For many reasons, British expats frequently require relocating from Uganda to the UK, after their service.

 

When British nationals enter Uganda, Ugandan immigration officials determine how long they may stay there. This often lasts for two to three months. If you overstay your visa, you could face fines and/or jail time. You can submit an application at the closest immigration office to extend your stay. The Ugandan Immigration Bureau is located at Plot 75 in Jinja.

 

After ten years of lawful residence in Uganda, foreign nationals are eligible to petition for residence status. Dual citizenship is recognized in Uganda, although you must apply for it. Children under the age of 18 are not allowed to hold dual citizenship.

 

 

It may simply be time to return home. Although returning to the UK doesn’t have to be tough, British expats should make a few preparations first.

 

It might be stressful to go back to the UK; it’s crucial to plan ahead to protect any wealth you’ve accumulated while living in Uganda. Before leaving Uganda for your trip home, keep in mind these crucial points.

 

1. Plan Early

Prior to the move, begin planning for the UK tax year. It is possible to save a lot of money on taxes, but doing so requires clever planning before the end of the previous tax year. In the interim, stay away from big actions like making big investments in unreliable cryptocurrencies to avoid making losses.

 

2. Sell Property Acquired Over Time

Generally speaking, it makes sense to sell investments that have appreciated significantly in order to realize gains while you are still outside the UK tax net. However, since every case is unique, caution is required.

 

 

3. Employ Tax Breaks

This action can result in significant savings. Your annual tax burden may be decreased by using capital gains tax (CGT) and income tax allowances (ISAs). Additionally, certain non-UK pension plans or life assurance bond types may be able to provide a tax-favoured source of income in retirement.

 

4. Speak With The Taxman.

As soon as possible, notify HM Revenue and Customs of your arrival. Make sure you are aware of your duties and the due dates for filing your taxes. 

 

 

Care must be taken because it may be necessary to submit certain claims within specific time frames.

 

5. Make A Property Short-Term Trust.

If you own property in the UK, selling your home after you return could result in a significant CGT bill. However, it might be wise to sell your home while you are still in Uganda in order to avoid CGT if you do not intend to live in it when you return.

 

Again, CGT may be significantly reduced if you do intend to return to the residence and stay there for some time. Alternately, during the tax year prior to your move, you could place the property into a specifically designed short-term trust. Trust is first gifted with the property, allowing any gains to be reaped. This gain is not subject to taxes. The property is then purchased by the trust for market value.

 

The trust is wound up and your property is given back to you after about a year. If you later sell it, the price you paid to receive it from the trust will be considered its cost for tax purposes. 

 

6. Examine Your Foreign Bank Accounts.

It might be a good idea to close any non-UK savings and deposit accounts acquired while in Uganda. In this manner, your offshore bank accounts will start paying interest before you return (upon which it would become taxable in the UK). 

 

 

Think about how any currency volatility brought on by Brexit may influence the value of your deposits when you get back to the UK from Uganda.

 

7. When Returning To The UK, Make Use Of Your Status.

If you or your partner are not of British ancestry or if one of you has lost UK tax residency, you may be able to avoid paying some UK taxes. Through this method, you may be able to preserve assets outside the reach of Inheritance Tax and shield non-UK income and gains from taxation. But there are costs associated with this, so careful preparation is essential.

 

8. Importing Personal Items Into The UK

If they have been owned and used for at least six months prior to importation, household goods and personal effects shipments are eligible for duty-free entry into the UK. If your products arrive in the UK no more than six months before your arrival date and all required paperwork is correctly filled out and received before the shipment, you may be able to have your goods cleared by customs before you arrive in the country. 

 

 

You should ensure that before leaving Uganda, all your household items are taken care of either by importing what you will still need in The UK, or donating or selling off what you might not need.

 

However, there are certain things that are prohibited when shifting back to The UK from Uganda. This includes;

• weapons and ammunition
• combustible materials and products
• Plants and plant products
• foods, whether perishable or not
• hazardous items and drugs
• offensive content
• liquor and tobacco

 

9. Think About The Future.

If at all possible, think about how long you plan to stay in the UK (short-term, long-term, or forever) and how you plan to support yourself. 

 

Living expenses in Uganda vary quite a lot with the UK. Remember that all of the income you need to generate must be after taxes. Also, take into account where you want to retire and how you’ll fund your retirement while back in The UK. Plan carefully and on time because proper planning can get you very low rates of income and gain tax which will be a plus for you.

 

Whether you’re relocating to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland in the UK, Nellions Moving and Relocations Company has the in-country expertise and experience to cater the move to your particular requirements. Feel free to reach out to us for a guide as we aim to give you the best relocating experience.