Returning to South Africa? SARS is Waiting for Expats Coming Home

Be it the call of South Africa’s pleasant weather, a desire to raise a family close to parents, or retiring to the high-life, many thousands of South African expats elect to return home every year. No matter the reasons for repatriation, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) wants to know the finer details of when and why.

Many South African expats who emigrated in the past, were unaware that simply boarding a plane does not automatically absolve them from tax obligations in South Africa, even after decades abroad. Upon their return, an unwelcome surprise in the form of SARS tax queries may welcome them home.

Whether or not the formal financial emigration procedures were historically followed by returning expats, they need to prepare themselves for SARS to query their historic departure and consequent return home. Compliant repatriation necessitates a thorough and thoughtful residency recommencement process be utilised.

SARS Repatriation Queries

In recent months various socio-economic and migration indicators have suggested an uptick in the trend of South African expats returning home, with SARS also taking notice. Many of these expats are finding themselves the subject of questions regarding their repatriation from the revenue authority.

Read more on our "Returning to South Africa? SARS is Waiting for Expats Coming Home" article.