South Africans have always been keen to work and live abroad, and this trend looks set to strengthen as the country’s political and economic fortunes remain precarious.
A recent study shows that even with the rise of digital working, 59% of South Africans (56% of young people and 61% of highly educated people) are willing to relocate. But, says
Thomas Lobban, Legal Manager for Cross-Border Taxation at Tax Consulting South Africa, working abroad creates a host of potential tax challenges for which a strategy must be developed.
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“Most taxation challenges related to the expatriate life can be satisfactorily resolved but the right steps need to be taken from the beginning,” he says. “It’s never too early to speak to a tax consultant who understands the intricacies of expatriate taxation—it may be too late if you leave things to filing season.”