Tax trap for South Africans taking money out of the country

• South Africans may face an unexpected tax bill upon death due to foreign countries taxing assets held within their borders even if the investor never lived there.
• Offshore investments have become increasingly common among South Africans looking to diversify their wealth and access global markets.
• The tax is not necessarily eliminated, but the liability may be deferred until the surviving spouse later dies or disposes of the assets.