Tax Advice for International Individuals and High Net Worth Clients


The UK tax system is complex at the best of times. For individuals who live, work or invest across borders — or who are planning to come to the UK — navigating it correctly from the outset can make an enormous difference to your financial position.

At Laggan, this is what we do. We advise internationally mobile individuals, high net worth clients and their families on all aspects of their UK tax position — not as one of many service lines, but as the core of our practice.

The New FIG Regime — A Significant Opportunity for New Arrivals

From 6 April 2025, the UK introduced the Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime, replacing the old remittance basis entirely. For individuals arriving in the UK who have not been UK tax resident for at least 10 consecutive years, this represents a significant opportunity.

Under the FIG regime, qualifying new residents can exempt their foreign income and gains from UK tax for up to four tax years — with no limit on the amount and no annual levy to pay. Unlike the remittance basis, income and gains sheltered under the FIG regime are permanently exempt from UK tax, even if the funds are later brought to the UK. There is no future liability and no remittance tracing for those arriving after 6 April 2025.

This applies to overseas bank interest, dividends, rental income, capital gains on foreign assets, and distributions from offshore trusts — subject to certain conditions and anti-avoidance rules.

Importantly, domicile is no longer relevant. The FIG regime is based purely on residence — which means British citizens who have been living abroad for 10 years can qualify, as can recent arrivals from Europe and beyond.

After the four-year FIG period expires, the individual becomes fully taxable in the UK on their worldwide income and gains. Planning ahead for that transition is essential.

It Is Not as Simple as It Looks

The FIG regime comes with complexity. Making the wrong claim — or failing to make one at all — can have significant consequences. Claiming the FIG exemption means losing your personal allowance and CGT annual exemption for that year. For individuals with foreign tax credits, mixed funds, offshore trust interests or complex investment structures, the decision of whether and how to claim requires careful analysis.

The reporting requirements are also substantial. Claims must be made source by source on a self-assessment return, with specific deadlines. For beneficiaries of overseas structures, identifying and quantifying the qualifying income can be a significant exercise in itself.

Who We Work With

Our individual clients include new arrivals to the UK looking to structure their affairs under the FIG regime, executives and professionals relocating for work, high net worth individuals with overseas assets, property or investments, individuals who have received an HMRC enquiry or discovery assessment, and those with cross-border estates requiring careful inheritance tax and succession planning.

Why Laggan

We are a boutique practice. Our clients come to us because their affairs are complicated and they want an adviser with deep expertise in international tax and structuring, who responds quickly and gives them a straight answer.

If your tax affairs involve more than one country, more than one asset class, or a significant change in your circumstances, we should talk.

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