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US citizens in the UK · Institutions

Which Standard Life accounts accept US citizens

Last checked

Standard Life offers a pension to a US person.

If you already have an account with Standard Life, a second one there is usually the easier application, because Standard Life has already checked who you are. Each account below carries its verdict, the evidence behind it and the date it was checked.

At a glance

Account Verdict Last checked
SIPPs Opens

SIPPs

Compare with other providers
Opens

One test, and it is residence rather than citizenship: you are eligible if you live in the UK. Standard Life is an insurer, so everything inside is a pooled insured fund and there is no direct-share option without moving to its adviser-sold SIPP.

FSCS 100% of policy value if Standard Life fails, £85,000 if an external manager does · app and web

Account Terms The catch
Personal Pension
Annual fee
0.55% a year for the ready-made option
Dealing fee
None, it is a managed portfolio
Can hold
A ready-made managed fund, or self-select from over 50 funds. All pooled insured funds, no direct shares.
 From £1. No exit fee and no charge to switch, withdraw or transfer in.
Stakeholder Pension
Annual fee
0.80% to 1.00% a year, capped at 1.00%
Dealing fee
None, it is a managed portfolio
Can hold
Three lifestyle profiles, or up to 12 funds from a list of over 50. Pooled insured funds only.
 From £16 a month. Discounts of 0.10% to 0.20% once the pot passes £25,000.

Source: Standard Life plan terms, 2026-08-17 Last checked Standard Life's own page

Account names link to the provider's own site. momo has no active affiliate partnerships; if that changes it will be disclosed and will never change a verdict. Every institution, A to Z.

Confirm your own position with a cross-border specialist. Acceptance policies and tax rules change, and your facts may differ from the general case. Rates and terms here are the provider's published figures rather than an offer, and the provider decides each application on its own criteria. Use this as a map, not a ruling. Last checked .
Tax

SIPP US tax

The treaty generally lets a UK SIPP grow tax-deferred for US purposes, but the protection has limits. How the US treats contributions, growth and drawdown.

 Tax

US-UK tax treaty

The US-UK treaty stops most double taxation, but the saving clause lets the US tax its citizens almost as if it were not there. What survives the clause.

 Tax

Form 3520

A UK pension held in trust can be a foreign trust to the IRS. Rev. Proc. 2020-17 exempts qualifying retirement trusts from Forms 3520 and 3520-A, on conditions.