Tax experts appeal to UK tax officials to be sympathetic over new non-dom rules

News - Tax

Written by Ray Clancy

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 09:17

New tax rules for UK resident non-doms are complex and unless officials are sympathetic it could cause many to leave the country, experts are warning.

If the Revenue adopts an unduly aggressive or suspicious approach to tax returns due from non-doms at the end of this month it could have a significant impact on the future of the UK as a financial centre, according to tax specialist KPMG.

The tax returns, which are due by 31 January, have been deemed the ‘the most important of UK non-doms’ lives’ by KPMG. Large numbers of non-doms are expected to come forward and register with the Revenue for the first time under the new tax rules which have reduced non-dom tax advantages, including the ability of those with no UK income to stay entirely outside the UK tax system.

The rules mean UK resident non-dom taxpayers will have to decide whether to claim under the remittance basis and pay a £30,000 one-off fee to keep their offshore profits outside the UK tax net or to pay UK tax on their worldwide income or gains.

David Kilshaw, head of private client advisory at KPMG, said the new rules are complex and HMRC should be sympathetic. ‘Tax payers and HMRC alike are struggling with these complex new rules. HMRC can be expected to enquire into a large number of returns to make sure they are correct, and rightly so,’ he explained.

‘But it is also to be hoped their approach will be sympathetic and understanding. If HMRC were to be unduly aggressive or suspicious in their dealing with the returns filed, this could be the straw which causes many non-doms to leave the UK,’ he added.

KPMG also points out that non-doms need to be extra vigilant when filing their tax returns before the January deadline, or risk a ‘disproportionately high’ bill from the taxman. The revised tax rules for non-dom taxpayers living in the UK have been in place since 2008, but this is the first time the rules will really have an impact.