Tax When Overseas

Matt2021

Hi everyone,

As you can see I'm a newborn in the forums, so appreciate any kind of response.

I believe the current tax policy for being overseas and working for a UK based company is that you have to be out of the country for a total of 181 days a year to qualify for not having to pay tax?

Before leaving for my overseas job, my first job out of Uni mind and therefore my first job overseas, I recieved a no-tax form (cant remember the number) from my company along with my contract and general booklets and paperwork about health and safety, IT, required vacinations etc etc yada yada yada; filled it out and didnt pay tax in October (my first payment) or November (did pay NI as usual), but DID pay tax in December, according to my payslips as Ive just recieved all 3 in one go so far (Oct, Nov and Dec) as my boss flew into town to give us a visit and he handed them all out to the current employees out here.

I recieve my January payment in just under a week now, so I'm biting my nails waiting to see if I will be getting taxed again, only way I can tell is if I check my bank statement online and see if its the same as December's payment. And considering the low graduate salaries these days, its quite a hefty chunk haha...well, feels like one anyway, guess I'll get used to it, bit naive of me!

For the too-long-didnt-read people:

So now Im confused; I departed the UK Oct 20th, and am due back April 31st. By my calculations, thats 192 days out of the UK for the year for April 2009-April 2010.

I did return to the UK for 3 days in mid November to graduate. And I have been in SA for 2 weeks over Xmas on leave (we get a ticket every 3 months). But those 2 weeks on holiday dont count as I was still abroad right?

Now I'm happy to pay these taxes for the next 4 months, as Ive got no expenses each month.

Am I now in the situation where I can claim back these taxes upon returning to the UK? Or am I missing something as simple as miss-understanding the policy?

Again, any responses would be much appreciated!

-M

fengirl_2

In order to be not liable to Uk tax you have to be non-resident and that means being out of the UK for a complete tax year - from 6 April to 5 April. You will remain resident in the UK, so you will be laible to tax.
I think no tax was deucted for the first couple of months because you were using up your tax free allowances from April to Oct 09. These are now gone and the correct tax wil be paid.