The 5-year rule, or "temporary non-residence" rule, in the UK prevents individuals from avoiding tax on certain income and capital gains by moving abroad temporarily. If you were a UK resident for 4 of the 7 years before leaving and return within 5 years, gains/income made while away are taxed upon return.
If you return to the UK within 5 years
You may have to pay tax on certain income or gains made while you were non-resident. This doesn't include wages or other employment income.
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.
Overseas tests
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.
The 7 year rule
No tax is due on any gifts you give if you live for 7 years after giving them - unless the gift is part of a trust. This is known as the 7 year rule.
In some cases, transferring your property to your children during your lifetime is the best way to pass on wealth and make sure that your heirs are adequately provided for. It can also be a useful way of reducing Inheritance Tax (IHT) or protecting the property from a future sale to fund care home costs.
There's normally no Inheritance Tax to pay if either: the value of your estate is below the £325,000 threshold. you leave everything above the £325,000 threshold to your spouse, civil partner, a charity or a community amateur sports club.
If you're non-resident, you do not pay UK tax on income or gains you get outside the UK. You may be non-resident the day after you leave the UK - this depends on your situation and how 'split year treatment' applies to you. You may need to pay UK tax if you're non-resident and have UK income.
Benefits of Relocating to a Low-Tax Jurisdiction
Relocating to a low-tax jurisdiction like Gibraltar from the UK or Portugal offers a number of tax benefits for both businesses and individuals. For businesses, Gibraltar stands out due to its absence of capital gains tax, wealth tax, tax on interest income, and VAT.
You cannot use HMRC 's online services to tell them about your income if you're non-resident. Instead, you must do one of the following: fill in a Self Assessment tax return and an SA109 form and send by post.
FAQs on UK Taxation
Why do the rich pay less tax? The rich often pay less tax due to the use of tax-efficient strategies, such as investing in capital gains assets, maximising pension contributions, and utilizing tax-advantaged accounts like ISAs.
Key takeaways. Earning over £100,000 causes your personal allowance to taper, creating an effective 60% tax rate between £100,000 and £125,140. Making pension contributions is the most effective way to reduce your taxable income and reclaim your personal allowance.
In summary, for any tax year, if you are present in the UK for 183 days or more, you are resident in the UK. Provided that you are in the UK for less than 183 days in a tax year and you meet one of the three automatic overseas tests, you will be considered not resident in the UK.
You only pay Income Tax if your taxable income - including your private pension and State Pension - is more than your tax-free allowances (the amount of income you're allowed before you pay tax). You must contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you think you should be paying tax.
Will I be allowed to move back to the UK? If you're a British national, you'll be able to return to the UK to live, but it could take a few months to re-establish your rights to services such as benefits and housing. It's best that you have a plan to support yourself during this time.
Quick answer: UK income tax rates (20-45% across 3 brackets) appear higher than US federal rates (10-37% across 7 brackets), but many US states add 5-13% state income tax on top. The UK offers a £12,570 personal allowance vs US $14,600 standard deduction (single) or $29,200 (married filing jointly) for 2025.
Top 10 Countries Brits Moved to from the UK in 2025
UK, average wealth per adult: $350,264 (£273,156)
The average Brit's wealth is $350,264 (£273,156) as of 2023. Meanwhile, at $163,515 (£127,518), median wealth per adult is higher proportionally in the UK, at 47% of the average.
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).
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.
Your UK citizenship will not be affected if you move or retire abroad. If you want to live in an EU country, check the country's living in guide for information about your rights. You may need a visa.
You can gift as much money as you want to your children in theory, but large gifts may be subject to tax. For the 2025/26 tax year , every UK citizen has an annual tax-free gift allowance of £3,000. This enables you to give money to your children in lump sums without worrying about inheritance tax (IHT).
At the moment, your estate won't pay any tax on anything below £325,000. After that, anything you leave to others will currently be taxed at 40%, subject to certain reliefs and exemptions. To find out more about the current rules and thresholds, read our Inheritance Tax guide.
When it comes to how to avoid inheritance tax, here are some popular options.