Latest South African Emigration News & Tax Insights

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National Treasury Withdraws Controversial Proposal to Remove Tax Exemption on Foreign Pensions, Opts for Broader Consultation

05/11/2025

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...

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Tax Season May Be Over, But South African Expatriates’ SARS Work Might Not Be

04/11/2025

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...

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Parliament Heard: Foreign Pensions Tax Could Deter Wealthy Retirees, Returning Expatriates and Investment

28/10/2025

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...

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Hidden Danger of Under-Declaring Income: Why Expats May Be More at Risk Without Knowing It

27/10/2025

“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...

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Outdated SARS Security Details Could Lock South African Expatriates Out of the System

20/10/2025

Many South Africans living abroad do not realise that outdated contact information such as old mobile numbers or inactive email addresses on the South African Revenue Service (SARS) system, can block access to their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...

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Think You’re Safe Abroad? SARS Says Otherwise

30/09/2025

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...

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SA Non-Tax Residency - The Rush Must Not Foreshadow Precision

11/09/2025

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:...

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Moving abroad may also require the right tax move at home

09/09/2025

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...

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Knowing Your SARS Status Matters: Here is Why a Tax Diagnostic Report is Essential

03/09/2025

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...

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SARS Coming After Foreign Retirement Funds

18/08/2025

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...

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SARS Latest Notice to Non-Resident Taxpayers: Here is What You Need to Know

31/07/2025

On 28 July 2025 the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued another notice specifically aimed at South Africans abroad concerning their tax residency status. It deals with how an individual who is a non-resident taxpayer on the SARS system, should complete their tax return this filing season. While SARS announced enhancements to this year’s ITR12...

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The When, How and Why for Expatriates Considering Leaving the South African Tax Net

24/07/2025

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is not beating around the bush with sharpening its focus on South African expatriate taxpayers as part of efforts to curb non-compliance that contributes to billions in lost tax revenue annually. Recent enhancements to SARS’ systems and record-keeping around tax residency status, send a clear message to South Africans...

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LATEST NEWS

National Treasury Withdraws Controversial Proposal to Remove Tax Exemption on Foreign Pensions, Opts for Broader Consultation

Tax Season May Be Over, But South African Expatriates’ SARS Work Might Not Be

Parliament Heard: Foreign Pensions Tax Could Deter Wealthy Retirees, Returning Expatriates and Investment

Hidden Danger of Under-Declaring Income: Why Expats May Be More at Risk Without Knowing It

Outdated SARS Security Details Could Lock South African Expatriates Out of the System

Think You’re Safe Abroad? SARS Says Otherwise

SA Non-Tax Residency - The Rush Must Not Foreshadow Precision

Moving abroad may also require the right tax move at home

Knowing Your SARS Status Matters: Here is Why a Tax Diagnostic Report is Essential

SARS Coming After Foreign Retirement Funds

SARS Latest Notice to Non-Resident Taxpayers: Here is What You Need to Know

The When, How and Why for Expatriates Considering Leaving the South African Tax Net

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