Do I need to tell HMRC if I am leaving the country?

Asked by: Chase Yost III  |  Last update: July 12, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (41 votes)

Yes, you must notify HMRC if you are leaving the UK to live abroad permanently or to work full-time abroad for at least one full tax year. Failure to notify them can result in paying incorrect tax, while notifying them allows you to claim a refund for overpaid tax.

Do I need to tell HMRC I am leaving the UK?

You need to tell HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) that you're moving or retiring abroad to make sure you pay the right amount of tax.

How do you let HMRC know you have left the country?

You can claim online or use form P85 to tell HMRC that you've left or are leaving the UK and want to claim back tax from your UK employment. You can claim if you: lived and worked in the UK. left the UK and may not be coming back.

Does HMRC chase you out of country?

Are you the one who is planning to move abroad and wondering 'Can HMRC chase me abroad' once you are moved? Far and wide, it has been observed as a common fear amongst people. Well, the answer is yes, HMRC can approach you wherever you are liable to pay the tax bills.

Who do I inform if I leave the UK?

When you leave the UK you must tell HM Revenue and Customs who will arrange for you to get any tax refund you are owed and will calculate any tax you still owe on a pro-rata basis. If you want to leave money in a savings account in the UK you may be able to claim tax exemption on the interest.

HOW TO AVOID UK TAX WHEN MOVING ABROAD (Legally) 🇬🇧 Tax residency and HMRC tests explained

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How does the UK know when you leave the country?

From 8 April, exit checks will take place at all airports and ports in the UK. Information that is included in passports or travel documents will be collected for passengers leaving the country on scheduled commercial international air, sea and rail routes.

Do I need to declare that I have left the UK?

This depends on how long you'll be away. You don't have to do anything if you're only popping on holiday for two weeks, but you'll need to tell HMRC if you're: Leaving the UK to live abroad permanently. Planning to work overseas for at least a full year.

Do I have to pay UK taxes if I live in the USA?

If you're not UK resident, you will not have to pay UK tax on your foreign income. If you are UK resident, you'll normally pay tax on your foreign income. You may not have to if you're eligible for Foreign Income and Gains relief.

What is the 90 day rule for UK tax HMRC?

If you work full-time abroad, you can usually visit the UK for up to 90 days - as long as you work no more than 30 of these days. You might become a UK resident again if you start new activities in the UK after you've left, for example you get involved in a business or buy a new property.

Can you be chased for a UK debt abroad?

Can the people I owe chase me for debts in another country? People you owe in other countries can take action to collect a debt, including: Using a debt collection agency in the country you live in. Starting court action in the country you live in.

What to declare when leaving the UK?

You must declare cash of £10,000 or more to UK customs if you're carrying it between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and a country outside the UK. If you're travelling as a family or group with £10,000 or more in total (even if individuals are carrying less than that) you still need to make a declaration.

Am I still a UK tax resident if I live abroad?

You can live abroad and still be a UK resident for tax, for example if you visit the UK for more than 183 days in a tax year. Pay tax on your income and profits from selling assets (such as shares) in the normal way. You usually have to pay tax on your income from outside the UK as well.

When should I submit a P85 form?

When should you fill out a P85? You should complete the form if: you're leaving the UK to live abroad, either permanently or indefinitely. you're going to work abroad full-time for at least one full tax year.

How do I contact HMRC from outside the UK?

What is HMRC's phone number?

  1. Telephone: Tax: 0300 200 3300, Self Assessment 0300 200 3310.
  2. Textphone: Tax 0300 200 3319, Self Assessment 0300 200 3319.
  3. Outside UK: +44 135 535 9022.

How to avoid the 60% tax trap in the UK?

To avoid the UK's 60% tax trap (an effective 60% rate on income between £100k-£125k), the key is to reduce your adjusted net income back below £100,000 by making tax-efficient contributions, primarily via pension contributions, which reclaim your full £12,570 Personal Allowance, and also through salary sacrifice for benefits like childcare or cycle-to-work, and Gift Aid donations to charity.

What happens if you don't declare tax in the UK?

HMRC may also receive reports, such as Suspicious Activity Reports, from financial institutions if irregularities are detected. Once they find undeclared income, they'll contact you. This may lead to a formal tax evasion investigation. That's when the clock starts ticking on potential penalties.

How many months do you have to be out of the UK to not pay taxes?

You're usually non-resident if either: you spent fewer than 16 days in the UK (or 46 days if you have not been a UK resident for the 3 previous tax years) you worked abroad full-time (averaging at least 35 hours a week), and spent fewer than 91 days in the UK, of which no more than 30 were spent working.

Do you get taxed if you leave the UK?

Although the UK does not levy an explicit exit tax, those leaving must account for the loss of multiple valuable tax reliefs and the potential for retroactive or double taxation. Forward-looking tax planning and professional advice is essential to mitigate these risks before departure.

What is the 4 year tax rule in the UK?

The FIG regime is available to anyone who has been non-UK resident for at least the previous ten tax years – so even individuals originally born in the UK can use it. It applies to you for a period of four years starting from 6 April 2025, or the first tax year in which you become UK resident if earlier.

Does HMRC know if you move abroad?

Generally, you do not need to tell HMRC if you are leaving the UK for a short period, such as for a holiday or brief business trip. However, if you are leaving the UK to live overseas, at the very least you should advise HMRC of your new residential address (and correspondence address, if different).

Do Americans living abroad get taxed twice?

Yes, U.S. citizens living abroad generally must file U.S. taxes on their worldwide income, creating a risk of double taxation, but mechanisms like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) help avoid paying taxes twice on the same earnings by allowing exclusion or credit for taxes paid to foreign countries. These tools, claimed by filing a U.S. return (Form 1040), significantly reduce or eliminate U.S. tax liability for many expats. 

How long can an UK citizen live outside the UK?

If you get British citizenship, you can leave the UK for as long as you want without losing your right to return.

What is the exit tax in the UK?

An exit tax would be a tax on unrealised gains which accrued when UK resident when the individual become non-resident. It is reported that this was being considered at 20% on business assets such as shares in private companies.

Do I have to pay UK tax if I live abroad?

As long as you pay tax on your wages in your home country, you will not have to pay tax in the UK. You must file a Self Assessment tax return, together with a completed SA109 form. Use the 'other information' section of your SA109 to include: the dates you were stuck in the UK because of coronavirus.

Does the government know if you leave the country?

The UK collects Advance Passenger Information (API) and runs exit checks on outbound travel. Airlines send passenger details (name, date of birth, passport/travel-document number, flight, date) to the Home Office before departure. That creates a digital record of when you left.