07/09/2026
Planning to leave South Africa or formalise your tax emigration?
You need to know about the Exit Tax (Section 9H)—a tax charge triggered the moment you cease South African tax residency. SARS treats you as if you sold your worldwide assets at market value on your last day as a resident, charging Capital Gains Tax (CGT) even though no actual sale took place.
What Gets Taxed
Global & Local Investments: Listed/unlisted shares, ETFs, unit trusts, and offshore portfolios.
Foreign Property: Real estate you own outside of South Africa.
Crypto Assets: Digital currency holdings like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Krugerrands & Collectibles: Gold/platinum coins, artwork, and valuable physical collections.
What Is Excluded
South African Real Estate: Physical property inside SA stays in the tax net and is taxed whenever you actually sell it later.
Retirement Funds: Pension, provident, preservation funds, and retirement annuities (RAs) are excluded from the exit tax (normal withdrawal tax rules apply separately when you access them).
Cash & Currency: Money sitting in your local or foreign bank accounts.
Personal Belongings: Cars, furniture, clothing, and everyday personal items.
Calculate your potential liability with a tax professional before making your non-residency status official with SARS to avoid an unexpected bill. ✈️🇿🇦
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