What every expat needs to know before touching down in Australia

This is a blog written based on an interview conducted by Tim with Tristan, an expat tax accountant. If you’d like to watch the video, click here.

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For Aussie expats, heading home after years abroad isn’t just about unpacking boxes and finding the nearest good coffee—it’s a complex web of tax, finance, and lifestyle logistics that, if mismanaged, can lead to nasty surprises. In a recent episode of our Expat Education Series, host Tim Raes (Aussie Expat Home Loans) sat down with tax expert Tristan Perry (Managing Director, Tax & Accounting at RP Private) to unpack the Top 5 Repatriation Tips every returning Australian should know.

Here’s what you need to plan for—before the wheels hit the tarmac.

Understand the Singapore Exit Tax (Yes, it’s a thing)

If you’re living in Singapore, don’t let the low-tax lifestyle lull you into a false sense of security. “When you leave Singapore, you’re required to settle all your tax obligations,” Tristan explains. That often includes:

• Outstanding payments for the current year (especially if you're on a GIRO payment plan)
  
  
• Any unpaid balances from previous years
  
  
• Tax on unvested shares, which are treated as taxable the day you leave—even if you don’t yet control or benefit from them.
  
  

Many expats are caught off guard when employers withhold the final 1–2 months of salary to cover these liabilities. “It’s a major cash flow shock if you’re not prepared,” Tim warns.

👉 Key takeaway: Get a tax clearance strategy in place early—especially if you’ve received share-based compensation.

Prepare for the Cash Flow Crunch

Moving back isn’t just about tax—it’s also about re-entry costs. Think: relocation fees, a new car, private school enrolments, rental bonds or home purchases… and don’t forget the brutal shock of Australian PAYG tax on your income.

In Singapore, you’re taxed in arrears. In Australia, it’s immediate and steep. “A lot of returnees are floored when they see how little hits their bank account post-tax,” Tristan says.

Tim adds, “If you’re not budgeting for the gap between leaving your job and receiving your first Aussie paycheck, you could burn through savings faster than expected.”

💡 Pro tip: An offset account tied to an investment property can provide liquid funds without compromising loan deductibility.

Refinance Your Mortgage & Consider Debt Recycling

If you own a property in Australia that was previously rented, you’re probably on an investment loan. “Once you move in, that loan becomes non-deductible,” Tim explains. But there’s a silver lining:

• Refinance to an owner-occupied loan to access better interest rates—often up to 0.3% lower.
  
  
• Debt recycling allows you to convert your non-deductible home loan into a deductible one by redrawing funds for income-producing investments.
  
  

Tristan sums it up: “The ATO follows the cash flow. If you’re reborrowing to invest, that interest could become tax deductible.”

📍 Just don’t DIY this. “Debt recycling is powerful but technical,” Tim cautions. “You need proper advice to ensure it’s structured correctly.”

Know When You Become an Australian Tax Resident Again

One of the murkiest areas for returning expats is tax residency. Many assume the 183-day rule is the only factor—it’s not. The ATO looks at:

• When your family relocates (spouse and kids)
  
  
• Whether you retain a residence overseas
  
  
• Intentions and permanence of your return
  
  

“If your family moves back first and you stay overseas to wrap up work, that can complicate things,” says Tim. “We’ve seen people get hit with tax bills because the ATO decided they became residents the moment their spouse and kids moved home.”

✅ Golden rule: If your return is staggered, get professional advice on how to preserve non-residency status until you return.

Don’t Miss the Offshore Capital Gains Advantage on Shares

This one’s a hidden gem—especially for self-directed investors.

“When you become a non-resident, you're allowed to ‘deem dispose’ your shares at market value,” says Tristan. That means any gains you make after becoming a non-resident aren’t taxable in Australia.

Even better: when you return, your shares get a new cost base—the market value on the day you come home. “You don’t have to sell them to benefit,” he adds.

💡 Tax tip: Keep records! “If you didn’t track valuations when you left, you might have trouble proving your CGT position when you return,” warns Tim.

Final Thoughts

Returning to Australia is more than a one-way flight home—it’s a financial reset. From surprise exit tax to residency nuances and investment optimisation, the decisions you make in the final months offshore can have long-term tax and financial implications.

🎙️ As Tim put it best: “You want to return in better shape than you left. Planning is how you make that happen.”

Your Next Step

If you’re planning a move home, speak with a tax advisor and a mortgage specialist before you pack. Want to discuss your strategy? We’d love to help.

👉 Share your story: What’s been your biggest challenge (or win!) in returning home as an expat? Drop us a comment or reach out—we’re here for the journey.

Written by Aussie Expat Home Loans, specialists in guiding Australians abroad through every stage of the property and finance journey—wherever “home” is next.