Most countries’ personal income tax systems are based on **Tax Residency** rather than nationality: once you meet a country’s tax resident recognition standards (typically residing more than 183 days/year), you must pay tax on Worldwide Income in that country, regardless of the income source country. This means “my Chinese stock dividends/rental income/salary already paid taxes in China” isn’t sufficient to exempt reporting obligations in a new residency country — Tax Treaties are needed to avoid double taxation.
## Major Destination Country Tax Overview
**Canada**: federal tax rates 15-33%; each province adds surcharge; tax residents must declare global income (T1 form); RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) is the primary legal tax reduction tool (contributions deducted pre-tax); overseas assets exceeding CAD $100,000 must be reported on T1135 (Foreign Income Verification Statement) with severe non-compliance penalties. **Australia**: tax rates 19-45% (residents); tax year July 1 to June 30 the following year; overseas income must be declared; tax treatment of assets retained outside Australia is complex and requires a tax advisor. **UK**: tax rates 20-45%; Non-Domiciled Residents can elect to pay tax only on UK-sourced income (Remittance Basis), which is significant for new immigrants retaining substantial overseas assets.
## Key Tax Planning Points Before Immigration
**Terminating Chinese tax residency**: cancel Chinese tax resident status before leaving China (or confirm no longer meeting tax resident conditions) to avoid continuing Chinese tax obligations after departure; **Overseas account CRS reporting**: understand which account information is reported under the CRS framework to avoid tax risks from information inconsistencies; **Asset transfer timing**: completing certain asset disposals (e.g., liquidating stocks, selling real estate) **before** becoming a new country’s tax resident may apply different tax rates; **Seek professional tax advice**: immigration taxation is extremely complex with large individual variation — consult tax advisors familiar with both countries’ tax laws before making decisions.
See [Skilled Migration Overview](https://sunqi.org/skilled-migration-overview-en/) and [KPMG Global Tax Rate Comparison Tool](https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/services/tax/tax-tools-and-resources/tax-rates-online.html).
