SOUTH AFRICANS IN THE UK: NOW IS THE TIME TO CUT TIES WITH SARS — HERE'S WHY

By ACS Plus – Your Trusted Tax Emigration Partner

If you're a South African currently living in the UK, a seismic shift in tax law is on the horizon—and it's one you can't afford to ignore.

From April 2025, the UK is overhauling its approach to taxing non-domiciled residents. For years, South Africans in the UK have relied on the UK’s remittance basis to legally sidestep UK tax on foreign income and gains—provided those funds weren’t brought into the UK. That era is drawing to a close.

The New UK Tax Landscape: What’s Changing?

Starting April 2025, the UK will scrap the remittance basis for long-term residents and implement a simpler (but broader) tax regime:

• Worldwide income and gains will become taxable in the UK after just four years of UK residency.

• The "foreign income exclusion" (a grace period with tax breaks) will only apply to new arrivals—not those who have already settled.

• UK tax authorities are expanding their focus, increasing scrutiny of offshore earnings, foreign trusts, and undeclared income.

For South Africans who haven’t formally ceased tax residency with SARS, this could lead to double taxation, greater administrative burdens, and higher risks of audit—both from SARS and HMRC.

Why Ceasing SA Tax Residency Is Now Critical

If you're still considered a tax resident in South Africa—even if you haven’t lived there in years—SARS legally expects you to declare and possibly pay tax on your worldwide income, even if you're also being taxed in the UK.

This dual-residency status could lead to:

• Unnecessary taxes paid to SARS on income already taxed in the UK

• Exchange control restrictions on moving funds

• Complex compliance obligations you may not even be aware of

• Increased audit exposure under international agreements (like the Common Reporting Standard)

The good news? You can officially cease tax residency in South Africa—but it needs to be done correctly, through a process with SARS.

That’s where ACS Plus comes in.

How ACS Plus Can Help

At ACS Plus, we specialise in tax emigration services for South Africans abroad, particularly those living in the UK. Our team of seasoned professionals navigates the bureaucratic process with SARS on your behalf, ensuring a legally sound and tax-efficient exit.

We handle:

• Formal application to cease tax residency with SARS

• Completion of supporting documentation (e.g., financial disclosures, reasons for ceasing residency)

• Negotiation and response to SARS queries

• Tax clearance and emigration status confirmation

By working with ACS Plus, you protect your finances, minimise your global tax burden, and gain clarity on your international status.

Time Is Running Out

With the UK's sweeping changes taking effect in April 2025, South Africans have a limited window to tidy up their tax affairs. If you’ve been delaying formalising your non-resident status with SARS, now is the time to act.

Avoid double taxation. Reclaim control over your global finances. And ensure you're on the right side of both South African and UK law.

Ready to take the next step?

Contact ACS Plus today for a free initial consultation. Let’s make your tax residency status as mobile as you are.

Visit www.acsplus.co.za

Email: fred@acsplus.co.za

ACS Plus – The Tax Emigration Experts You Can Trust