They were indeed, I was classed as “not ordinarily resident” so got it paid in tax free.
A few of us clubbed together and bought a place in Spain so we took off there to fulfil our quota of time deemed necessary to maintain that status. From poor memory I think I was allowed 30 days in uk per calendar year.
Consequently we spent many years overseas untaxed and it didn’t bother me one iota.
Unlike when we returned to uk with family Bupa, fully expensed company car etc I ended up paying tax on unearned income now that was a little peeving after the previous experience.
Great days and loved enjoying many varied countries and cultures and the money was handy but not the driver, it was the challenge always of the work.
I didn't mind paying my income tax out of my salary each month, as I just saved the salary, then at the end of the tax year getting a lump sum tax rebate plus interest (tax free), the lump sums allowed you more flexibility, paid off my mortgage with it one year.
Used to be problematic paying for hotels etc abroad before Maggie was kind enough to remove all exchange control limits. It used to be pretty restrictive only allowed £750 a year plus £50 a day for business trips, having the sterling amount taken out noted in your passport etc.
My expenses were reimbursed from the US, so my bank used to keep the $ cheques and feed then through as my exchange allowance allowed during course the year which often lead to delays in them being cashed. I remember one year I spent some time in Monaco and my hotel expenses were enormous, which lead to the reimbursement cheques taking longer to clear thru the exchange allowance, got so bad at one point I had to send some cheques back to the US for reissue as they ceased to be a payable instrument six months after the date of them being drawn, ,it was taking so long for me to avail of the exchange allowance over time during to my heightened spending abroad during that stay in Monaco.
Whilst it was great times abroad, I only started travelling abroad because there was no local work in the UK It was tough in the Uk back then, the sick man of Europe.
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