Latest South African Emigration News & Tax Insights

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Tax Residency Certificates: The Contentious Debate Amongst Expat Tax Advisors

19/01/2022

For years the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) has been trying to amend legislation to affect the way that expatriates are taxed on their foreign earnings. Their relentless pursuit for tax compliance often directs them towards individuals who are not disclosing all their earnings. Recently SARS began requesting audits of those working offshore with more...

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The ‘Silent’ Changes Affecting South Africans Who Are Emigrating

18/01/2022

The transition from the old emigration regime to the current regime - ceasing of tax residency, came with some relief. However, there were some silent changes that went unnoticed. The most notable change has been the requirement of a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS PIN) for every capital transfer a Non-Resident/Non-Tax Resident makes to offshore....

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Are You Ready For A Financial Emigration?

13/01/2022

Those who were keeping their options open during 2021, should have a firmer grasp about their future in 2022. Many South Africans toying with the idea of emigration, will be ready to take the next step towards moving their lives to another country. But are you ready for a financial emigration? Here are some points...

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SARS’ New Letters of Non-Residency – Hidden Teeth

13/12/2021

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has recently started issuing letters to taxpayers working abroad, confirming their change in status to non-residents for tax purposes. This is a somewhat peculiar development for expatriates who have previously ceased their tax residency, as they are now requiring an additional step to objectively support their non-residency as issued...

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Bad Advice Can Fuel Expat Misconceptions

07/12/2021

Widespread misconceptions about South African expatriate tax legislation can land taxpayers in hot water with SARS, often resulting from inaccurate information from either tax practitioners or SARS personnel. Nikolas Skafidas Tax Diagnostic Specialist Alex Mahundla Tax Diagnostic Specialist The 3 most common misconceptions expats fall victim to 1. Tax returns: The majority of expatriates declare...

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SARS Is Now Issuing Letters Confirming Non-Residency – What Does This Mean For Expats?

06/12/2021

One of the challenges faced by taxpayers who have left South Africa and ceased their South African tax residency has been obtaining objective confirmation of the fact. Ordinarily, this dilemma would require a taxpayer to maintain a preponderance of objective evidence to demonstrate the fact that they are non-resident, and this evidence would generally include...

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Expatriate Tax: A Definitive Textbook That Unpacks The Complexities Of Expatriate Taxes

24/11/2021

The number of South African taxpayers working abroad have increased systematically over the last two decades, as did the number of expatriates planning to formalize their emigration. Finding themselves in multiple tax jurisdictions for prolonged periods, expats are either exposed to excessive taxation or they neglect their taxes altogether. The equation is complicated by the...

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The Expat Spouse: Unable To Work While Their Partners Work Abroad

19/11/2021

Expat spouses are likely to accompany their partners when they relocate for work. However, their hopes of also getting work are often dashed because their spousal visas prohibit them from working in that country. They soon find themselves pinned down in a foreign country while their careers are placed on hold. Spouses or life partners...

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SARS’ Tax Law Blunder Gives Expats A Quick Breather

15/11/2021

Following deliberation with members of the public, National Treasury recently released its official response to the Parliamentary submissions on their proposed Draft Tax Bills. Among other things, Treasury noted that they would withdraw a controversial amendment that would have been problematic for South African expatriates contemplating emigration. In July 2021, the Draft Tax Law Amendment...

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Government Withdraws Proposal To Impose Exit Tax On Retirement Interests

11/11/2021

Expatriates and those with plans to emigrate will be relieved to learn that the proposal to impose an exit tax on retirement interests will be withdrawn. In presenting their Draft Response Document on the 2021 Draft Tax Bills, National Treasury and SARS confirmed that the proposal will not be included in final Taxation Laws Amendment...

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SARS And National Treasury Have Gone Quiet On Expats. What's Brewing?

09/11/2021

National Treasury’s latest published Draft Tax Bills incorporated the contentious additional “exit tax”, which proposed to tax retirement fund interests of individuals when they cease South African tax residency. Various expatriates and stakeholders opposed the draft law bill during Virtual Parliamentary sessions in August this year. However, we have not heard anything back from Treasury,...

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Zero Hour: Expat Tax Returns Due This Filing Season

08/11/2021

The past two years have been a journey into unchartered waters for all, and a particularly tense time as far as South African expatriates are concerned. For many expats, more and more questions have been left unanswered as this filing season, and the tax filing period draws to a close on 23 November. One thing,...

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LATEST NEWS

Tax Residency Certificates: The Contentious Debate Amongst Expat Tax Advisors

The ‘Silent’ Changes Affecting South Africans Who Are Emigrating

Are You Ready For A Financial Emigration?

SARS’ New Letters of Non-Residency – Hidden Teeth

Bad Advice Can Fuel Expat Misconceptions

SARS Is Now Issuing Letters Confirming Non-Residency – What Does This Mean For Expats?

Expatriate Tax: A Definitive Textbook That Unpacks The Complexities Of Expatriate Taxes

The Expat Spouse: Unable To Work While Their Partners Work Abroad

SARS’ Tax Law Blunder Gives Expats A Quick Breather

Government Withdraws Proposal To Impose Exit Tax On Retirement Interests

SARS And National Treasury Have Gone Quiet On Expats. What's Brewing?

Zero Hour: Expat Tax Returns Due This Filing Season

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