About Expat Compass

Plain-English money tools for people who live, work and retire abroad — built to help you ask better questions and avoid expensive mistakes.

Why this exists

Moving abroad turns simple money questions into complicated ones. Are you still a UK tax resident? Will you get a full State Pension? Is that “free pension review” actually going to cost you a fortune in hidden fees?

Expat Compass brings the answers together in one calm, jargon-free place. The free tools give you instant, useful estimates. Save your details once and every calculator remembers them.

A word on pension “advisers”

There is a well-documented industry of offshore sales operations that target expats with unsolicited “reviews”, then move pensions into high-fee products that quietly drain retirement savings. We won’t name names, but we will give you the tools and questions to spot a bad deal yourself — starting with our Pension Fee Impact calculator.

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Always check an adviser is on the FCA Register and read FCA ScamSmart before moving any pension.

The important bit: this is guidance, not advice

Expat Compass provides general information and estimates only. It uses published UK rules for the 2025/26 tax year (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) and makes simplifying assumptions. It is not regulated financial, tax or legal advice, and you should not make decisions based on it alone.

Everyone’s situation is different — especially across borders, where domicile, double-taxation treaties and local rules all matter. Please speak to an FCA-authorised adviser or a qualified cross-border tax professional about your own circumstances.

Helpful official resources

Disclaimer. Expat Compass and its calculators are provided “as is” for general guidance. We make no warranty as to accuracy or completeness and accept no liability for decisions made in reliance on the tools. Tax rules change frequently. Always verify with official sources and a qualified professional. Expat Compass is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of HMRC, GOV.UK or the UK government; we simply use a familiar, accessible visual style.