Library guide · Jurisdiction Strategy
Best Countries for Tax Residency (2026)
The leading low-tax and special-regime countries for wealthy individuals, and the trade-offs of each.
For wealthy individuals in 2026, the leading tax-residency destinations are the UAE (zero personal income tax), Italy (a flat tax of 300,000 euros a year on foreign income for new residents from 2026), Switzerland (negotiated lump-sum taxation) and Monaco (no personal income tax). The best choice depends on lifestyle, the source of income and the family's home-country exit rules.
Key takeaways
- UAE: zero personal income tax, a 10-year golden visa, and the top destination absorbing departing UK non-doms.
- Italy: a flat tax of 300,000 euros a year on foreign income for up to 15 years, for new residents from 1 January 2026 (earlier entrants keep their prior rate).
- Switzerland: lump-sum (forfait) taxation, typically CHF 150,000 to 500,000 a year, by canton.
- Watch the exit: the UK's post-2025 rules keep former long-term residents in the inheritance-tax net for years after leaving.
For internationally mobile wealthy families, choosing where to be tax resident is a live question in 2026, sharpened by the UK's abolition of its non-dom regime. Here are the leading destinations and what each really offers. This is a directional guide, not tax advice; every move needs professional cross-border planning.
Leading tax-residency destinations, at a glance
Click a column to sort, or filter by country. This is a directional comparison, not tax advice; every move needs professional cross-border planning.
| Country | Personal income tax | Special regime for the wealthy | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 0% | 10-year golden visa | Top destination for relocating wealth |
| Monaco | 0% | Residency (no citizenship route) | Very high cost of living |
| Italy | Progressive | Flat tax of 300,000 euros a year on foreign income | Up to 15 years; new residents from 1 Jan 2026 (earlier entrants keep prior rate) |
| Switzerland | Cantonal | Lump-sum (forfait) taxation | Typically CHF 150,000 to 500,000 a year |
| Portugal | Progressive | IFICI regime (replaced NHR) | Narrower than the old NHR |
| Greece | Progressive | Non-dom lump sum of 100,000 euros a year | Golden visa tiered: 800,000 in prime zones, 400,000 elsewhere |
| Cyprus | Progressive | Non-dom regime | No inheritance tax |
| Malta | Progressive | Remittance-based non-dom | Established programme |
| Singapore | Up to 24% | No capital gains or inheritance tax | Substance rules apply |
The UAE
The clear front-runner. The UAE levies no personal income tax, offers a 10-year golden visa, world-class banking and a common-law business environment in its free zones. It has become the single largest destination absorbing wealth leaving higher-tax countries, and the top choice for departing UK non-doms.
Italy
Italy offers a flat tax of 300,000 euros a year on all foreign income, for up to 15 years, regardless of how large that income is. The charge rose from 100,000 euros in 2017 to 200,000, then to 300,000 for those transferring their tax residence there from 1 January 2026; earlier entrants keep the rate they signed up at. For a family with substantial offshore income, it is the closest structural replacement for the old UK non-dom regime, with the bonus of Italian life.
Switzerland
Switzerland's lump-sum taxation (the forfait) lets qualifying non-working residents pay a negotiated annual amount, typically CHF 150,000 to 500,000, based on living expenses rather than actual income. It buys stability, discretion and a central European base.
Monaco and others
Monaco levies no personal income tax on residents and remains a magnet for the very wealthy, at the cost of very high living expenses. Portugal, Greece and others offer narrower incentives, though several golden-visa routes have tightened: Spain terminated its golden visa and Greece moved to a tiered golden visa (800,000 euros in high-demand areas such as Attica and the larger islands, 400,000 elsewhere, and 250,000 for qualifying conversions or restorations).
The trap: exit rules
The mistake is to focus only on the destination. Your former country's exit rules often follow you. The UK's post-2025 regime keeps a former long-term resident in the 40 percent inheritance-tax net on worldwide assets for three to ten years after leaving. Becoming tax resident somewhere new requires genuine presence and usually the 183-day test and more. See What Is Tax Residency? and What Is a Golden Visa?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best country for tax residency in 2026?
- It depends on income and lifestyle, but the leading options are the UAE (zero personal income tax), Italy (a 300,000 euro flat tax on foreign income for new 2026 residents), Switzerland (negotiated lump-sum taxation) and Monaco (no income tax). The UAE has become the top destination for departing high-tax residents.
- Which country has the lowest taxes for wealthy people?
- The UAE and Monaco levy no personal income tax at all. Others offer special regimes that cap tax rather than eliminate it: Italy's flat 300,000 euros a year on foreign income for new residents from 2026, or Switzerland's lump-sum taxation. Zero-income-tax is not the same as zero-tax; other levies and the home-country exit rules still apply.
- Can you just move to a low-tax country to avoid tax?
- Not simply. You must genuinely become tax resident there (real presence, usually the 183-day test and more), and your former country's exit and tail rules may still apply. The UK, for example, keeps former long-term residents exposed to 40 percent inheritance tax on worldwide assets for years after they leave. Proper cross-border advice is essential.
This guide is educational and general in nature. It does not constitute investment, legal, tax or financial advice.
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