Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I'm just wondering as I'm prone to do these days, about those who complain so bitterly about the UK government and democracy yet don't actually live in the UK. May I enquire how vociferous you are about the TRNC government, would you be as comfortable about expressing your views on this forum for example, in the same manner as you are about UK politicians and do you have a vote in the elections for those that govern the TRNC?

Hector, I don't think we're allowed to complain in TRNC, at least not in writing. Soner might come on an explain. Not exactly free speech is it? Vote!!!! Not a hope.

Hector. Yes we vote.

I do not complain about democracy. I do not vote here as I am not allowed to at this time. That is due to numerous changes in regulations that, over the years, have been made in an effort to prevent the "watering down" of the local population and to keep Cyprus for Cypriots - quite rightly so! However, this has kept me from being either a Permanent Resident or a Citizen, therefore I feel I have no right to complain - publicly - about anything the TRNC Government puts in place, I am a Temporary Resident and happy to be here.

I may, from time to time, voice my opinion of actions taken by the TRNC Government that I feel are either unjust or just plain stupid, but I only do that in the same manner as my Cypriot friends in the coffee shops do - lol. In common with all users of the coffee shop, I am the best informed person in the World who always has the perfect answer to any problem if only I could get somebody to listen to me!

Although I do not trust the Governments of any country because I do not trust any politician - that is a personal opinion - I believe that the TRNC is doing the best that it can under the pressures that are imposed upon it by other countries who simply listen to one side of any problem.

As a UK citizen, living in a Foreign Country but still paying income tax in the UK, without being able to access any of the things I am paying Income Tax for, I am disgusted with the way the UK Government is attempting to run it's country. As a registered voter in the UK I maintain the right to complain in anyway, provided I stay within the multiple and ever changing laws of that country.

Sorry karmel, I just forgot that there are voters here, but strangely enough if I ask the question the reply is usually "No I don't vote, they are all the same".

Has the TRNC Constitution been amended to deny long-term residents naturalisation or have extra-constitutional decisions been taken? i.e. Have rights of abode and citizenship been superseded deliberately and wilfully by ministerial complicity in actions designed to deny naturalisation in accordance with the constitution?

Waddo instead about moaning about paying tax, if you are a non resident then get a accountant who will fill in your tax form properly so you will receive a full rebate of paid taxes, as a non resident you are do not have to pay UK tax, being in the TRNC

What no taxes.........don't think so!! Our taxes from pensions etc are deducted at source and we have no way of avoiding them (or so I'm told) We'd all be doing it if we could. If you know better jimm, please let us know. Thanks.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad

Overview

You usually have to pay tax on your UK income even if you’re not a UK resident. Income includes things like:

pension
rental income
savings interest
wages

If you’re eligible for a Personal Allowance you pay Income Tax on your income above that amount. Otherwise, you pay tax on all your income.

The country where you live might tax you on your UK income. If it has a ‘double-taxation agreement’ with the UK, you can claim tax relief in the UK to avoid being taxed twice.

You do not normally pay tax when you sell an asset, apart from on UK property or land.

When tax is not due or is already deducted
Non-residents do not usually pay UK tax on:

the State Pension
interest from UK government securities (‘gilts’)

If you live abroad and are employed in the UK, your tax is calculated automatically on the days you work in the UK.

Income Tax is no longer automatically taken from interest on savings and investments.

Jimm, I am not moaning about paying tax, I am unhappy with a system that applies “Stealth Taxes” and then prevents the taxed person from benefiting in anyway from the taxes collected. It is not taxation, it is simple legalised theft. Like a lot of people I have a tax allowance of £12500 per year, as a elderly person I receive a State Pension the amount of which is deducted from my tax allowance. That allows the Goverment to loudly proclaim that the State Pension is tax free, they can say tax free quite correctly but fail to also say that once eligible for and having applied for the State Pension your personal tax allowance will be reduced by the same amount. If you can find me an accountant that can prevent that happening I would be happy to discuss that with them - good luck with that as a starter!

