+34 951 127 210 Monday – Friday 9 AM – 5 PM CET

USA FlagNavigating U.S. Retirement Accounts
When Moving to FranceFrance Flag

Many Americans dream of retiring in France, drawn by its rich culture, world-class healthcare, scenic landscapes, and slower pace of life. But beyond the allure of croissants and countryside, there’s a practical side to retirement abroad: what happens to your U.S. retirement savings?

If you have a 401(k), IRA, 403(b), or other U.S.-based retirement plan, moving to France introduces a new layer of complexity. While there can be tax benefits, the interplay between French residency rules and the U.S. tax system means you’ll need to plan carefully to avoid double taxation.

Here’s a Quick Look at What You Need to Consider:

401(k) & 403(b) Plans

These plans lose their U.S. tax-deferred advantage in France. While withdrawals are generally not taxed under the U.S.–France tax treaty, they must still be declared and can affect your overall tax bracket.

Traditional IRAs

Distributions are typically not taxed in France under the treaty, but they must still be reported on your French tax return and may influence your total taxable income.

Roth IRAs

Roth IRAs are tax-free in the U.S., but France does not automatically recognise this status. Proper documentation is essential to ensure withdrawals are not taxed.

457(b), 401(a), SEP & SIMPLE IRAs

These accounts are generally treated as pension income in France. To benefit from favourable treatment, they must be properly structured and declared.

Why This Matters

Even when tax is not immediately due, incorrect reporting or assumptions can lead to unexpected liabilities. Understanding how each account is treated is key to protecting your retirement income.

Additional Considerations

U.S.–France Tax Treaty: While it generally allows pensions to be taxed only in your country of residence (France), the rules vary depending on the plan and how funds are withdrawn. Filing the right French and U.S. forms is essential to avoid being taxed twice.

Relocating to France doesn’t mean losing control over your retirement income. With proper documentation, strategic withdrawals, and professional advice, you can enjoy your French retirement while staying tax-efficient.

Our full guide breaks down each U.S. retirement plan and how it’s treated under French law—so you can retire abroad with confidence.

See What Our Clients Say

  • Hi,I would just like to say,SJB Global are a life saver and the person who helped me with my pension needs was Daniel Latimer..At first I was was a little... read more

    Adrian Churchill Avatar Adrian Churchill

    Down to earth financial advice, and fees that don't cost the earth.

    Peter Nutt Avatar Peter Nutt

    Thoroughly satisfied in the service, no hesitation in recommending Lewis and the team.

    Iain Powell Avatar Iain Powell
  • SJB Global have been my pension provider for a few years now. From switching over which was effortless to the array of products that they have access to is impressive.... read more

    Justin Woodmansee Avatar Justin Woodmansee

    My adviser was comprehensive and thorough in ensuring they fully understood my situation and my objectives. The solution provided gives a good return but also reduces the management costs notably... read more

    Glenn Vaughan Avatar Glenn Vaughan

    Very professional and trustworthy financial consultants. I have had many discussions and dealings with Alex Gover and have found him to be extremely helpful, honest and insightful.

    Chris Marsden Avatar Chris Marsden
  • I have been dealing with SJB since i retired 4 years ago and have had no issues with the service. The team are extremely helpful and have always looked... read more

    Andrew Thompson Avatar Andrew Thompson

    It is now been almost 18 months that I have been working with Matthew from SJB monitoring and advising on my pension policy. The support I am getting from Matthew... read more

    Iyad Hindawi Avatar Iyad Hindawi

    After having a bad experience worrying about an underperforming portfolio after moving my pension out of the UK (a QUROPS) I decided to make the changeover to it being... read more

    Mike Hatrick Avatar Mike Hatrick
  • It’s been a breath of fresh air dealing with Jake from SJB Global. My previous advisor had set up my portfolio badly with annual costs eating heavily into my profits.... read more

    Darren Nash Avatar Darren Nash

    Piers made my portfolio grow ad cut those toxic investments that otherwise would have gotten me into financial trouble. I'm very lucky to be a customer.

    Tatyana van 't Hof-Minayeva Avatar Tatyana van 't Hof-Minayeva

    I moved my investment portfolio to SJB Global earlier this year as I was not seeing any growth with my previous investment company. I have to say that from the... read more

    Paul Simms Avatar Paul Simms
  • SJB Global have been my pension provider for a few years now. From switching over which was effortless to the array of products that they have access to is impressive.... read more

    Justin Woodmansee Avatar Justin Woodmansee

    Alex Gover at SJB Global is a pleasure to work with. He is very professional, knowledgeable, and personable. I have no hesitation in recommending him and SJB Global. Alex advised... read more

    Dan Avatar Dan

    Since start of using SJB Global in 2018, I've restructured my pension and savings plans. Professional knowledge, experience and understanding of different available products has enabled me to make... read more

    Paul Austin Avatar Paul Austin
  • I have to say that working with Randal Stephens has been a sincere pleasure and in the large majority of cases a blessing. His competence, his attitude to help a... read more

    Alfonso Gentile Avatar Alfonso Gentile

    I have been a client of SJB Global for the past 3 years and, during that time, Matt Quinn has worked diligently to safeguard my portfolio, advising (but never pushing)... read more

    Rob Leach Avatar Rob Leach

    As first time clients of SJB global who have dealt solely with Mr Alex Gover from the moment of our initial approach to SJB and our subsequent investment. The... read more

