The latest Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) list published by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) sees18 new pensions and a reopened financial centre.
Barbados has regained QROPS status with one pension – the country was last seen on the list on June 1, 2015 with two schemes.
Overall, 25 QROPS were added to the list, while seven were removed.
In details, the figures are:
- Australia (+15 pensions)
- Austria (+1)
- Barbados (+1)
- Canada (-7)
- France (+1)
- Guernsey (+2)
- Ireland (+1)
- Isle of Man (+1)
- Jersey (+1)
- Netherlands (+1)
- South Africa (+1)
This leaves 901 QROPS available across 41 financial jurisdictions.
Australia was the big winner with 15 new QROPS opening – after only having one in July 2015 after more than 1650 Australian schemes were delisted for breaching the pension age test.
The pension age test stops any QROPS from paying benefits to anyone under 55 years old and was introduced in April 2015.
The Isle of Man with 199 pensions is the financial centre with the most QROPS. Guernsey is second with 133.
The next QROPS List is due from HMRC on December 15, 2015
View the latest itemised list of schemes here
QROPS List By Financial Jurisdiction
| Financial centre | No of QROPS |
|---|---|
| Australia | 31 |
| Austria | 7 |
| Barbados | 1 |
| Belgium | 14 |
| Bulgaria | 2 |
| Canada | 64 |
| Czech Republic | 2 |
| Denmark | 4 |
| European Union | 1 |
| France | 10 |
| Germany | 29 |
| Gibraltar | 44 |
| Greece | 1 |
| Guernsey | 133 |
| Hong Kong | 5 |
| Hungary | 1 |
| Iceland | 1 |
| India | 8 |
| Ireland | 82 |
| Isle of Man | 199 |
| Italy | 19 |
| Jamaica | 1 |
| Jersey | 82 |
| Kenya | 1 |
| Kosovo | 1 |
| Latvia | 3 |
| Liechtenstein | 3 |
| Luxembourg | 4 |
| Malta | 23 |
| Mauritius | 1 |
| Netherlands | 58 |
| New Zealand | 31 |
| Norway | 5 |
| Portugal | 4 |
| South Africa | 12 |
| Spain | 3 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 |
| Sweden | 6 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| Turkey | 1 |
| United States of America | 2 |
| Total | 901 |
Source: HMRC
