Mitigating Tax on UK Pensions in Portugal

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Many British expats in Portugal overpaid tax on their UK pensions and retirement income because Portugal does not automatically recognise all UK pensions as “retirement income.” Where pensions were not correctly structured, individuals often lost access to lower tax rates and faced unexpected tax liabilities.

This exclusive Portugal Pathways webinar explored:

• Ensure their UK pension qualified for Portugal’s most favourable retirement tax treatment, where only a small percentage of overall pension income may have been taxable
• Mitigate costly misclassification mistakes commonly made by affluent UK expats and UK citizens relocating to Portugal
• Fully understand the legal, structural, and compliance rules that determine how UK pensions are taxed in Portugal

The session also covered Category H — Portugal’s special tax category for recognised retirement income — explaining how UK pensions can meet the relevant conditions and benefit from this classification.

We were delighted to be joined by leading experts in this field. The webinar featured Rex Cowley, Director and Co-Founder of Overseas Trust and Pension, who is independently recognised for his pioneering work in the sector and has been profiled among the Top 100 most influential people in global financial services.

Alongside Rex, the panel included Matt Firman, CEO of St. James Global, and Group Executive Paul Nicholson. St. James Global has supported hundreds of discerning UK families in Portugal with cross-border estate planning and is widely recognised for its expertise in wealth management and UK pension considerations for those living in Portugal.

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Disclaimer

This webinar was provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, pension, or financial advice. The content reflects general principles and commentary at the time of recording and may not take into account subsequent legislative, regulatory, or tax changes in Portugal, the United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions.

Portugal Pathways does not provide regulated financial, tax, pension, or legal advice. Any references to tax treatments, pension structures, or planning opportunities are illustrative only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for personalised professional advice. Individual circumstances vary, and outcomes will depend on personal financial position, residency status, pension structure, and applicable laws.

Viewers are strongly encouraged to seek independent advice from appropriately qualified and regulated professionals before making any decisions relating to pensions, taxation, residency, or wealth planning.