New Foreign Income and Gains Regime (FIG)
How Australians in the UK claim FIG
Australians in the UK: A Quick Guide to the New FIG Regime
If you’re an Aussie moving to the UK, there’s a new tax rule worth knowing – the Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime which replaces the old remittance basis and makes things easier for new UK residents. FIG gives you up to four years of relief from UK tax on your foreign income and gains, as long as you’ve been outside the UK for at least ten years before moving. The big advantage is that you can bring that money into the UK without extra tax. It’s designed to give newcomers a smoother start and more flexibility.
For Australians, this can be especially helpful if you have superannuation, pensions, or investments abroad. FIG gives you time to plan, settle in, and make smart financial decisions without the immediate UK tax burden.
FIG is a great opportunity for Australians starting life in the UK. The UKAU tax team can guide you through eligibility, claims, and planning so you get the most out of this four‑year window.
To be eligible, an individual must not have been a UK resident in any of the 10 year preceding the four-year period. However, for those Australian in the UK preparing your 2026 tax return, it is important to remember that FIG is not automatic and must be claimed correctly on your UK tax return each year (as does a claim for Overseas Workday Relief) Furthermore, the newly released HMRC guidance specifies that you must report the foreign income to be relieved, on a source by source basis, on the appropriate supplementary page (for example each dividend or rental property income). Therefore while the FIG regime is a valuable tax concession, it is important that the compliance is done correctly in making a claim for FIG. Please get in touch if you have any questions.