The National Treasury has for now abandoned its highly contested proposal to remove the tax exemption for foreign pensions applied to South African tax residents. This follows a robust public participation process where several role players warned of the unintended consequences of scrapping the tax exemption by 1 March 2026. During a virtual meeting of…
With the 2025 tax submission season now behind us, many South Africans living abroad may believe their tax obligations are settled for the year. However, for expatriates whose records at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) still reflect them as South African tax residents, the work may not be over just yet. Lovemore Ndlovu Head…
The proposed removal of the tax exemption on foreign retirement funds for South African tax residents could have far-reaching negative consequences, including deterring wealthy foreigners and expatriates from choosing South Africa as a retirement destination, discouraging return migration, and scare off global investors from starting businesses in South Africa. This was the central message by…
“In terms of the Tax Administration Act, the accused is obliged to submit tax returns for assessment by a specific return date. The accused failed to submit 4 Personal Income Tax returns. Now, therefore the accused is guilty on 4 counts of failure to submit a Personal Income Tax return.” Mbalenhle Mahlaba Expatriate Tax Specialist…
Many South Africans living abroad do not realise that outdated contact information such as old mobile numbers or inactive email addresses on the South African Revenue Service (SARS) system, can block access to their eFiling profile, often with serious consequences. Alex Mahundla SARS Compliance Specialist Without access, you risk missing submission deadlines, critical login One-Time…
According to the 2025 Henley Private Wealth Migration Report, South Africa is projected to lose approximately 250 dollar-millionaires this year alone. Despite this continued outward migration of high-income individuals, the number of taxpayers formally ceasing tax residency with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to protect their worldwide income from local taxation, appears to be…
With the 2025 annual tax filing season deadline fast approaching, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has quickly tightened its verification processes for taxpayers requesting to update their tax residency status to that of non-resident on a more urgent basis than they would have liked. John-Paul Fraser Team Lead: Cross-Border Taxation Bronwyn Jacob Process Specialist:…
As South Africans seek new lives and opportunities abroad, many remain unaware that their tax obligations at home will continue to follow them until they formally cut tax ties with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Ceasing to be a South African tax resident with SARS is a critical step for expatriates who do not…
For many taxpayers, especially expatriates, managing South African tax obligations from a distance can be complicated. Years may pass without any direct interaction with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and key details like contact information, banking details, and tax number status often become outdated. These issues should not be left by the wayside. It…
South Africans who have worked abroad and accumulated foreign retirement funds, or foreign nationals who become South African tax residents, need to urgently be aware that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) now wants taxing rights on their foreign retirement funds. This proposed amendment is set to come into effect on 1 March 2026. Retirement…
