Navigating Tax Residency: A Guide for South African Expats
For South Africans who have ceased their tax residency, unlocking one’s retirement savings becomes a nuanced journey filled with complexity and uncertainty.
Further Changes to the Approval for International Transfer Process
On 24 April 2023, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) released new enhancements to the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) process, with immediate effect. The changes made by SARS mainly concerned the approvals required by individuals when transferring funds out of South Africa. Now, SARS has made further changes – but what are these changes, and […]
Do my retirement funds come with me when I leave South Africa?
For those looking to move from South Africa, a burning question often remains: what happens to their hard-earned retirement funds? How, and when, will they be able to withdraw their retirement interests in South Africa; and of course, where will these be taxed?
The 3 year lock up rule misconception – What South Africans abroad need to know
Expatriates are often under the impression that they need to wait three years before they can formalise their non-residency status. This can be due to various reasons such as misunderstanding the legislative amendments, advisors wanting to monetize on the withdrawal of these retirement funds and the subsequent remittance offshore or lack of professional guidance.
From Departure To Encashment: The Two-pot Retirement System
The much anticipated two-pot retirement system, introduced as a “knight in shining armour” for South Africans, has received a new implementation date of March 2024. Expats are cautioned to pay attention to the effects that this will have on the encashment of their retirement savings.
Demystifying the Cease Tax Residency Process – Back to Basics
South African expatriates are often faced with a challenging decision – whether or not to cease their tax residency in South Africa (SA). However, this process has evolved drastically over the last few years, causing confusion for expatriates and tax professionals alike. Many remain unaware of what ceasing their tax residency in SA means and […]
Decoding Expat Tax
Expatriate tax is complex, intricate and can be challenging to understand – especially if one does not have the basics, such as what is an expat, down pat.
Splitting the Difference: New Rules for Taxpayers Ceasing Tax Residency
On 31 July 2023, National Treasury published the new draft tax law amendment bills for public comment. The public can submit their comments on the proposed amendments until the close of business on 31 August 2023. Whilst a number of the proposed amendments will not impact the average taxpayer, expatriates – specifically those who have […]
Shades of Grey: SARS Clearances and Greylisting
The greylisting of South Africa by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), due to concerns about the country’s anti-money laundering efforts, has had significant consequences for individuals and businesses operating within South Africa. One of the key impacts of greylisting is the increased scrutiny of cross-border financial transactions, particularly with the remittance of funds out […]
“Exit Tax”: Detrimental or Desirable; What You Need to Know
When pursuing international career growth, and offshore employment, be aware that moving your person, without the requisite paperwork, will have you scoring bonuses in Belgium, but still subject to SARS in South Africa. In order to ensure optimal taxation, South Africans abroad must make use of either the Double Tax Agreement or Financial Emigration process […]
In the News
“SARS + AI” vs “Your South African Tax”04/09/2024 - 11:11
Tax Residence Certificates for SA Expats: SARS’ way or the highway03/22/2024 - 10:05
Unveiling the Surge: The Reason for the Recent Influx of South Africans to the Netherlands03/07/2024 - 09:24
Tax Planning for Repatriation: A Non-Resident’s Toolkit to Returning Home02/14/2024 - 08:46
A Letter to the Taxman: Breaking Tax Ties02/08/2024 - 12:57