What is the best country for tax residency for wealthy individuals in 2026?

There is no single answer. The UAE and Monaco levy no personal income tax on residents, with Monaco excepting French nationals. Italy, Switzerland and Greece instead cap tax on foreign income: 300,000 euros a year in Italy for people moving after 31 December 2025, lump sum taxation on a federal tax base of at least CHF 435,000 in Switzerland, and 100,000 euros a year under Greece's non dom regime. The best fit depends on where income arises, lifestyle and the exit rules of the country being left.

How much is Italy's flat tax for new residents in 2026?

300,000 euros a year on all foreign income, plus 50,000 euros for each family member included, for individuals who transfer their residence to Italy after 31 December 2025. The increase was made by Italy's 2026 budget law, Law 199 of 2025. People who moved earlier keep the amount that applied when they opted in.

Which countries have no personal income tax?

Among the main destinations for wealthy families, the UAE and Monaco levy no personal income tax on residents. In the UAE, corporate tax can still apply to an individual's business activity above a turnover threshold, and in Monaco French nationals remain taxable in France under the 1963 convention.

Can you move to a low tax country and stop paying tax at home?

Not simply. You must become genuinely resident in the new country, and the country you leave may keep taxing you. The UK, for example, keeps former long term residents, meaning those resident for at least 10 of the previous 20 tax years, within inheritance tax for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 years after they leave.

Library guide · Jurisdiction Strategy

Best Countries for Tax Residency (2026)

Name: Best Countries for Tax Residency 2026
Creator: Maxi Capitalist
Published: 2026-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Keywords: best countries for tax residency, best countries for tax residency for wealthy individuals, low tax countries, UAE tax residency, Italy flat tax 300000, Switzerland lump sum taxation, Greece non dom, Monaco tax

The leading countries and special regimes for wealthy individuals in 2026, with the key figure, legal basis and official source for each, and the exit rules that follow you.

Last updated 12 October 2026 · 5 min read

For wealthy individuals in 2026, the leading tax residency options are the UAE and Monaco, which levy no personal income tax on residents (Monaco excepts French nationals), and three regimes that cap tax on foreign income: Italy's flat tax of 300,000 euros a year for people moving after 31 December 2025, Switzerland's lump sum taxation on a federal tax base of at least CHF 435,000, and Greece's 100,000 euro non dom charge. The right choice depends on where the income arises, how the family lives and the exit rules of the country being left.

Key takeaways

UAE: no personal income tax on salaries or personal investment income; corporate tax of 9 percent applies to business profits above 375,000 dirhams.
Monaco: no personal income tax for residents, except French nationals under the 1963 France Monaco convention.
Italy: 300,000 euros a year on all foreign income, plus 50,000 per family member, for those moving their residence after 31 December 2025 (Law 199 of 2025).
Switzerland: lump sum taxation on living expenses, with a federal minimum tax base of CHF 435,000 for 2026; several cantons, including Zurich, have abolished it.
The exit matters as much as the destination: the UK keeps former long term residents in inheritance tax for 3 to 10 years after they leave.

For internationally mobile families, choosing where to be tax resident is a live question in 2026, sharpened by the end of the UK non dom regime in April 2025. The table below gives the figure that matters for each destination, the law it rests on and where to check it. This is a comparison, not tax advice: every move needs cross border planning in both the new country and the one being left.

Each figure checked against the source listed on 12 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with a local adviser before acting.

Leading tax residency destinations, at a glance

Country	Personal income tax	Regime for wealthy residents	Key figure	Legal basis	Official source
UAE	None on salaries or personal investment income	10 year Golden Visa (residence, not a tax regime)	Corporate tax 9 percent above 375,000 dirhams; applies to an individual's business only above 1 million dirhams of turnover	Federal Decree Law 47/2022; Cabinet Decision 49/2023	UAE Ministry of Finance
Monaco	None for residents, except French nationals	Residence permit	No income tax on persons genuinely established in Monaco	France Monaco convention of 1963 for French nationals	Government of Monaco
Italy	Progressive	Flat substitute tax on foreign income	300,000 euros a year, plus 50,000 per family member, for moves after 31 December 2025	Art. 24-bis TUIR; Law 199/2025	Agenzia delle Entrate
Switzerland	Federal, cantonal and communal	Lump sum taxation on living expenses	Federal tax base of at least CHF 435,000 and 7 times the rent (2026); not available in several cantons, including Zurich	Federal Direct Tax Act and cantonal laws	Swiss Federal Tax Administration
Greece	Progressive	Non dom lump sum on foreign income	100,000 euros a year, plus 20,000 per family member, for up to 15 years; investment of at least 500,000 euros	Art. 5A Income Tax Code	Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE)
Portugal	Progressive	IFICI, which replaced the NHR regime in 2024	20 percent on qualifying Portuguese professional income for 10 years; foreign pensions taxable	Tax Benefits Statute	Portuguese Tax Authority
Cyprus	Progressive	Non dom status	Non doms exempt from the defence contribution on dividends and interest; no inheritance tax	Special Defence Contribution Law	Cyprus Tax Department
Malta	Progressive	Remittance basis for non doms	Foreign income taxed only when brought to Malta	Income Tax Act	Commissioner for Tax and Customs
Singapore	Progressive, up to 24 percent	No specific regime; no capital gains or inheritance tax	Top rate of 24 percent above S$1,000,000 from year of assessment 2024	Income Tax Act 1947	Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

The UAE

The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries or personal investment income. Its corporate tax, in force since 2023, charges 9 percent on business profits above 375,000 dirhams, and reaches an individual only when that person's business turnover exceeds 1 million dirhams (Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023). Residence comes through the 10 year Golden Visa. According to Henley & Partners' 2025 projections, the UAE was expected to record the largest net inflow of millionaires of any country in 2025, about 9,800, while the UK was expected to lose about 16,500; these are estimates by a residence advisory firm, not official statistics.

