Hanushka Toni

Is the UK non-dom the modern dodo? New rules may push it to the brink of extinction

The jig may finally be up for Britain’s non-doms. After years of having it all this beleaguered elite are in the cross hairs. And now they’re going to pay.

From the 6 April 2017, non-doms who have lived in Britain for at least 15 out of the past 20 years – the 15/20 Rule – will lose their privileged status. Under the new rules they will be taxed like the rest of us.

Previously, for the fortunate few the UK was something of a tax haven. Non-doms could move to Britain while broadly keeping their worldwide assets outside the UK tax net –  indefinitely. However, that is not to say they were completely exempt from tax; the fly in the ointment being that any income earned in or remitted to the UK was (and will continue to be) fully taxed.

The non-dom regime is a Napoleonic throwback. An oddity from a time when foreigners could shelter their foreign assets from Britain’s wartime taxes.

Britain’s best politics newsletters

You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in