International tax advice for Australians living overseas and returning home
Majenda provides specialist Australian international tax advice for expats living overseas and people preparing to return home, particularly where property, investments, pensions or other assets are held across multiple jurisdictions.
What We Help With
International tax is often about more than simply working out what tax is payable. Your residency, the location of your assets and the timing of financial decisions can all affect the Australian tax consequences.
Majenda can advise on Australian tax matters involving:
Tax Residency
Understand when you may become an Australian tax resident and what that could mean for your overseas income and assets.
Overseas Property & Investments
Consider the Australian tax implications of retaining or selling overseas property and investments before or after returning to Australia.
Foreign Income & Employee Shares
Understand how overseas income, investment returns and employee share arrangements may be treated for Australian tax purposes.
Overseas Pensions & Funds
Consider the Australian tax implications of UK pensions, other overseas retirement benefits and transferring funds to Australia.
Foreign Currency
Identify Australian tax issues that may arise from foreign currency holdings and transactions.
Multiple Jurisdictions
Coordinate Australian advice where your assets, income or tax obligations extend across more than one country.
Is This Service Right For You?
Majenda’s international tax service is particularly suited to Australians who have built up more complex financial affairs through living and working overseas.
Our current international focus is primarily Australians living in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Switzerland.
This service may be relevant if you:
- are planning to return to Australia within the next few years
- hold significant assets outside Australia
- own overseas property or investments
- have a UK pension or other overseas retirement assets
- hold employee shares accumulated while overseas
- expect to retain foreign assets after returning
- have assets or income across several jurisdictions
- need Australian tax advice coordinated with an adviser overseas
More About International Tax Advice
Planning before you return can make a difference
For Australians preparing to return home, some tax decisions are better considered before a transaction takes place or before your circumstances change.
Australian tax residency can affect how foreign income, investments, property and other overseas assets are treated. The timing of a sale, transfer or other financial decision may therefore have consequences that are difficult to change afterwards.
Many Majenda clients begin planning one to three years before their intended return to Australia.
You do not necessarily need to know your exact return date. The purpose of early advice is to understand what may require attention before you move and what can be dealt with later.
Before returning, it may be worth asking:
- When am I likely to become an Australian tax resident?
- What happens to my overseas assets when my residency changes?
- Should I sell or retain overseas property or investments?
- How will my foreign income be treated in Australia?
- What happens to my UK pension or other overseas retirement assets?
- Could income or gains be taxed in both countries?
- Do I need valuations or other records before returning?
- Are there financial decisions that should be made before rather than after the move?
The answers depend on your circumstances, which is why international tax planning needs to be based on your actual financial position rather than general rules alone.
Australian advice, coordinated with overseas specialists
International tax matters frequently involve the laws of more than one country.
Majenda Australia provides advice on the Australian tax implications of your circumstances.
Where you also require advice under another country’s tax laws, we can work alongside appropriately qualified specialists in that jurisdiction.
For example, a decision involving UK property, a UK pension or another overseas asset may need to be considered from both the Australian and overseas perspectives.
Majenda does not attempt to provide specialist foreign tax advice outside the areas in which it is qualified to advise.
Tax and financial planning may also be connected
For returning expats, tax decisions can influence what happens later with investments, pensions, superannuation and retirement planning.
Majenda Financial provides Australian financial planning advice where appropriate, allowing the Australian tax and financial sides of a client’s position to be considered together.
How our international tax advice works
1. Book a Time
Choose a suitable time to discuss your circumstances with Majenda. Meetings can be held online while you are overseas or interstate.
2. Tell Us About Your Situation
Before the meeting, send us a short summary outlining where you live, your expected return date, the countries involved, your main assets and the advice you need.
3. We Define the Scope
We identify the Australian tax issues involved, determine whether Majenda is the right fit and establish whether another overseas specialist needs to participate.
4. We Prepare Your Advice
Once the scope and fee are agreed, Majenda prepares the Australian tax advice required for your circumstances.
Need advice about your international tax position?
If your financial affairs span more than one country, book a time to discuss your circumstances and determine what Australian tax advice may be required.
20+ years
Working with Australian expats
International tax expertise
Director Geoff Taylor holds a Master of International Taxation degree
Australian advice
Coordinated with overseas specialists where required
Why Majenda?
Majenda has worked with Australian expatriates for more than 20 years, including clients with assets and financial affairs across multiple jurisdictions.
Director Geoff Taylor is qualified in both tax and financial planning and holds a Master of International Taxation degree from the University of Sydney.
Majenda Australia is a CPA Practice and Registered Tax Agent.
This combination is particularly useful where several tax and financial decisions need to be considered together rather than treating each asset or issue in isolation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I seek international tax advice before returning to Australia?
Ideally, before making major transactions or finalising your return. Many clients begin planning one to three years ahead, particularly where they hold overseas property, investments, pensions or other significant assets.
Does returning to Australia automatically make me an Australian tax resident?
Not necessarily. Australian tax residency depends on your individual circumstances and the relevant residency tests. Physical presence is one factor, but it is not the only consideration.
Majenda can advise on how the Australian residency rules may apply to your circumstances.
Will Australia tax my overseas income when I return?
Australian residents for tax purposes are generally required to declare Australian and overseas income, subject to the rules and exceptions applying to their circumstances.
The treatment of particular income or gains depends on your residency, the type of income or asset and the circumstances involved.
What happens to overseas property when I return to Australia?
The Australian tax treatment can depend on factors including when the property was acquired, your tax residency and whether you retain or dispose of it.
If overseas property forms a significant part of your financial position, it is worth obtaining advice before making decisions around a return to Australia.
Can Majenda advise on tax in the country where I currently live?
Majenda provides Australian tax advice.
Where your circumstances require advice under another country’s tax laws, we can work with appropriately qualified overseas specialists where appropriate.
Can Majenda help with UK tax matters?
Majenda can advise on the Australian tax implications of UK assets and transactions.
Where UK-specific tax advice is required, an appropriately qualified UK tax specialist should also be involved.
Can Majenda help with my UK pension?
Yes. Majenda can provide Australian tax advice in relation to UK pensions, while Majenda Financial can provide Australian financial advice where appropriate.
Where UK-regulated pension or financial advice is required, it must be provided by an appropriately qualified UK adviser.
Does Majenda provide US tax advice?
Majenda does not provide US tax advice. If your circumstances involve US tax matters, we recommend working with a specialist US tax adviser. Majenda may still be able to assist with the Australian tax aspects of your circumstances where appropriate.
How much information should I provide before the first meeting?
For more complex matters, a brief one or two-page summary is helpful. Include where you live, your expected return timeframe, the countries involved, your major assets and the main questions you would like advice on.
This helps us understand your situation and determine the appropriate scope of advice.
International tax advice fees
International tax engagements vary depending on the number of countries, assets and issues involved.
As a general indication, substantial international tax advice engagements commonly range from approximately AUD $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the work.
We confirm the scope of advice and applicable fee before commencing.
Planning your return to Australia?
If your financial affairs span more than one country, it can be worth obtaining advice before making major decisions about your return.
Start by telling us about your circumstances. We can identify the Australian tax issues involved and determine what advice may be required.