Aussie Expat Podcast

Welcome to the ninety fourth episode of the #Expatchat podcast where we discuss the latest tax and financial issues affecting an #Australianexpat. In today’s Expat Chat we talk about the upcoming referendum that is being held in Australia next month and whether an Australian expat can and should vote. According to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) an Australian expat is eligible to vote as an Overseas Elector as long as they are an Australian citizen over the age of 18 and are intending to return to Australia within the next 6 years. The next question is whether an Australian expat should vote and here we are not referring to them exercising their right to vote but moreso will it cause further complications with respect to their claim of being a non-resident for tax purposes with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Under the current tax residency rules if you were to vote the question of whether you would be classified as a tax resident is very grey and is one of the reasons the proposed tax re