Archive Website of the UK government

When are you non-resident for UK Income Tax?

You'll be treated as non-resident from the day after you leave the UK if you can show:

• you left the UK to go abroad permanently or your absence and full-time work abroad lasts at least the whole tax year
• your visits to the UK are less than 183 days in a tax year and average less than 91 days a tax year over a maximum of four consecutive years

The same applies to your spouse, civil partner or partner.

• Download 'Residence, Domicile and Remittance Basis' (PDF, 559K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Contacting HM Revenue & Customs when you leave the UK

If you have left or are about to leave the UK you must tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

If you're not required to fill in a tax return, you'll have to complete form P85 Leaving the UK - getting your tax right. HMRC will use the information on the form to send you any tax refund you're owed and work out if you'll become non-resident. It's important you enclose parts 2 and 3 of form P45 if you have one as HMRC will not be able to make any tax refund due without them. You'll need to send the original versions - photocopies won't be accepted.

If you're leaving the UK to work full-time abroad for a UK based employer for at least a complete tax year, you'll need to fill in a tax return as well as a form P85.

• Download form P85 Leaving the UK - getting your tax right Opens new window

• Do you need to complete a tax return?

Income from overseas employment

If you become non-resident, you won't pay UK tax on your income from working overseas.

Working partly in UK

If you're non-resident but work partly in the UK, you'll pay UK tax on the part of your earnings allocated to that work. You usually allocate your earnings by looking at the number of days you work in the UK and the number of days you work abroad.

Special rules for certain employees

There are special rules for:

• Crown employees
• seafarers
• oil and gas workers
• entertainers and sports people
• students

Check with HMRC if you're one of these.

• Special rules for Crown employees Opens new window

• Contact HMRC Opens new window

Tax on UK pensions

If you're non-resident, you'll pay UK tax on your UK pensions - including your State Pension. You may not pay UK tax if the country you live in has a 'double taxation' agreement with the UK.

• Learn more about pensions and double taxation agreements Opens new window

• Countries with double taxation agreements with the UK Opens new window

Tax on UK government service and local authority pensions

Wherever you live, you'll usually pay UK tax on a government service or local authority pension. But if you live in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or Cyprus you'll pay tax on it there.

• Tax on UK government service pensions when you move abroad Opens new window

Tax on UK bank and building society interest

If you're non-resident, the only UK tax you'll usually pay is the tax deducted before you get the interest.

If you're also 'not ordinarily resident' (you normally live outside the UK), you can get your interest without tax deducted by giving form R105 to your bank or building society.

In either case, if tax has been deducted from interest, you might be able to claim a refund against UK tax allowances using form R43.

• Tax allowances for non-UK residents Opens new window

• Download form R105 - Application for a not ordinary resident saver to receive interest without tax taken off Opens new window

• Download form R43 to claim a refund of tax Opens new window

Tax on UK investment income (except rental income)

If you're non-resident, UK tax is still due on your other UK investment income. However, if the country you live in has a double taxation agreement with the UK you may be able to get relief or exemption. But you can never reclaim or reduce the ten per cent tax credit on dividends from UK companies.

• Countries with double taxation agreements with the UK Opens new window

Tax on UK rental income

UK tax is due on your income from rental property.

If you're non-resident and you get rent from UK property paid directly to you, your tenant must deduct UK tax at the basic rate - currently 20 per cent. If you use a letting agent, they'll deduct the tax from the 'net rent' -after any allowable expenses they've paid.

You can apply to have the rent paid to you without tax deducted if you don't think you'll have to pay any UK tax, or if your tax affairs are up to date. But you'll still need to declare the rent on a Self Assessment tax return if HMRC sends you one.

If the country you live in has a double taxation agreement with the UK you may be able to get relief there for UK tax paid.

• Self Assessment: the basics

• Non-resident landlord scheme Opens new window

UK tax on overseas income

If you're non-resident and get overseas income, no UK tax is due. But if it's paid or collected by a UK agent - like a bank - they normally deduct tax at source. You'll need to complete form PA1 or CA1 - available from your agent - to prevent this.

If you're normally taxed on income brought into the UK - remittance basis

In the tax year when you leave the UK you'll pay UK tax on the smaller of:

• what you brought into the UK before you left
• the same proportion of the whole year's income (received in the UK) as the proportion of the year you were in the UK

Tax-free allowances for non-residents

If you're a European Economic Area citizen (including British), or a current or former Crown employee, you'll still get your tax-free allowances to reduce the amount of UK Income Tax due. Members of certain other special groups also qualify.

• Personal Allowance

• Full details of UK tax allowances for non-residents Opens new window

Double taxation relief

The country you move to may want to tax you on your worldwide income - even if tax is due in the UK. But if it has a double taxation agreement with the UK you won't normally have to pay the same tax twice.

• Double taxation relief and how to claim - learn more Opens new window

If you’re paying back a student loan

If you are currently paying back a student loan either through your salary or through your tax return you must tell the Student Loans Company before you leave the UK. Follow the link below to find out more.

• Repaying student loans when you move overseas

More useful links

• Britons living abroad

• HMRC contacts for non-residents Opens new window

• Download 'Residence, Domicile and the Remittance Basis' (PDF, 559K) Opens new window

• Frequently Asked Questions on tax for non-residents Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Useful contacts

• Money, tax and benefits contacts