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Considering tax emigration? Weigh up the advantages and disadvantages before deciding
Ceasing tax residency in South Africa is a big step to take. If tax emigration from South Africa is something you’re currently evaluating, there are a number of important things you need to know in order to make the best possible decision for your particular...
Amarula peppermint crisp tart
The small plum-sized Amarula fruit is well known for its boozy properties; just ask your nearest elephant! Humans and elephants (the ones that live in the wilds of Africa) both agree that this tasty deciduous fruit is the culprit of many a sore head the next day. For...
Beer-braised lamb shanks and mieliepap – South African style
If you’re on the lookout for authentic South African food, you’ve got to add lamb shanks to your list. Our South African beer-braised lamb shanks and mieliepap recipe is the perfect comfort food for gloomy winter days, but it’s a crowd-pleaser any day of the week in...
Can I still cash in my South African retirement annuity without “financially emigrating”?
Before tax law changes in 2021, South Africans who relocated abroad could cash in their retirement annuities once they’d formalised their emigration with the South African Reserve Bank. This formalisation changed the individual’s status from resident to non-resident...
Shining the light on South African designers
What comes to mind when you think of the world’s top designers? Paris fashion? New York catwalks? Fashionistas and design gurus of the century residing anywhere but in Africa, right? Well, think again! South African designers have been steadily climbing the ranks over...
What can South Africans living abroad do with their annuities?
If you’re a South African living overseas, it’s more than likely that your retirement annuity is one of the things you left behind when you relocated. You might now find yourself wondering what you can do with these savings - can you cash in your South African...
Mosbolletjies
Nothing reminds Saffas of home more than the smell of freshly baked mosbolletjies. The delectable aroma of freshly baked mosbolletjies infused with aniseed and topped with sweet castor sugar glaze is a favourite in every South African home. For Saffas living abroad,...
What will SARS do if I don’t want to tax emigrate right now?
South Africans earning abroad have been brought back into the tax net by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act of 2020. The effect of this legislative update is that South Africans working overseas can no longer enjoy full exemption on their foreign employment income and if...
Don’t let SARS be the last to know: when to notify the authorities of your tax status change
As a South African, even if you’re living and working overseas, you may still be considered a tax resident and liable to pay tax back home. This is because South Africa has a residence based system that means if you fall into the definition of ‘tax resident’, you’ll...
Exchange rate
The South African exchange rate tends to fluctuate quite quickly and has done so over the past year. From the economy to unemployment, and now Covid-19, the value of our currency often seems more on the proverbial dip than on the upward rise! It's no wonder that South...
South African beer
The British drink theirs warm, Americans drink theirs ice-cold, and South Africans prefer theirs chilled, thank you very much! What are we talking about? Beer! It’s a well-known fact that saffas love their beer! Picture the scene: The crowd roars on TV, and Oupa...
Klippies and Coke gammon
Wow! Three words all South Africans love in one sentence, Klippies, Coke, and gammon. Who would have thought that such a combination would be so lekker? But is cooking gammon in Coke a South African recipe? You had better believe it! Klippies and Coke The British have...
What’s the deal with South African citizenship, exchange control and tax residency now that the rules have changed?
If you haven’t already heard by now, formal emigration has been cancelled. Don’t panic, you don’t have to cancel any of your plans, this simply means that the concept of “emigration”, as recognised by the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve...
History of Santa Claus and South African Christmas traditions
Can you hear the magic jingle of Christmas in the air? That’s right, Christmas is coming, so haul out the tinsel, untangle the fairy lights and drown that Christmas pudding in lashings of brandy! There’s something about Christmas that allows the inner child in all of...
Money mules & money mule fraud in South Africa
Most South Africans are open to the idea of making a few extra bucks, whether it’s a side hustle, part-time job, or middle man. But have you ever been tempted to make a bit of extra cash as a money mule? As it turns out, money mules have been a real thing in South...
Boerewors recipe
Boerewors, boerie, wors, or braai wors are the names given to one of the most iconic sausages in South African history. This South African food has been on the top of the favourite list for many years. Rewind to the days on the plaas when Ouma would whip up a batch of...
Remembering Theuns Jordaan
The lyrics of Theuns Jordaan’s song Beautiful in Beaufort Wes echoing through our homes in sweet remembrance of a proudly South African singer songwriter is enough to bring chills to our spines. Theuns needs no introduction to the South African music community and the...
Tips on non-resident banking in South Africa
Thanks to digitisation, banking in South Africa is no longer the major hassle it used to be. Now, banking is fast, convenient and easily accessible - even for non-residents in South Africa. Where previously our exchange control differentiated between South African...
Springbok rugby coach – Jacques Nienaber
Enter the spotlight, Jacques Nienaber? Yes, that Jacques Nienaber! With the South African rugby team claiming all the glory in the match against New Zealand on the 2nd of October 2021, all eyes are on the new Springbok rugby coach; Jacques Nienaber. What makes this...
My Kitchen Rules South Africa
If you’re a couch cook, like many South Africans are, you’re probably already well engrossed in the excitement of My Kitchen Rules South Africa! My Kitchen Rules or MKR is an exhilarating culinary show where contestants compete against each other for the much-coveted...
Expat Money Matters: 2021 deadline for Single Discretionary Allowance & Foreign Investment Allowance is just around the corner!
When it comes to moving money out of South Africa, there are rules and limitations on when and how much you’re allowed to shift offshore. In terms of our exchange control regulations, South Africans have two avenues through which they can move their money abroad. The...
Chakalaka braaibroodjies
No matter where you reside on the globe, as a South African, your roots automatically search for traditional South African food that reminds you of home. It's a cultural thing, especially if that food incorporates our favourite method of cooking, the braai! As braai...
Offshore bank account options for South Africans still in South Africa
Whether you’re looking to relocate abroad or want your money off South African shores, the chances are that you’ve wondered at some point whether it’s possible to have a bank account overseas. Undoubtedly, your online investigations ended abruptly when you discovered...
Explained: Tax relief vs tax refunds in South Africa
As a South African living and working abroad, it’s a good idea to know exactly what your tax status is so that you can be clear on your tax obligations and rights back home. This is because changes made to tax law through the Taxation Law Amendment Act in 2020 mean...
The FinGlobal FYI: Cross-border financial services experts for South African expats
One of the most important aspects of emigration planning as a South African is choosing your cross-border financial services provider. Having financial interests in two countries can get tricky, especially when it comes to tax and exchange control compliance. There...
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