Nick G

Many thanks, Gary. Only reason for the first Q was because I fear we loose out more from the higher tax rate, if we take the amount as a lump sum. But you are right, it is not a huge difference. Starling don't make it very easy to contact them, so I will assume that "temporarily" suspended means permanently, and will go with Wise which looks like it is straightforward to use. Thanks again for all your insights!

I have read the comments on this forum with interest (and many thanks to Gary C for being so helpful). Am writing with several Qs, because my wife reaches retirement age next year and when we lived in Germany between 1991 and 2011, she built up points in the state pension system and also made payments to the Pensionskasse Rundfunk (PFK). We now live back in the UK: 1. If she chooses to take a Kapitalzahlung in place of the monthly pension from the PFK, will she have to pay German income tax on this? It amounts to ca €21,000 so if she gets no benefit from Grundfreibetrag, this could be quite a chunk lost in tax. 2. On the state pension, we will clearly have to pay tax on this, but don't have a German bank account (we closed our Commerzbank account because of the high monthly fees). If anyone reads this and is currently paying the RiA in Euros from the UK to pay their taxes, can you recommend the best bank to use to avoid stupid fees and/or penal exchange rates? Starling used to offer € accounts but are no longer doing so, and HSBC seems unreliable. Any comments from any UK residents gratefully received.