Expat Tax SA exists because South African tax law is confusing enough when you live in the country. Once you move abroad, it gets worse. SARS doesn’t make it easy to figure out what you owe, what you can claim, or whether you even need to file at all. Most of the information out there is written by tax firms trying to sell you something, buried in legal jargon, or just plain wrong.
We wanted to fix that.
What This Site Does
We publish free, plain-English guides about the tax side of leaving South Africa. Every article is written for someone who has zero background in tax law. If you just moved to London, Dubai, or Sydney and you have no idea what SARS expects from you, this is where you start.
Our guides cover things like whether you still need to file a tax return, how the R1.25 million foreign income exemption works, what happens to your retirement fund when you leave, how exit tax is calculated, and how double taxation agreements protect you from being taxed twice on the same income.
Everything is based on current South African tax legislation, SARS publications, and the Income Tax Act. We update our content when the law changes so you’re never reading something outdated.
Who This Site Is For
If any of these sound like you, you’re in the right place.
You left South Africa a while ago and never told SARS. You’re not sure if you’re still a tax resident. You want to access your retirement annuity from overseas. You’re planning to leave and want to sort out the tax side before you go. You moved to a country with no income tax and assumed that means you’re in the clear. You got a letter from SARS and have no idea what to do with it.
What This Site Does Not Do
We do not provide personalised tax advice. We do not prepare tax returns, represent you before SARS, or act as tax practitioners. The guides on this site are general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for professional advice. Your situation is unique and the rules that apply to you depend on your specific circumstances.
If you need help with your actual tax return or a formal cessation of residency, we strongly recommend working with a qualified South African tax professional who understands cross-border taxation.