The Hong Kong BN(O) visa route opens on 31 January 2021.  For those who are not familiar with the UK tax system, 31 January is also the deadline to submit online UK Self Assessment tax returns for the previous tax year.  The UK tax year runs from 6 April to the following 5 April, which is slightly different to the Hong Kong tax year (i.e. from 1 April to the following 31 March).    

Under UK law, residence for tax and immigration purposes are not the same.  Tax residence in the UK is determined by the Statutory Residence Test ("SRT") which came into force in 2013.  If you are resident for UK tax purposes under the SRT, then you will be subject to UK Income Tax (at up to 45%) and Capital Gains Tax (at up to 28%) on your worldwide income and gains under the arising basis of taxation (i.e. the default position).  

However, if you are not domiciled or "deemed domiciled" in the UK, then the more favourable remittance basis of taxation may be available to you.  You should also note that, if you are domiciled or deemed domiciled in the UK, then your worldwide estate will be subject to UK Inheritance Tax (at up to 40%) on death.

It is possible to become resident in the UK for tax purposes even if you are in the UK under the Visitor visa or "Leave Outside the Rules".  If you are moving to the UK under the Hong Kong BN(O) route with a view to obtain permanent residence (i.e. Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK in due course, then you are highly likely to become UK tax resident.  

We have a particular specialism in advising high net worth individuals on complex issues and interactions between UK immigration and tax law including the UK tax implications of moving to the UK, pre-immigration tax planning, tax residence, domicile, settlement and naturalisation.  Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

香港英國國民(海外)("HK BN(O)")簽證於2021年1月31日開始接受申請 。對於不熟悉英國稅收制度的人士, 1月31日也是英國網上提交上一個納稅年度自我評估納稅申報表的截止日期。英國的納稅年度為每年的4月6日至下一年的4月5日，與香港的納稅年度(即4月1日至下一年的3月31日)略有不同。

從英國法律角度來看,「稅務居民」(tax resident)和「移民居民」(immigration resident)並不相同。稅務居民是根據2013年生效的法定居住地測試(SRT)來確定稅收居住地是否在英國 。如果您是英國稅務居民，您全球的收入和收益便需要繳納英國所得稅(最高45%)和資產增值稅(最高28%)。

然而, 如果您的 「 户籍」(domicile)或「 視作户籍」(deemed domicile)是在英國的話，您可能會受惠於更優惠的「匯入制」 (remittance basis of taxation) 。還應該注意的是，如果您的户籍或視作户籍在英國的話，那麼您全球的資產便需要繳納英國遺產稅(最高40%)。

即使您是根據訪客簽證或“Leave Outside the Rules”進入英國，您也有可能成為稅務居民 。如果您是為了獲得英國永久居留權而通過HK BN(O)簽證移民英國，那麼您有很大機會會成為英國稅務居民。

我們特別擅長為高淨值人士提供英國移民與稅務的法律意見 , 包括移民前稅收籌劃,稅務居民, 户籍, 永久居留和入籍等常見問題 。如有任何疑問，請隨時與我們聯繫。