Many South African expatriates have unknowingly missed out on paying lower taxes in South Africa for years while living abroad, due to confusing or misguided advice that they must reside outside the country for a number of years before officially ceasing tax residency in South Africa. John-Paul Fraser Team Lead: Cross Border Taxation A South…
A misunderstanding of certain sections in the Income Tax Act has many South Africans who moved abroad and ceased tax residency, worried that they will also be liable to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the withdrawal of their retirement funds, in addition to the tax levied as per SARS’ Tax Tables. Mbalenhle Mahlaba Expatriate…
The ever-present talk of imposing a wealth tax on South Africans as a source of revenue has resurfaced after National Treasury’s plan to collect an additional R58 billion mainly from higher VAT in the 2025/26 financial year, was stopped in its tracks with the postponement of the National Budget. Business Day quoted “senior officials aligned…
The initial disbelief and shock on the postponement of the 2025 Budget Speech may have made way for cooler heads and the hope that more deliberations will deliver better budget outcomes for vulnerable citizens and a platform for economic growth, but many South Africans are questioning whether now is the right time to move their…
The unexpected postponement of the 2025 Budget Speech is causing endless speculation as well as heightened unease and uncertainty among business owners, investors as well as South African taxpayers about what the immediate future holds. Maybe even more so for South African expatriates who have moved abroad and those considering relocating to another country, as…
South Africans are among a growing number of global expatriates in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who are forced to return home due to strict local employment targets. Commonly known as Saudization and Emiratisation , these policies aim to increase and ensure more jobs are filled by Saudi and UAE nationals. Mbalenhle…
Be it the call of South Africa’s pleasant weather, a desire to raise a family close to parents, or retiring to the high-life, many thousands of South African expats elect to return home every year. No matter the reasons for repatriation, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) wants to know the finer details of when…
With almost 1 million South Africans who have moved abroad to start a new life overseas in the last two decades, it is clear emigration is top of mind for many. According to the latest available data, more than 120,000 South Africans left between 2015 and 2020 to relocate to a new country, but leaving…
An unsuspecting taxpayer recently faced a dilemma when he had to do international fund transfers, but found SARS had cancelled his Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN approval, a critical component for taxpayers who need to transfer funds internationally or engage in other cross-border transactions. Lovemore Ndlovu Head of SARB Engagement and Expatriate Compliance Without a…
