South Africans living abroad are fuming.
Many will now be forced to come home after the Treasury announced a proposal to remove the foreign employment income tax exemption for South African expatriates.
This means that those who make money from overseas employment could now be taxed domestically on their earnings.
Magda Schoeman, who has lived in Dubai for the last few years, will have no choice but to come back to South Africa.
“There’s no way we would survive in Dubai if it happens. We have made plans to come home. Most South Africans here, live on their credit cards, have loans to consolidate their debt in South Africa and we all have families which we support financially in South Africa,” she said.
Wesley Green, a doctor working in Ghana, said he too would have to return home should the legislation be passed.
“Here, everyone is taxed 25% across the board. Now Sars wants to come after the remaining 20% (as I now fit into the 45% tax bracket