HMRC have recently sent “useful” reminders to UK tax advisors / return preparers, to ensure their clients’ tax return is correct where they fall under the not so “new” deemed domicile rules.  Whilst we feel this letter is a couple of years late, perhaps this was the intention of the letter from HMRC in the first instance.

As a reminder, it is important to understand domicile before determining the impact of the current rules.

What is domicile?

In simplistic terms, an individual is domiciled (for UK purposes) in the country in which they have their permanent home, and this will determine their domicile tax.

There are three separate types of domicile – domicile of origin, domicile of dependency and domicile of choice.

Domicile of origin – An individual normally acquires a domicile of origin from their father when they are born. This is not necessarily the country in which the individual is born. Domicile of origin usually follows the father, but it can follow the mother or other legally appointed guardian.

Domicile of dependency – A child will have a domicile of dependency until he or she is legally capable of changing it. A person has a legal capacity to change their domicile on reaching the age of 16. Until then, if the parent or guardian changes his or her domicile status, the domicile status of the child will change with them.

Domicile of choice – This is a slightly misleading term as it can be seen to imply that taxpayers can change their domicile at a whim. However, a taxpayer can merely change his personal circumstances in such a way as to leave HMRC to conclude that he is no longer domiciled in the UK.

To lose a domicile of origin in the UK and establish a domicile somewhere else, the individual must leave the UK and settle permanently or indefinitely in another country. To lose a UK domicile, the individual must sever sufficient ties with the UK and the taxpayer must demonstrate a settled intention to reside permanently in another country.

What are the rules that impact non-domiciled individuals effective 6 April 2017?

If you are not domiciled in the UK under common law and meet conditions A or B, outlined below, you will be treated as domiciled in the UK for tax purposes – ‘deemed UK domicile’. This means you will no longer be able to claim the remittance basis and income tax will be assessed on your worldwide income and gains.

Condition A:

You are ‘deemed UK domicile’ if you:

• Were born in the UK
• Have the UK as your domicile of origin, and
• Are resident in the UK after 5 April 2017

If you were born in the UK and had UK domicile at birth, under UK common law you may have acquired a domicile of choice outside the UK. However, if you now return to the UK on or after 6 April 2017 and become a UK resident for that tax year, you will automatically be UK deemed domicile for tax purposes, referred to as a formerly domiciled resident (“FDR”), under Condition A.

Condition B:

This condition is applicable where you are non-UK domicile (under common law) and have been UK resident for at least 15 of the last 20 tax years. All UK tax years of residence must be counted, including:

• Tax years where you were under the age of 18
• Any tax years you were resident for part of the year (i.e., if you arrive in or leave from the UK during a tax year)
• Any tax year in which a treaty claim was made claiming UK non-residence and instead resident in another country

Meeting either Condition A or B will require you to report your worldwide income and gains in the UK.

Meeting either condition means you will also be considered Deemed domiciled in the UK for Inheritance tax. For further guidance on the above and assistance with determining your UK domicile status and subsequent reporting requirements, please contact us.