UK Tax

[John Doe]

How does the UK tax office know you've been working away in another country if not informed?

[SoSo]

Well, before you left you should have settled your tax affairs and at that point informed them that you were leaving the country. Also at your bank you should sign a form declaring that you are resident overseas to avoid paying tax on your deposit income.

I would suggest that you advise the Inland Revenue now and provide them with evidence if you can of when that was...

[dazzakoh]

It is really a painless process to inform the UK revenue.  As a tax advisor, I can say that the UK revenue are one of the best people to deal with when you are abroad.

There is quite a lot of benefit in establishing your non-resident status, e.g. receving bank interest gross, being outside UK tax net etc.  Drop by the UK Inland Rev site for more information.  In particular, you should read IR20 and IR138, both leaflets which can be downloaded from the website either in .pdf format, or just viewed on screen.

Go to this link http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/leaflets/c9.htm

to pick up the leaflets.

[dazzakoh]

Forgot to mention that you can do a retrospective declaration that you left the UK.  However, you still have to clear up your tax affairs up until the point of your departure.  If there is any tax that has been levied since your departure, the Inland Rev will refund it if the amounts are not insignificant...