Australia vs United Kingdom: tax comparison for expats
A sourced head-to-head on Australia and United Kingdom: tax-residency rules, income tax rates, special regimes, side by side. Income tax only, not tax advice.
Effective income tax by income
An effective-rate comparison for this pair isn’t available yet (one country’s full bracket table is still being verified). The sourced fact comparison below still applies — and the interactive tool covers every modelled country.
Australia vs United Kingdom, side by side
| Australia | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Top income tax rate | 45%ⓘPwC Worldwide Tax Summaries“190,000 | – | 51,638 | 45.0”View source · accessed 2026-09-08 | 45%ⓘHM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)“Additional rate over £125,140 45%”View source · accessed 2026-08-20 |
| Tax-residency day threshold | 183 daysⓘPwC Worldwide Tax Summaries“Individuals who have actually been in Australia for more than one-half of the income year (i.e. at least 183 days in the income year), unless the individual's usual place of abode is outside Australia and the individual does not intend to reside in Australia.”View source · accessed 2026-09-08 | 183 daysⓘHM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)“you spent 183 or more days in the UK in the tax year”View source · accessed 2026-08-20 |
| Signature tax regime | [source]PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries“A temporary resident will be exempt from Australian tax on foreign source income, while a resident of Australia is subject to tax on worldwide income.”View source · accessed 2026-09-08 | FIG regime (ex-non-dom): 4 yearsⓘHM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)“On 6 April 2025 the 4-year foreign income and gains regime replaced the remittance basis”View source · accessed 2026-08-20 |
| Digital nomad visa | No | No |
| Nomad-visa income requirement | — | — |
Every figure links to its source and verification date. Full guides: Australia · United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
Is Australia or United Kingdom better for tax?
It depends on your income, residency status and which special regime you qualify for. Compare the residency rules, rates and regimes side by side below, and use the interactive tool for your own income.
Which has the lower tax-residency threshold, Australia or United Kingdom?
Australia treats you as tax resident after 183 days, and United Kingdom after 183 days. But ties like a home, family or economic centre can trigger residency on fewer days — never rely on a day count alone.
Does Australia or United Kingdom have a digital nomad visa?
Australia has no dedicated digital-nomad visa; United Kingdom has no dedicated digital-nomad visa. See the "Digital nomad visa" row below for the sourced detail.