Now, having had my personal allowance reduced by around £7500 down to around £5000 you can let me know how my UK Millitary Pension can become tax free as well - yet to find any ex millitary pensioner who does not pay tax on their pension but again - good luck.
Finally, I wish you and your “Accountant” the best of luck in finding a way for me to avoid paying tax on my Civil Service pension, that would also be nice to see.

As you will be well aware, all Government pensions are taxed at source, unless you opt to pay your country of residence income tax instead, due to your country of residence having a double taxation agreement with the UK. The RoC has such an agreement (expires in 2024) and many expats benefit from it. However, even though Turkey also has such an agreement, we in the TRNC live in a country that is unrecognised by the World (apart from Turkey) and no such agreement exists.

So there you have it, the UK Government - one of the three guarantor powers for Cyprus, who therefore do know that the TRNC exists - taxes all my income at source, reduces my personal allowance first, refuses to acknowledge that I live in a country they say does not exist, sends me a letter to my PO Box address in the TRNC every three years, so that I can confirm I am still alive, will still charge me an overseas visitor fee should I ever again (fat chance of that happening) attempt to make use of the NHS and even has the unmitigated gall to charge me a fee should I wish to ask a question of the British High Commision - whom I may add is not only paid by my taxes but also lives in a property purchased and funded by the same taxes that I and many others pay!

Having expended 42 years of my life in the service of the Crown and then having exercised my rights to live wherever I chose, I remain chained to the UK tax system by a pure accident of birth. So why should I moan? Send me the name of an accountant that can solve this minor problem I appear to have - please!

Or, just have a good day out there and stay safe.

To keep this thread on track, I wish I could vote - in local elections only - but currently I am not allowed to, times will change I feel, the country is still young!

Waddo I worked overseas for 40 years and if you are non resident then you do not have to pay UK taxes unless there is a reciprocal agreement with the UK government, I have an accountant who specialised in this and have paid no tax on my earnings as I followed the Uk tax rules for overseas workers and non residents

Jimm, different circumstances I am afraid. If I had spent 42 years working overseas instead of working for the Govt overseas then I would stand a chance but as it stands they have me coming and going and there is no way out of it - legalised theft wins the day here.

Sadly, the UK Govt sees you as a UK tax cow in the military no matter where in the world you live and the Civil Service does the same in most cases. It sucks but life is good anyway. They get away with all sorts of things and nobody really complains, if they do then they can raise a question (which is generally studiously ignored) in Parliament but it gets nowhere - as the WASP'Y women have begun to realise as well, my wife being one of them! Missed out on a year of pension by 6 months after serving the Crown herself for over 35 years.

In my life I have discovered one thing that holds true no matter where in the World you are - don't trust the UK Government - lol.

Thanks for the info but sadly it don't apply. Have a good and safe day.

I applied to the tax office, the response was that if my income ( pension) is generated in the UK then I pay tax in the UK.

Similar situation in most EU countries. If you pay taxes in the country you reside then these can normally be offset. Maybe it would be an idea for TRNC to tax income now, especially since they have given you temporary residence..you could then offset your UK taxes against these...but be careful what you wish for!

... you could then offset your UK taxes against these...but be careful what you wish for!

No you couldn't! —They don't recognise the bloody place!

Isn't it strange, there are still people who live here permanently or are swallows, who don't seem to be able to understand what it means to live in an unrecognized country. And as for explaining to people back in Britland or holidays makers, well I've given up the ghost on the subject.

Sophie, I find it easier to repeat what our local Muhtar said to me the first time we met - Welcome to the worlds biggest open prison! That gets the point across!

Waddo, the first time I met our then Muhtar he said to me "we must go for a walk into the mountains". It was months before it was explained to me what it meant.!!

Oooooh!!

Can't read into it....totally lost me. Anyway, let's get back onto topic.