-vis the US as they are not considered IMGs (this will apparently change in a few years). So they can apply to the US residency match and qualify here. I'm told there's no issues with getting a visa. I also know of doctors who did Canadian residencies and worked here without redoing it. Americans also get special consideration in Canada though it's not automatic except for family medicine.

Sometimes I wonder if we should have applied to Canada instead of coming to the US given the state things are in! But I have American citizenship and family here. Yes getting a GP can be tricky but in the UK they just pile everyone onto the list so you can't get an appointment.

As for education: I find that the English tend to measure everything against A-Levels. In Canada, generally, the median is higher, but the expectations for the top students aren't as high (I say this knowing a lot of Canadians). The college and university sector in Canada is diverse and includes many types of degrees. You need to compare like with like. The research oriented universities are excellent and frankly are benefiting from people leaving the US. The colleges are generally not trying to be academic powerhouses but to provide locally relevant courses. That said, just like the UK, some colleges have got themselves in trouble with recruiting overseas students to bring in money.

This is not a coincidence 🤓

Every family situation is different. Happy there are people who like paying taxes to support the country. Life is short and it's ok to want different lifestyle. It's not better or worst - people want different things in life. If people are unhappy with the situation in UK, like OP , I would definitely say look into moving. We were higher tax payers in the UK with kids in private school. We moved earlier this year to SG. There are of course positives and negatives but on balance we are very happy with our move.

There are quite a few British style curriculums I think Brighton recently expanded to senior school, one thing would be if you want DC to sit GCSE and A-level as that will cut your list of schools

Tanglin has recently moved away from their waiting list to a more annual evaluation which may make it easier to get a place

Mine are at NLCS and have been happy so far

The DC bump into DC from multiple schools really think it’s a preference thing on where to go - we prioritised having immediate places in the same school vs switching around although I realise lots of people do that

If you tax the wealthy they just leave- whether you like it or not. They have advisors who use the rules to plan tax effectively and can move where they like. So it is the middle earners, those on PAYE who get hammered for tax.

I know loads of expats also, I live in another country and there are many people who have moved here from the UK. I live in a small rural town and have yet to meet a woman who isn't happy to be here - two of them moved here with partners and after they split stayed on.

So, we cancel each other out.

Verify away. It’s fear mongering.0.5% is not an exodus, state schools are not closing for any other reason than falling birth rates and shifting families in London and Birmingham and re the successful being vilified that’s ridiculous.

bylinetimes.com/2025/01/24/no-there-has-not-been-an-exodus-of-uk-millionaires-and-new-wealth-taxes-wont-force-them-to-leave-either/

Yes I agree.

It's not fear mongering. We are literally running out of tax payers. 50% of us don't pay tax. 20% of us are so disabled we need tax payers to fund us.

The state works by a load of people paying in and few people taking out. When that balance goes it all falls apart.

Why?

OP, I’m also a high earner, triple citizenship (two EU and British). I prefer a cooler climate but also truly want to pay more taxes so plan to sell up and go. I was just looking at housing and jobs in Ireland last night (I’m in a professional role) and couldn’t find too many that would work for me although it might be different for you. So the next country I’m considering is Switzerland - depending on where you live you can pay little taxes. I would sell all my assets in the UK. Inheritance tax is free up to 1m CHF and then between 0.1% and 7% so amazing! And I see quite a few jobs going. Do keep this thread alive as I’ve now really decided I’ve had enough and want to be off around this time next year (need to sell house and find a job in the meantime)

I mean I do NOT want to pay more taxes - funny slip

A lot people I know who've looked into moving for a "better" standard of life have concluded it's not worth it. Lower tax regimes tend to come with high cost of living once all the things you actually need are factored in, unless you're looking at the Middle East in which case you're often living in a weird ex-pat bubble and a very different legal framework which trips-up a lot of people - I've heard some horror stories from a friend who contracts a lot out there.
Friends who've moved for the same standard of living but a different lifestyle - for example Aus and Canada have been quite happy, although as other PP have noted some things are cheaper and some things are a lot more expensive.
Two couples who moved somewhere that one partner really wanted to be and the other was lukewarm about have split up over arguments about whether to stay or come back.
You also need to think about family - after my best friend emigrated to the other side of the world, her Mum announced she was moving to be with her, which is very claustrophobic for friend and her DH. If she hadn't moved so far and could afford the time and the flights to visit more frequently this would not be an issue.

