Tax liability for monetary gifts from overseas

By Evan Robinson · Updated

Nick Name

Nick Name said:
15 July 2015 at 17:37

UK citizen with permanent residency in SA. I work part time for which I get paid and also volunteer for a church for which I get regular and occasional gifts from individuals and churches in the UK and paid into my UK account, and occasionally transferred to my SA bank account.

I have been paying tax on everything on the advice of SARS for a number of years. Friends have questioned this. Am I liable to pay tax on regular gifts from individuals in the UK? Am I liable to pay tax on regular gifts from churches in the UK?
TaxTim Evan

TaxTim Evan said:
15 July 2015 at 17:43

Where do you live at the moment?
Nick Name

Nick Name said:
15 July 2015 at 17:50

South Africa
TaxTim Evan

TaxTim Evan said:
15 July 2015 at 17:53

Do you pay tax in the UK, what work do you do from here for the Church? How long have you been in SA for?
Nick Name

Nick Name said:
15 July 2015 at 17:59

Starting a new church. Don't pay tax in UK other than on interest deducted from UK bank account and 14 years 5 years permanently.
TaxTim Evan

TaxTim Evan said:
16 July 2015 at 11:33

The problem is that you are essentially working and receiving money. SARS would not consider these amounts as gifts and therefore you should be taxed.