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**POTS** · 25-01-12, 10:28

Read in the papers recently that the reason for granting short UK leave during deployments to Afghanistan is to ensure that the troops do NOT qualify for non-dom status and avoid paying income tax.
The article went on that any continuous overseas service above 6 months would qualify as Non Domiciled and therefore not liable for UK income tax.
Does anyone know when this was introduced?
My RN service included 18 month, 2yr and 1yr overseas tours without coming back to UK, but we were told that the shore base/ship counted as UK territory for tax purposes.

**MG Maniac** · 25-01-12, 11:04

Told the same thing even when stationed abroad for 2.5 yrs when the local rate of income tax was considerably lower than the UK ... paid UK tax rates right through.

**northern-matelot** · 25-01-12, 14:07

Can anyone tell me why crews on RFA ships are able to claim tax back if they spend more than 6 month out of the country then? Surely it'd be classed as UK soil like our ships?

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.552879,-2.120335

**alfred_the_great** · 25-01-12, 14:15

Originally Posted by northern-matelot

Can anyone tell me why crews on RFA ships are able to claim tax back if they spend more than 6 month out of the country then? Surely it'd be classed as UK soil like our ships?

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I am here: Google Maps

Because they are not Warships, neither are the RFA members of the Armed Forces.

**TheCommunicator** · 25-01-12, 20:17

AFAIK when based overseas you are classed as UK resident for tax purposes. That was the case up until Jan 2008

**Mad-Doc** · 25-01-12, 22:12

Members of the RFA hold a Seaman's Discharge Book and must hold civilian qualifications for the position they hold onboard (Approved and certified by the MCA) and are classed as Merchant Seaman though are also trained in military tasks - such as weapons operators - 20mm/Minigun/GPMG etc, trained to RN standards in Fire Fighting & DC, operating RN Comms systems and conducting helo ops. As pointed out - RFA vessels are classed as "Goverment ships" not Warships (Part of the "Naval Service", though not part of the Armed Forces) thus fulfill the seafairer's current right to claim back tax if out of the county for than 183 days in 365.

**SJRM_RN** · 26-01-12, 06:13

Originally Posted by POTS

Read in the papers recently that the reason for granting short UK leave during deployments to Afghanistan is to ensure that the troops do NOT qualify for non-dom status and avoid paying income tax.

R&R from Operations is just that, Rest & Recuperation leave, there is nothing more sinister than that, more crap spouted by the media, IMHO.

**silverfox** · 26-01-12, 07:36

The only thing I have come across is if you are doing over 12 months unaccompanied then you can apply for a 50% rebate in Council Tax.

I add a health warning that I'm not sure about the un accompanied bit, but I'm sure someone closer to 752 than I am at the moment can provide a more precise answer.

**janner** · 26-01-12, 07:42

Maybe Chaz can update us on his current status tax wise?

**Chaz** · 26-01-12, 11:58

Originally Posted by janner

Maybe Chaz can update us on his current status tax wise?

I can indeed confirm that serving abroad does not change your tax payments. I'm still paying normal rates of Income Tax & National Insurance. I also pay Charge In Lieu Of Council Tax (CILOCT) while in privately rented accom out here. Additionally as I'm a UK taxpayer I'm also liable for CSA payments for my 2 kids back in the UK. LOA however, is tax free, what's left of it!