Monaco

Residents of Monaco pay no personal income tax, with one exception: French nationals, who remain taxable in France under the 1963 France Monaco convention (Government of Monaco). The exemption applies only to persons genuinely established in the Principality. The cost is the price of living there.

Italy

Italy's regime for new residents replaces tax on all foreign income with a fixed annual charge. For people who transfer their residence to Italy after 31 December 2025, the charge is 300,000 euros a year, plus 50,000 euros for each family member included, up from 200,000 and 25,000 (Law No. 199 of 2025, amending art. 24-bis of the Income Tax Code). It can last up to 15 years. Earlier entrants keep the amount that applied when they opted in. Italian source income is taxed normally.

Switzerland

Qualifying foreign nationals who do not work in Switzerland can be taxed on their living expenses rather than their income and wealth. For the federal direct tax in 2026, the taxable base must be at least CHF 435,000 and at least seven times the annual rent or rental value of the home (Swiss Federal Tax Administration). Cantons apply their own minimums, so the final bill depends on the canton, and several cantons, including Zurich, have abolished the regime.

Greece, Portugal and the others

Greece charges a lump sum of 100,000 euros a year on all foreign income, plus 20,000 euros per family member, for up to 15 years, provided the person was not Greek resident for 7 of the previous 8 years and invests at least 500,000 euros in the country. Its golden visa is tiered: 800,000 euros in high demand areas, 400,000 elsewhere and 250,000 for qualifying conversions (Law 5162/2024). Portugal replaced its NHR regime with IFICI in 2024, a narrower scheme that taxes qualifying professional income at 20 percent for ten years and no longer exempts foreign pensions. Cyprus and Malta offer non dom regimes, and Singapore taxes income progressively up to 24 percent but has no capital gains or inheritance tax. Spain ended its golden visa on 3 April 2025 (Organic Law 1/2025).

The trap: exit rules

The destination is half the decision. The country being left often keeps a claim. In the UK, a person resident for at least 10 of the previous 20 tax years is a long term resident for inheritance tax, and stays within its scope for at least 3 and up to 10 years after leaving, depending on how long they lived there (HMRC, IHTM47001). Becoming resident somewhere new also requires genuine presence, not a registration. See What Is Tax Residency?, What Is Non-Dom Status? and, for families who also need a base for their office, Best Countries for a Family Office.

Sources

Italy: Law No. 199 of 30 December 2025 (2026 budget law), art. 1, paragraphs 25 and 26, amending art. 24-bis of the Income Tax Code (TUIR), as summarised by DWF, January 2026.
Switzerland: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, guidance on taxation according to expenditure, form 3a, tax period 2026; on cantonal abolitions, economiesuisse, dossierpolitik No. 17, 2012.
Monaco: Government of Monaco, Tax in Monaco.
UAE: Federal Decree Law No. 47 of 2022 on corporate tax (0 percent up to 375,000 dirhams, 9 percent above) and Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023 on natural persons (business turnover above 1 million dirhams), UAE Ministry of Finance.
Greece: article 5A of the Income Tax Code, as summarised by Private Law Wiki, updated September 2026; golden visa thresholds under Law 5162/2024.
Portugal: IFICI regime in force since 1 January 2024, as summarised by the International Bar Association.
Singapore: top resident rate of 24 percent above S$1,000,000 from year of assessment 2024, Singapore Budget 2022, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Individual income tax rates.
Spain: Organic Law 1/2025 of 2 January 2025, ending the golden visa from 3 April 2025, as reported by KPMG, 2025.
United Kingdom: HMRC, Inheritance Tax Manual, IHTM47001, long term UK residence test.
Migration estimates: Henley & Partners, Private Wealth Migration Report 2025, release of 24 June 2025 (projections by a residence and citizenship advisory firm).

Frequently asked questions

What is the best country for tax residency for wealthy individuals in 2026?: There is no single answer. The UAE and Monaco levy no personal income tax on residents, with Monaco excepting French nationals. Italy, Switzerland and Greece instead cap tax on foreign income: 300,000 euros a year in Italy for people moving after 31 December 2025, lump sum taxation on a federal tax base of at least CHF 435,000 in Switzerland, and 100,000 euros a year under Greece's non dom regime. The best fit depends on where income arises, lifestyle and the exit rules of the country being left.
How much is Italy's flat tax for new residents in 2026?: 300,000 euros a year on all foreign income, plus 50,000 euros for each family member included, for individuals who transfer their residence to Italy after 31 December 2025. The increase was made by Italy's 2026 budget law, Law 199 of 2025. People who moved earlier keep the amount that applied when they opted in.
How does Swiss lump sum taxation work?: Qualifying foreign nationals who do not work in Switzerland can be taxed on their living expenses instead of their income and wealth. For the direct federal tax in 2026, the taxable base must be at least CHF 435,000 and at least seven times the annual rent or rental value of their home. Cantons set their own minimums, and several cantons, including Zurich, have abolished the regime.
Which countries have no personal income tax?: Among the main destinations for wealthy families, the UAE and Monaco levy no personal income tax on residents. In the UAE, corporate tax can still apply to an individual's business activity above a turnover threshold, and in Monaco French nationals remain taxable in France under the 1963 convention.
Can you move to a low tax country and stop paying tax at home?: Not simply. You must become genuinely resident in the new country, and the country you leave may keep taxing you. The UK, for example, keeps former long term residents, meaning those resident for at least 10 of the previous 20 tax years, within inheritance tax for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 years after they leave.

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This guide is educational and general in nature. It does not constitute investment, legal, tax or financial advice.