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DTA FAQs: Answering All Your Questions

Double taxation agreements (DTAs) are a familiar phrase to South African expats working and living abroad. However, for those who remain unsure, a DTA is an internationally recognised contract entered into between South Africa (SA) and another country, which regulates who holds taxing rights. As the name suggests, DTAs are aimed at the avoidance of...
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SARS Still Has Its Eye on SA Expats

South African expatriates who work and live abroad are cautioned to ensure their tax affairs are up to date, to avoid falling foul of SARS’ drive for full tax compliance. This is especially the case now that SARS has drastically turned its wheel to ensure the collection of all taxes due and payable. Delano Abdoll...
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“Exit Tax”: Detrimental or Desirable; What You Need to Know

When pursuing international career growth, and offshore employment, be aware that moving your person, without the requisite paperwork, will have you scoring bonuses in Belgium, but still subject to SARS in South Africa. In order to ensure optimal taxation, South Africans abroad must make use of either the Double Tax Agreement or Financial Emigration process...
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Demystifying Double Taxation Agreements: What South African Expatriates Need To Know

With the Covid-19 pandemic largely in the rear-view mirror, tens of thousands of South Africans are seizing lucrative employment opportunities abroad. At the same time, many of these expatriates are unaware that their hard-earned income is at risk of being taxed twice. Delano Abdoll Legal Manager: Cross-Border Taxation Richan Schwellnus Tax Associate On the one...
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Flying Towards A Tax Saving_Double Tax Agreement Or Financial Emigration

Having visited over 12 international locations in 2022, and engaging with South African expatriates, we can attest to a recent report issued by the United Nations which found that around 900 000 South Africans are already living and working overseas – and indeed, this may well be an understatement. Delano Abdoll Admitted Attorney Richan Schwellnus...
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South Africans In Guernsey, Jersey And The Isle Of Man Are Low-Hanging Fruit For SARS

South African expatriates living in Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man are under grave threat from the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This is according to Thomas Lobban, Legal Manager, Cross-Border Taxation at Tax Consulting South Africa, who recently presented sold-out seminars on each of the isles to build awareness of this danger. "None...
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Ceasing SA Tax Residency In Countries That Don’t Offer Permanent Residence

To be released from their local tax obligations in relation to foreign income, emigrating South Africans must be able to prove to SARS that they have permanently left the country. But how can they do so if they are moving to a country, like the UAE in general, where long-term residence (for immigration purposes) is...
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Leaving South Africa – Planning Your Fiscal ‘Exit Strategy’

Tax Consulting South Africa, South Africa’s largest independent tax practice, returned this week from the Netherlands after hosting tax and immigration planning sessions with recently emigrated South Africans. One thing that became clear during the presentations, is that despite the soft-landing opportunities provided in the Netherlands and other locations, there has not been enough focus...
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The Devil Is In The Details: Tax Treaty Residency And The Spectre Of Potential Audit

Jonathan Oppenheimer, the South African billionaire businessman and son of former De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer, has recently seen a victory in the UK tax court in relation to his tax residency status under the South Africa / UK double tax agreement (DTA). Thomas Lo bban Legal Manager Cross-Border Taxation The UK tax authority, HMRC,...
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Tax Non-Residency Letter – What To Do When SARS Rejects Your Application?

The obtaining of a SARS Non-Resident Confirmation Letter is a key part of the tax roadmap for many of our clients. This is where SARS formally confirms that you are non-resident for tax purposes. They run a system and check to make sure that they relinquish their world-wide taxing right, as this is not something...