FinGlobal

17/10/2026

Living abroad doesn’t automatically end your South ALiving abroad doesn’t automatically end your South A tax residency.

Even if you’ve been overseas for years, SARS may still regard you as a South African tax resident depending on your circumstances and your remaining ties to South Africa.

SARS uses two main tests when determining tax residency:

✓ The ordinary residence test
✓ The physical presence test

And if you remain a South African tax resident, you may still be taxed on worldwide income, including foreign employment income, offshore rental income, overseas investments and capital gains on global assets.

Find out how SARS determines your tax residency:

South Africa's residence-based tax system means tax residents may be taxed on worldwide income, no matter where it's earned.

16/10/2026

Leaving South Africa and planning to sell your property? Timing matters.

Selling your home before or after ceasing South African tax residency can affect your capital gains tax exposure, access to the primary residence exclusion and the process of moving your money offshore.

From 1 March 2026, the primary residence exclusion increased from R2 million to R3 million, making the timing of your property sale an important part of your wider emigration planning.

If you sell after becoming a non-resident, additional SARS processes and withholding tax rules may also apply.

When you sell property in South Africa for more than you originally paid for it, the profit may be subject to capital gains tax.

16/10/2026

Leaving the South African tax net? Your citizenship stays intact.

Ceasing South African tax residency and giving up your South African citizenship are two very different things.

If you’re living abroad, understanding the difference can help you make informed decisions about your tax affairs, passport and future plans.

Watch to learn what happens when you cease South African tax residency.

14/10/2026

Moving from South Africa comes with endless admin.

Flights. Visas. Bank accounts. Shipping boxes.

But one date could matter years after you’ve unpacked: the date SARS records you as a tax non-resident.

If you later want to withdraw the full value of your retirement annuity or preservation fund, your insurer will need evidence that you’ve been a non-resident for three continuous years.
SARS must also have updated your status before issuing the required tax directive.

Keep your supporting documents safe and make sure your tax status reflects what actually happened.

Future you will be glad you did.

Save this post for your moving checklist, or share it with someone preparing to leave South Africa.

12/10/2026

Working in Dubai and still a South African tax resident?

SARS taxes your worldwide income until you formally cease your tax residency. The foreign employment income exemption shields the first R1.25 million of your salary each tax year if you meet the days requirements. Anything above that is taxed in South Africa at normal rates, and because Dubai charges no income tax, you have no foreign tax credit to offset it.

Our new guide explains how to cease tax residency, how to notify SARS through your RAV01, and what to expect as a non-resident.

Moving to Dubai? Discover the three ways to cease South African tax residency and what it means for your tax obligations.

09/10/2026

You’ve left South Africa permanently, but what happens to your pension fund?

The answer depends on the type of fund you hold, the three-year non-residency rule, the two-pot retirement system, and potential tax implications.

Before making any decisions, understand your options.

Your South African pension stays in South Africa when you emigrate. Learn when you can access it and how the three-year rule works.

09/10/2026

Sold your property in South Africa?

The next question is often: How do I move the money overseas?

The process depends on whether you're still a South African tax resident or have already ceased tax residency.

In this video, we explain:
- The transfer limits available to tax residents
- The 7.5% withholding tax that may apply to non-residents
- Why you may need an AIT PIN from SARS
- How to transfer your property sale proceeds abroad

Watch now to understand the key rules before you move your money offshore.

07/10/2026

Planning to tax emigrate from South Africa? Every step counts from your cessation date, the day you cease to be a South African tax resident.

Our step-by-step timeline covers what to do before you leave, how exit tax and the split tax year work, how to declare your cessation to SARS, how to move money once you are a non-resident, and when your retirement annuity becomes available.

Read the guide:

Tax emigrating from South Africa? See the timeline from planning and exit tax to your SARS declaration, AIT transfers and RA withdrawal.

05/10/2026

Thinking about tax emigration and concerned about your South African citizenship?

Ceasing tax residency changes how SARS taxes you. Your citizenship and South African passport stay in place, because citizenship is governed by a separate law and managed by Home Affairs.

As a non-resident citizen, you still need to enter and leave South Africa on a valid South African passport, so keep it up to date for trips home.

Read the full article below:

Tax emigration is a SARS process, and citizenship is a Home Affairs matter. Learn why ceasing tax residency leaves your SA citizenship intact.

04/10/2026

Can you access your South African retirement funds after ceasing tax residency?

For one South African expat, the answer was yes.

In this case study, we unpack her journey, the steps she followed, and what other South Africans abroad should know about accessing retirement savings after ceasing South African tax residency.

Thinking about your own retirement funds? FinGlobal can help you understand your options with a free, no-obligation assessment.

A South African expat in the Netherlands accessed her retirement funds after SARS confirmed her tax residency had ceased.