South Africans Abroad: Know your Tax Affairs

Incorrect information and advice from tax practitioners, or in some cases South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials, has resulted in the misunderstanding of complex South African expatriate tax legislation, which has landed many South African in deep water with SARS.

South Africans are emigrating abroad in record high numbers

According to experts operating within the field of emigration, South Africans are expected to break emigration records in 2018. Speaking to 702 Talk Radio, the manager at Financial Emigration, Jonty Leon, discussed the sharp spike in the number of South Africans looking to relocate abroad.

What is CRS and why should I care?

What is CRS and why should I care? Jurisdictions that have agreed to and signed the recently implemented “Common Reporting Standard” (CRS) are obligated to obtain pertinent financial information from their financial institutions and automatically exchange this with other jurisdictions on an annual basis. Put simply, if you are living in a jurisdiction that has […]

SARS Update – “Ordinarily Resident” – South Africans abroad, do you pass the test?

The term “ordinarily resident” is not defined in South African legislation but has been interpreted by South African courts for almost a century when dealing with tax law matters. The South African Revenue Service (“SARS”), in 2002, released an Interpretation Note (“IN3”) that assisted taxpayers in understanding the term, and which considered case law as […]

Deceased Estates – Inheritance planning for South Africans Abroad

A death of a family member is never a topic that is likely to be discussed nor a discussion that is wanted however a reality that one needs to prepare for in future. Preparing for such events is key for a smooth transition in the closure and pay-out of deceased estates and inheritances.

South African Expats – Is your South African Passport at Risk

There appears a remarkable amount of misinformation flying about between South African expatriates abroad on when you can legally lose your South African passport. Is there any truth in that as a South African living and working abroad, you cease South African citizenship and must hand in your South African passport?

What’s best? Financial Emigration VS Double Taxation Agreement

There is so much misinformation flying around the South African expatriate community at the moment. Service providers perpetuate this using scare tactics and promoting what will benefit them and their bottom line over what is best for expats at large.

South Africans Abroad: Tax Requirements

The new expatriate tax law comes into effect 1 March 2020. However, many South Africans abroad believe that the law has not been legally amended and will thus not affect them. This belief is unfortunately incorrect, as the law change has been fully enacted. We have provided a concise breakdown of the tax law above […]

South African Expats Abroad: Understanding the Tax Law

South African expatriates need not only understand the new expatriate tax law but also act on it or face dire tax consequences come 1 March 2020.

South African Expats – Hiding from SARS could lead to a criminal record without you even knowing

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has stepped up their mission to reduce a massive tax deficit, by initiating a campaign with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute non-compliant taxpayers who have failed to submit returns. This was announced in the media release dated 16 April 2018, indicating various court cases covering multiple parts […]