04/08/2026
If you live abroad, there may be many appealing reasons to return to the UK for your later years. But the emotional pull – such as wanting to be closer to family or return to a familiar place – should be balanced against the costs of returning home. You will need to weigh up the relative cost of living in the UK and your overall financial position, including the tax rules that apply to returning expats.
If your retirement plans involve sunshine and sandals, moving back to the UK is unlikely to be at the top of your bucket list. But for many, the UK does offer significant advantages. These include the National Health Service, which may be especially valuable to older expats.
Meanwhile, UK savers and investors also benefit from strong consumer protection laws and transparent financial regulation.
And indeed, many people have already been persuaded. In the 2025/26 tax year, 143,000 UK British nationals returned to the UK. Of this group, 12,000 were over-65s, according to the Office for National Statistics1.
If you are considering moving back to the UK, considering a number of different aspects and how they compare in different countries could help clarify your decision.
Read more: https://www.citywealthmanagement.co.uk/coming-home-to-retire-tax-implications-for-returning-expacts
