UK Association of Physician Assistants, Ltd

34 George Street
Woburn, Bedfordshire
MK 17 9PY
United Kingdom

Promoting the Physician Assistant Profession in the United Kingdom since 2005

Living and working in the United Kingdom

This page last updated on 29 January, 2008 8:19

This Page is Still Under Construction and will be updated often until completed

Banking

Opening Account--Opening a bank account isn't like at home--you don't just walk into the bank and say I want to open an account. You make an application for an account. It is best to initially only open the account in the name of the employee, then add the spouse or significant other at a later time. The process can be somewhat drawn out and confusing, and you will need to know many of the details from your place of employment, including salary. I would suggest that you have your employer work with one of the local banks ahead of time, which could expedite the application process

One of the things we still find strange is what happens when we go into the bank. When they look at our account, and see that the checking balance is over a certain amount, they politely tell us that they think there is too much money in the account. They have been known to bring the branch manager out to talk to us about the account. They recommend an on-line savings account, so that money can be transferred immediately. They pay the best interest rates on these accounts, as well.

Credit Cards--Your American credit cards will work over here, but will be subject to a service fee from your stateside bank/credit union. Make sure they know you will be processing the card in Europe--some folks have been known to have their credit card stopped by the bank because of the sudden change in spending habit. While this is done to protect you, it can be frustrating when your card has been turned off. It will take some time to get a £ credit card, as it will take some time to establish credit here.

ATM fees--most ATM machines over here don't charge for their use, which is a pleasant surprise. Your home bank may charge at their end, as well as adding a transaction fee for making the transfer from dollars to pounds sterling. If you wish to avoid extra charges on withdrawals, avoid the private ATM that are most often located in shops or pubs and utilize the cash machines of banks or building societies.

Housing

Temporary: Hotels are quite pricey. Try looking for a corporate rental apartment, if your organization doesn't provide up front temporary housing.

Permanent: Unlike in the US, you can't usually go to a single agent. Each place up for rent or sale is advertised by a single estate agent. To view a place, you must go to that estate agent. Plan on spending time with 6-7 estate agents before you find the right place. Important note: Tell the agent you are looking for a place suitable for a professional person. These words will move you to a higher level of respect from the agent(s) as well as direct you to the places in better neighborhoods

Driving

The point of this information is to provide clarification on what is required for driving in the UK. Apparently there is some confusion among our members and other American PA's as to what is needed. One may drive on a valid US driving license as long as one has a valid international driving permit for up to 12 months. When an individual who is resident in the UK for a period longer than one year, UK law is very clear that one must then get a UK driving license. It makes no difference that one is insured, has an international driving permit or elsewise when one is resident in the UK. If you are an American PA working in the UK, you are a resident and these rules apply to you.

After being resident in the UK for 6 months, one may apply for a provisional license. Between then and 12 months residency, one must take and pass the theory test as well as a practical test. After 12 months, it is illegal to drive in the UK without a valid UK driving license. This is true regardless of whether one has gotten another international driving permit or not as after one years residency, it is no longer valid for use by a UK resident. There are severe penalties possible (including monetary fines, jail time and possible revocation of your work permit) for not following the law in this matter.

From the DVLA website:

If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.

However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.

I would invite all to visit the DVLA site to see what the rules are for getting a driving license in the UK.

Please feel free to send an inquiry to drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk if you have any questions about driving in the UK as a resident.

Tax overpayment refunds from employment starting after the beginning of the tax year

If you worked in the UK for less than the tax year, you can reclaim a portion of the tax withheld from your pay. You can write to your local tax office with a cover letter explaining that you only relocated to the UK later in the tax year and started employment on the date applicable. Include any relevant documents about your earnings during the tax year for which you're claiming, such as:

payslips
P60, P45
information about your employment and benefit history

The tax office will look into your query, work out how much they owe you and send you a refund in the post or by bank transfer. You can claim back overpaid taxes for up to a maximum of six years previous to the current tax year.

Tax overpayment refunds when leaving the UK before then end of the tax year

If you go to live or work abroad and become non-resident in the UK, you might still have to pay UK tax - but only on your income from the UK. If you do need to pay, you may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.

When are you non-resident for UK tax?

You'll be treated as non-resident from the day after you leave the UK if you can show:

you left the UK to go abroad permanently or your absence and full-time work abroad lasts at least the whole tax year
your visits to the UK are less than 183 days in a tax year and average less than 91 days a tax year over a maximum of four consecutive years

The same applies to your spouse, civil partner or partner.

Residence, ordinary residence and domicile - more detailed definitions from HMRC (opens new window)

Contacting your Tax Office when you leave the UK

If you're leaving the UK you must tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Your Tax Office will give you form P85 to get any tax refund you're owed and work out if you'll become non-resident. If you still need to complete a tax return after you leave they'll let you know.

If you worked in the UK and left prior to the end of the tax year, you can reclaim a portion of the tax withheld from your pay.