Readers' forum : Splitting years

Our client was born and resident in the UK before leaving to work full time in Malaysia in 2010-11. He is being made redundant and expects to return to the UK in July 2016. His visits to the UK have usually been no more than 30 days a year split across two visits. His recent tax returns have always shown him as non-resident having two ties: accommodation and family. He has never worked when visiting the UK.

The client will receive the equivalent of four months’ salary (about £50 000) as a termination payment from his Malaysian employer subject to local tax. This payment will be remitted to his UK bank and he will close down his Malaysian accounts and return any savings to the UK. On his return he may work as a contractor through his limited company or as a full-time PAYE employee.

I understand that to...