    Roslyn Kelly Avatar Roslyn Kelly
  • We moved our financial advisor from UK to Ben Eccles at SJB Global and have been very impressed with the care and attention to detail that he provides. He... read more

    Juliette Slater Avatar Juliette Slater

    Following the decision to switch to SJB Global in 2020 Matthew Quinn has been there with professional advice, information and support every step of the way since. I would certainly recommend... read more

    ian killoh Avatar ian killoh

    Great experience so far with Ben, always keeps me up to date and informed and also great at explaining things clearly when the information gets a bit technical!

    kirk siddall Avatar kirk siddall
  • I have corresponded and spoken on the phone with Piers Kemp. His client service skills hit the top marks. He is professional, helpful, kind, polite, and knows what he is... read more

    Kristiina St.Croix Avatar Kristiina St.Croix

    I feel secure with SJB Global. Daniel treats us like family members in the way he deals with us and looks after our savings. He explains things very clearly and... read more

    Sharon Tett Avatar Sharon Tett

    I have found the support and advise offered by Daniel Lattimer to be very clear, concise and accurate. I can highly recommend him.

    Bogdan Bienkowski Avatar Bogdan Bienkowski
  • We have been extremely impressed with the professionalism and quality of SJB Global. Randal has been our contact throughout the process of setting up our arrangements and he has shown... read more

    Martin Kelsey Avatar Martin Kelsey

    Friendly and efficient. Sam was incredibly patient with me and spent a lot of time discussing my savings and pension objectives before making his recommendations.

    Sue Kaye Avatar Sue Kaye

    I feel very well looked after since I switched to support from Lewis at SJB Global. Receiving prompt attention as and when necessary is very important to me and I... read more

    Kevin Mace Avatar Kevin Mace
  • 2021 / 2022 have been turbulent years and I went in to the assessment expecting a very painful feedback on my portfolio. I am happy to say Ben Eccles managed... read more

    Adam Smith Avatar Adam Smith

    My adviser was comprehensive and thorough in ensuring they fully understood my situation and my objectives. The solution provided gives a good return but also reduces the management costs notably... read more

    Glenn Vaughan Avatar Glenn Vaughan

    Sound advice and guidance always from SJB Global. This professional outfit have a great perspective of the markets and I feel secure my investments are managed by these guys.

    Peter Lacken Avatar Peter Lacken
  • I have corresponded and spoken on the phone with Piers Kemp. His client service skills hit the top marks. He is professional, helpful, kind, polite, and knows what he is... read more

    Kristiina St.Croix Avatar Kristiina St.Croix
  • I've just completed the transfer of my UK pension to an international setup with SJB Global and Alex Gover as my Advisor. The process was made very clear by Alex... read more

    Andrew Taylor Avatar Andrew Taylor
  • Having spent over 24 years of my working life in the UK, I decided to retire back in my home country. But with the issue of having to transfer my... read more

    Didier Fernandez Avatar Didier Fernandez
  • great service

    John Kay Avatar John Kay
  • I've just completed the transfer of my UK pension to an international setup with SJB Global and Alex Gover as my Advisor. The process was made very clear by Alex... read more

    Andrew Taylor Avatar Andrew Taylor
  • I’ve dealt with Lewis over the past few months and he has been great help in transferring my pension across. He was always very professional and patient, ensuring I fully... read more

    tanya spelkova Avatar tanya spelkova
  • Excellent service Lewis was fantastic to deal with on all matters

    Steve Weston Avatar Steve Weston
  • Hi,I would just like to say,SJB Global are a life saver and the person who helped me with my pension needs was Daniel Latimer..At first I was was a little... read more

    Adrian Churchill Avatar Adrian Churchill
  • SJB Global have been my pension provider for a few years now. From switching over which was effortless to the array of products that they have access to is impressive.... read more

    Justin Woodmansee Avatar Justin Woodmansee
  • Worked with Robert Hoey who arranged my Pensions and Investments details in a patient professional manner. Robert has impressed me with his knowledge and understanding of my situation and my... read more

    Geoffrey Rea Avatar Geoffrey Rea

Ready to Get Started?

Managing your finances in two countries doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right advice, you can feel confident that you are compliant, tax-efficient, and well-prepared for the future.

What does the obligation free call include?

An initial 15-minute introduction call explaining our services and how we can help.

We go through a fact-finding exercise so we can then provide a full financial planning report including a personalised retirement forecast with future projections and work out how on track you are.

Lastly, we will provide a recommendation on any areas where we feel you could improve.

Who is SJB Global and meet your adviser

Our regulations, Independence and Fees

Our process from start to finish

Area we help with including:

UK Pension Advice

Retirement Planning

Investment Planning

Tax Planning

US Expat Services

International Estate Planning

Note: Minimum managed assets for SJB Global is £100,000 or currency equivalent.

Licensing & Regulations

Nexus Global specialises in providing a regulatory platform and compliance support to international financial advisers and intermediaries to enable them to meet regulatory requirements to provide their clients with a professional service. The financial advisers trading under SJB Global are members of Nexus Global. Nexus Global is a division of Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited (BFMI). All approved members of Nexus Global are appointed representatives of BFMI. BFMI is licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) and bound by the rules under licence number 3647: http://www.fsc.gi/regulated-entity/blacktower-financial-management-international-limited-3647.

Contact Us