frd

We came to Australia (provisionally for 2yrs) after 9yrs working in Asia. We now plan to go back to UK after spending 1yr here. In that time we've lived off savings.

Should we register for an Australian tax file number before leaving?

Just thinking that if we ever come back here for vacation, or in the very small chance we come back to live or retire, would we get into trouble with the tax authorities?

(Had a collegue who won a US Green Card in a lottery, never used it, went to US 3yrs later, and got arrested on arrival for non-payment of taxes!!).

There is an amount of interest on overseas accounts, and a rented flat in London, but it would all be under the minium tax thresholds.

My thoughts are the whole process is going to be onerous and in the end uneccessary.

I know there's a box to tick going out at emmigration that says "are you permanently leaving Australia?" so don't know what to do about this.

Kiwipaul

It's not just your income that strictly speaking is liable for tax, if your rented flat has gone up in value (with respect to Oz dollar) that would also be liable for tax as a capital gain.

However as you are not even registered in Oz for tax you are not even on their radar and so just claim it was a long holiday. I don't believe the Oz tax man will even know about your rental appartment so cannot see a problem.

This is purely my opinion and what I would do in your situation.