31/01/2023tax , Tax Issues , Taxation
Being a resident of the UK when you come from another country has become increasingly common. If you’re considering this move, it’s essential to understand the income tax implications and related liabilities in advance. Settling in the UK as a foreign national involves adapting to new financial and legal responsibilities, particularly regarding tax. This guide is designed to give you a clear understanding of the current (2025) tax obligations for new residents in the UK, including how income tax works, the rules around foreign income, the double taxation agreement, and how your residency status affects what you owe. Need help with VAT Registration? Understanding VAT rules can be tricky — but registering for VAT doesn’t have to be. Let our experts handle it for you. Register for VAT with CruseBurke. Income Tax Rules for Non-UK Nationals When individuals move to the UK from another country, understanding how income tax applies can be challenging. Under UK tax rules, any individual—regardless of their nationality—is required to pay income tax if their total income exceeds the personal allowance, which remains £12,570 in 2025. This includes income from: Employment Self-employment Pension income Savings interest Rental income Dividends (with different tax rates and allowances) Your tax rate depends on how much you earn beyond the personal allowance, following the UK’s tiered tax bands. Why Do You Have to Pay Tax If You’ve Just Moved? If you’re newly moved to the UK, your residency status determines what income you must report and pay tax on. You are considered a UK resident for tax purposes if you meet any of the following: You’ve spent 183 days or more in the UK in a single tax year You have a home in the UK and have lived there for at least 30 days during the tax year You work full-time in the UK for a continuous 365-day period If you qualify as a UK resident, you’re generally taxed on your worldwide income. If you do not qualify as a UK resident (i.e., you’re a non-resident), you’ll only pay UK tax on UK-sourced income. What About the Remittance Basis? If you’re not domiciled in the UK, you may be eligible to use the remittance basis of taxation. This means you’ll only be taxed on foreign income and gains if they are brought into (remitted to) the UK. However, be aware: You lose your personal allowance and capital gains tax exemption when claiming the remittance basis. If you’ve been UK resident for more than 7 out of the last 9 tax years, you may need to pay the Remittance Basis Charge (RBC), which starts at £30,000. Seeking professional advice is highly recommended when considering the remittance basis. How Can a Double Taxation Agreement Help? The UK has Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) with many countries. These agreements prevent individuals from paying tax on the same income in two countries. A DTA may: Exempt you from paying UK tax on certain foreign income Allow you to claim a foreign tax credit for taxes already paid abroad Your eligibility will depend on the specific treaty between the UK and your home country and the source and type of income. Split-Year Treatment If you move to the UK partway through the tax year, you may qualify for split-year treatment, where only the UK portion of the year is taxed on worldwide income. This helps avoid being taxed in the UK for the entire year when you were only resident for part of it. The Bottom Line Now that you have gathered a fair amount of information about the lowdown on income tax, we can bring the discussion towards wrapping up. It is imperative to have a basic awareness of the income tax low down when you are in the scenario of being a new resident of the UK. Otherwise, you will have to deal with the tax liabilities in your native country as well as the UK in the future. So keep conscious awareness about the lowdown on income tax for your own benefit. Disclaimer: The general information provided in this blog about low down on income tax includes text and graphics. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice in the future as well.
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