Non-dominant lament: I can afford to live in the UK, but I can’t die here

A flat-rate tax that expires every year could be the solution to the growing challenges Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces in her autumn budget plan to squeeze more taxes out of ‘non-doms’.

These are people whose permanent home is outside the UK for tax purposes and therefore enjoy certain tax privileges.

A similar scheme in Italy – led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – is attracting non-dominant people from the UK and elsewhere who are willing to pay reasonable amounts in taxes, but are unwilling to be penalized.

Ahead of the October 30 Budget, Reeves’ threat to impose an inheritance tax on the overseas assets of non-dominants has sparked an exodus of these deep-pocketed families and businessmen.

Currently, your estates are liable for IHT only on money earned in the UK and on UK property, including those held through foreign companies.

Upon learning of the plan, one non-dom is said to have commented: “I can afford to live in the UK, but I can no longer afford to die there.”

An embarrassment for the Government, research by consultancy Oxford Economics reveals that Reeves’s crackdown would not raise the expected £2.6bn, but would result in a loss of income of £900m.

Non-doms are wealth creators, starting businesses, supporting employment, and spending freely on expensive goods and services. But up to a third could leave Britain, according to Oxford Economics.

Dominic Lawrance, a tax specialist at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, says existing non-dominants – and those contemplating a move to the UK – are being deterred by Reeves’ desire to bring foreign assets into the IHT network.

Lawrance said: “It is considered draconian and hostile – the final straw.”

The rule change would apply to those who have resided for 10 years and would continue to cover them for 10 years if they decided to leave Britain.

Under Italian non-dom rules – which are attracting some of those fleeing Reeves’ politics – a flat annual fee of €200,000 (£167,000) applies to overseas income.

The influx of non-doms to Milan is seen as having brought a renaissance to the city, suggesting a UK plan could have the same effects.