A new article in Country Life captures something that has been building for years but now feels impossible to ignore: more British citizens and UK residents are looking abroad, and not just the ultra-rich. The magazine says the movement now includes doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and other skilled professionals who increasingly see relocation as a rational response to a heavier tax burden, tighter rules, and a growing sense that Britain offers less reward for success than it once did. (Country Life)
That shift is not happening in a vacuum. From 6 April 2025, the UK removed the remittance basis for non-domiciled individuals and moved to a more residence-based system. HMRC says that, from that date, UK residents are generally taxed on an arising basis unless they qualify for the new 4-year foreign income and gains regime. The government also introduced a Temporary Repatriation Facility for a limited three-tax-year window, while inheritance tax exposure for foreign assets now follows a residence-based framework for long-term residents. In plain English, Britain has become less forgiving for internationally mobile wealth. (GOV.UK)
Country Life’s central finding is simple: people are no longer asking whether leaving the UK is a radical idea. They are asking where to go. The publication points to a menu of destinations that each blend tax relief, lifestyle, safety, schooling, and mobility in different proportions: Monaco, Switzerland, Dubai, Antigua, Milan, Portugal, Singapore, and Florida. (Country Life)
At the pure tax-haven end of the spectrum sits Monaco. Country Life notes that Monaco still offers 0% income tax and 0% capital gains tax, with no ongoing property tax, although entry is not casual. Britons face a longer route because non-EU nationals need a French visa before applying for Monaco residency, and the cost of property is eye-watering. Monaco remains the classic answer for those who want low tax, prestige, Mediterranean weather, and proximity to Europe. (Country Life)
Switzerland, especially Zug, offers a more structured version of low-tax living. Country Life highlights that combined taxation in Zug can total about 11.9%, with 0% capital gains tax in most cases and very low property taxes. It is not cheap, but for many families it offers what Britain increasingly struggles to guarantee: stability, safety, efficiency, and a high-functioning environment for wealth preservation. (Country Life)
Then there is Dubai, which increasingly feels like the default answer for globally mobile Britons. Country Life lists 0% income tax, 0% capital gains tax, and 0% wealth or inheritance tax, plus attainable golden-visa pathways through property, business formation, or investment funds. More importantly, the article says Dubai is no longer just a temporary playground for fast money. Families are arriving, schools are expanding, and many movers now intend to stay. The publication even notes that some people who first consider Monaco end up choosing Dubai because of faster bank onboarding and easier administration. (Country Life)
For those who want an English-speaking Caribbean option, Antigua stands out. Country Life says Antigua combines 0% income tax, 0% capital gains tax, and 0% wealth or inheritance tax with a relatively accessible route via donation or qualifying real estate. It is a reminder that for some families, the offshore move is not only about saving money. It is about replacing a high-tax, high-pressure life with sunshine, sea, and a simpler structure. (Country Life)
Not every destination on the list is a classic zero-tax jurisdiction. Milan, for example, is presented as a lifestyle-and-structure play rather than a pure tax haven. Country Life points to Italy’s €300,000 annual flat tax on global income for eligible newcomers, along with Milan’s appeal as a functioning, globally connected European city. It is for people who still want a real urban centre, strong culture, and continental positioning, even if they are not chasing the absolute lowest possible tax bill. (Country Life)
Portugal is also telling. Country Life acknowledges that some of Portugal’s most famous incentives have narrowed or closed, yet it still appears on the shortlist because tax migration is not just about headline rates. It is about access to Europe after Brexit, family life, schooling, weather, and mobility. That is a theme running through the entire piece: tax starts the conversation, but quality of life closes the deal. (Country Life)
Further afield, Singapore and Florida represent two different visions of the future. Singapore offers political stability, no capital gains tax, and major Asia-hub advantages, but entry is expensive and property costs are high. Florida, by contrast, offers 0% state income tax and access to the American market, but still leaves residents exposed to US federal taxation and immigration hurdles. In other words, Florida is not tax-free, but for some entrepreneurs it can still look more attractive than staying put in the UK. (Country Life)
The broader backdrop is that Britain’s tax pressure has become harder to ignore. Capital Gains Tax rates on many assets were increased from 10% and 20% to 18% and 24% from 30 October 2024, and the rate for Business Asset Disposal Relief rises to 18% from 6 April 2026. That matters because once a country becomes less friendly for entrepreneurs, internationally mobile people begin comparing it with every other jurisdiction on the map. (GOV.UK)
Country Life also cites Henley & Partners data showing the UK was forecast to lose 16,500 millionaires in 2025, the largest net outflow in the world. The exact figure has been debated in public discussion, but the direction of travel is the real story. Wealth is mobile. Skilled people are mobile. And the UK is no longer assumed to be the natural home base for either. (Henley & Partners)
The most important finding in the Country Life piece may be the least glamorous one: this is no longer just a billionaire game. The offshore conversation has moved down-market. It now includes successful professionals, internationally minded families, and founders planning ahead of liquidity events. They are not all chasing yachts in Monaco. Many are simply doing the math and deciding that the UK no longer offers enough upside to justify the cost. (Country Life)
And yet, even Country Life concedes that London still holds prestige, world-class legal and financial services, and unmatched networks. That may be the real conclusion. Britain is not finished. But it is no longer untouchable. In 2026, for a growing number of Britons, offshore is not a fantasy. It is an invest offshore strategy. (Country Life)
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