Maybe we should be pulling more very hard working people out of NMW salaries then instead of boosting the income of the tiny percentage at the top. Just a thought.

The problem is in a globalised world and incoming AI capabilities many jobs can just be outsourced from the UK. This model only works if all jobs have to be done in the UK.

People have lives, friends, jobs, schools, property and as you say, the wealthy can avoid much of any new taxation.

Upping sticks is not as easy as it once was for British citizens without another passport.

Golden Visas gone and all of Europe taxes are higher than UK...

Just because someone of non British descent, who was here for just a few months of the year and now isn't, doesn't mean people are "leaving in droves"

We should be more concerned about teachers and HCPs leaving the UK, they are our future not a few casual billionaires - the latter does get a few on here very excited.

How are "we" boosting salaries at the top? "We" just pay the going rate.

How would "we" pull people put of any specific wage?

No need to tell me, just give the Treasury a ring, they should get things back under control in weeks with your clever economic insights. All without doing anything unpopular.

Funny how the "going rate" is always applied to those at the top but those, such as care workers or nursery workers can claim top up benefits instead, despite there being a huge shortage in these sectors.

We have no money! yet its all ok to write off billions in Covid support and not go after the fraudsters... even vote them in to govern us.

Just because someone of non British descent, who was here for just a few months of the year and now isn't, doesn't mean people are "leaving in droves"

No, one family going means nothing. But clearly the ratio of people paying in and paying out of the state is rapidly changing. 20% of us are now claiming disability benefits and that number is predicted to continue to rocket. So fewer tax payers are carrying a heavier burden. Even a government with a massive majority can't stop it. It's self fueling and only ends one way.

Repressing wages and services of the majority and curtailing to the few at the top order in order to stop 0.5% of the wealthiest leaving doesn’t sound like the way to go.

Check out the gov.je website for full details. Seasonal staff often live in the hotel or farmworkers on the farm. There are bedsits with shared facilities too. If you have a profession, teacher, nurse, accountant, surgeon, GP etc you can rent a proper flat with your own kitchen and bathroom or if you have a family a house. There are categories of living accommodation depending on how long you are in the Island.

I do appreciate that the numbers don't stack up but it should be remembered who allowed this to happen? seemingly done to make the unemployment figures look good plus in work benefits are propping up or rather allowing business to make huge profits off the back of the tax payer.

Labour haven't abandoned benefit cuts & restrictions, more delayed them until the Timms report.
Their previous plan was very unfair, needs a lot more thought.

It can also be very insular. I found it to be a very them and us situation. If you are not a born local living in the country parishes, you will never really belong. You will always be labelled 'an outsider'. In the capital of St Helier, there are many different languages to be heard from the many nationalities of support staff for farming, hospitality and service jobs. Most of these people live in flats built around St Helier. It can be very cliquey amongst the richer classes too - the in set.

Funny how the "going rate" is always applied to those at the top but those, such as care workers or nursery workers can claim top up benefits instead, despite there being a huge shortage in these sectors.

A shortage of workers is exactly what you get when you pay people not to work. And yes the going rate is distorted by that to the point where customers can't/won't pay what people will work for. If potential careworkers don't get paid to stay at home all of a sudden those care work jobs are going to look highly desirable.

Seems like you've spotted the problem and the solution. ✔️

Wow what a truly ignorant and naive post. Care work and nursery work is some of the hardest and most important work we have. These are people with responsibility for the daily needs of our most vulnerable members of society. Not enough is put into training, wages or working conditions.Its not something just anybody can or should be doing. In Norway and Sweden nursery workers have high qualifications and good wages with the resulting excellent provision. We should be striving for that not just forcing anybody into the very low paid and often gruelling sector.