UK Budget Moves May Turn the UK into a Harder Spot for French Workers and Investors
Headline Takeaway: The new tax tweaks announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves are likely to make the UK feel a little less welcoming for French professionals and investors. Here’s what that means for everyday folks crossing the Channel.
Tax Relief Gets a Rough Cut
- Reduced Rate: French staff who shuttle between the UK and France can now only claim 30% of their qualifying earnings under the new tax relief rules.
- Upper Limit Triggers: If that relief exceeds £300,000/year, the UK’s Overseas Workdays Relief (OWR) kicks in, slashing the amount even further.
- Bottom line: The tax bite for those “working across borders” will grow significantly.
Bigger Immigration Complications Post‑Brexit
- Time‑Limitation Rules: European staff now have to juggle either short stays or secure a proper visa if they plan to spend more time working in the UK.
- ETA Requirements: Starting next year, French visitors who wish to work in the UK must also meet the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme—another administrative hurdle.
Who’s Really Feeling the Pinch?
Vanesha Kistoo, the head of the firm’s French Desk, notes a shift in the profile of cross‑border workers. While remote meetings are still a viable option, expats who must spend over 30% of their workweek in the UK now face steeper tax caps.
A Call to the UK Government
“If the UK wants to spark growth and plug the financial ‘black hole,’
the government ought to invite European talent back instead of piling up heavier taxes and bureaucratic burdens,” Vanesha stresses.
Bottom Line – Less Europe, More Complexity
With tax reliefs shrinking, visa obligations tightening, and a new ETA step added to the travel itinerary, the UK looks less like a playground and more like a parking lot for French professionals—if it’s not that much more expensive.
