ACCA Advanced Taxation (ATX) Practice Exam

What is one of the conditions for an individual who has worked full-time abroad to regain residency in the UK?

1. They must initiate new employment abroad

2. They must return and acquire a home in the UK

3. They must return before their overseas contract completes

4. They must now be unemployed upon returning

The correct answer is: They must return and acquire a home in the UK

An individual who has worked full-time abroad can regain residency in the UK primarily by returning and acquiring a home in the country. Establishing a home in the UK is crucial as it signals the individual's intent to settle down and reintegrate into the community, thereby fulfilling one of the key conditions for residency. This condition reflects the UK’s residency rules, which consider a home one of the main ties an individual can have to the country. It indicates a permanent or settled presence, rather than a temporary stay. Owning or renting property provides evidence of a commitment to live in the UK, which is essential for regaining residency status after an extended period abroad. Other options do not align with the requirement to regain residency status as effectively. For example, initiating new employment abroad does not demonstrate a desire to return and settle in the UK, while returning before an overseas contract is completed might not reflect the intention of re-establishing residence. Similarly, returning unemployed could indicate a lack of intention to establish a permanent presence, which doesn't fulfill the residency criteria.