Expat Insights
Get news and useful articles for South Africans worldwide on our blog.
Cashing in your SA retirement annuity after tax emigration – how long must you wait now?
It’s a question that’s top of mind for most South Africans who have relocated abroad permanently: Once I’ve ceased tax residency in SA, how long before I can cash in my retirement annuity? Whether that relocation was recent or took place some time ago, it’s a question...
Butternut Soup
As you search the internet for the perfect butternut soup recipe, has it ever crossed your mind where this delicious squash originates from? Chances are, you believe the humble butternut is traditional South African food, and many Saffas would agree with you! After...
South African shops abroad
Taking the plunge into the unknown and landing on foreign shores is sure to be an exciting time, but then reality strikes; how will you survive without your regular South African treats and comforts? How will you make it through a weekend of sport and good times with...
Tax Residency 101: Do I have to pay tax in SA if I work abroad?
If you’ve moved abroad for work in the last twelve months, or you’re considering your career options overseas, there are some tax implications that you need to be aware of. This is because South Africa has a residence-based tax system, which means that individuals who...
Rice Krispie treats
Rice Krispies, or Rice Bubbles to the Aussies and New Zealanders, is a breakfast cereal made from rice and sugar paste. Cooked, dried, and toasted to perfection, this delicious cereal is a favourite amongst South Africans and fellow Rice Krispie connoisseurs...
Can you cash in your South African living annuity?
As a South African planning for retirement, you’ve been diligently stashing cash into a pension, provident, preservation or retirement annuity fund for most of your working life. Buying a living annuity marks the transition from saving towards retirement to drawing...
How does the foreign income exemption work for South Africans earning abroad?
As more South Africans are taking off around the world in search of new career opportunities or different ways of living, it is becoming increasingly important for us to have conversations around the practical implications of these moves. As exciting as international...
Five important things to know about Double Tax Agreements
Before 2020, South African tax residents could claim total exemption on their worldwide income, provided that they met the necessary legislative requirements. Today, South African tax residents can only claim tax exemption on the first R1.25 million earned abroad,...
Loaded pizza – Saffa style
South African food usually conjures up visions of bobotie, biltong and boerewors, and that’s just for starters. However, few people attribute a loaded pizza dripping with cheese as the food you would expect to find in sunny South Africa. They couldn’t be more wrong....
Emigration after retirement: Can you still cash in your Retirement Annuity?
While age is usually just a number and has little to do with how you feel or live your life, when it comes to emigrating abroad and cashing in your retirement annuity, age is everything. Here’s what you need to know about relocating overseas, your age, and your...
Deceased estates – the FYI on claiming your inheritance in SA when you live abroad
Claiming your inheritance in South Africa as an expat living abroad used to be complicated due to the restrictive nature of our exchange control regulations. This is no longer the case. It’s now much simpler, and more straightforward to get your hands on your...
Valentine’s picnic
For many, it is hard to believe that we are already in the second month of the year, February! Haven't we only just emerged from the fog of Christmas shopping and overindulging in delicious treats? That said, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and if you’re not ready...
Don’t leave your RA in SA – how inflation eats away at your retirement income
For many South Africans, inflation isn’t something they think about often beyond hearing it mentioned occasionally on the news. However, the impact of inflation on our financial lives is something that we should be paying more attention to - especially when it comes...
Chicken braai
The warm summery weather in sunny South Africa means that the South African braai season is well underway. This means that many of us on this side of the equator are enjoying long sultry evenings around the braai, feasting on succulent treats cooked over the coals...
Online schooling South Africa
While the pandemic rages, life goes on – or does it? The virus has impacted schoolgoers worldwide, and it’s safe to say that education during the pandemic, especially in the first year, took a severe knock. Now, online schooling is changing all of that, and the best...