What are the main benefits of transferring a UK pension scheme?

• Potential mitigation of NZ tax liability on receipt of overseas funds, be that by transfer or withdrawal of benefits.
• Retirement benefits payable from NZ schemes are treated as exempt income with no tax payable in NZ.
• Death benefits payable from NZ schemes are made 100% free of NZ income tax – payments from a UK scheme are not after age 75.
• Potentially larger lump sums can be paid without deduction of tax from NZ schemes compared to UK schemes.
  

• Some NZ schemes can hold funds in various currencies, thereby allowing currency exchange rate risk to be mitigated, whereas most UK schemes have no such facilities.
• Transfers to a SIPP can potentially allow up to 100% of the UK funds to be withdrawn without a UK or NZ tax liability.