Comprehensive guide now available to address expat tax - inbound

17 October 2019 00:00

Where a foreign expatriate takes up employment in South Africa, the resultant tax consequences can be very complex and demand a deeper understanding of South African and international tax.

An apt illustration of this is the September 2019 Supreme Court of Appeal judgment of BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd v SARS¹, where the employer of inbound expatriates incurred additional taxes for failing to correctly declare its PAYE liability¹.

“With increasing scrutiny of internationally mobile individuals by revenue authorities across the globe, it is essential for these individuals to fully understand their South African tax obligations. Many employers and their advisors are tax aggressive or simply lack the understanding of the principles which govern international mobility, unwittingly getting their tax planning wrong. The results cut both ways, with SARS correctly having expatriates very high on its audit agenda. However, at the same time, there are many expatriates and their employers who are pay too much in taxes, not making full use of available tax planning rules and relief, both under South African and international tax law”, says Jerry Botha, Managing Partner of Tax Consulting South Africa.

The newly released title, Expatriate Tax: South African Citizens Working Abroad and Foreigners in South Africa unpacks the resultant tax consequences of individuals or international employees with interests in multiple jurisdictions.

The first of its kind in South Africa, the title addresses the complexities of expatriate taxes from a South African perspective in a manner that speaks to the tax specialist, as well as to the concerned taxpayer.   Expatriate Tax provides a comprehensive, technical and practical guide to South African tax and deals with aspects of international mobility, including work visa strategies, citizenship, retirement funding, international remuneration, international share schemes, and exchange control considerations.

Judge DM Davis, perhaps the most esteemed tax expert on the Bench and now Judge President of the Competition Appeal Court, says “In summary, this is a carefully considered book which not only deals with all the various tax implications of immigration/emigration but even has space for a useful chapter on work permits. It is a most welcome addition to our body of tax literature and will doubtless be essential reading for anyone advising his or her client with regard to the tax consequences of migration.”

Expatriate Tax: South African Citizens Working Abroad and Foreigners in South Africa will be invaluable to international taxpayers, expatriates, specialist tax advisors, tax managers, financial planners, SARS and National Treasury officials, tax lecturers and scholars of tax, human resource professionals, finance executives and managers, remuneration and reward specialists, payroll experts, attorneys, chartered accountants and tax practitioners.

Expatriate Tax: South African Citizens Working Abroad and Foreigners in South Africa will be available from mid-October 2019 in Print format (9780639005195) for R747.50 including VAT and excluding delivery, eBook format (9780639005201) for R747.50 including VAT. To purchase, click here visit the LexisNexis online bookstore.