Benjamin Franklin famously wrote that “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” While at the time of writing there’s no way to negate death, I can’t help but feel like he didn’t tell the full story when it comes to the tax situation.
Many well structured business owners and investors have made the news by reducing their tax bill to $0 (or less). In fact, many countries around the globe do not levy any kind of income tax on their citizens or residents.
If you live somewhere with high taxes you might be considering a move to what many people consider to be a tax haven.
Before you start packing however, you should be aware that not all of these countries are what you’d call bucket list destinations. And while some may be fun for a visit, choosing to call them home is a whole other commitment.
Read on with me, and dig a little deeper.
Is It Still Income Tax if It’s Called Something Else?
The label matters less than what you actually pay. Payroll taxes, compulsory contributions, business taxes and consumption taxes have different legal purposes, but all affect your budget. Compare their scope and your real household costs rather than adding unrelated percentages together.
My overall message is—income tax is only one piece of the puzzle. If you’re seeking a better life by relocating yourself or your family, I hope this list will go to show that tax should be one of many considerations.
Just because you can reduce your taxes doesn’t mean that you pocket a heap of cash each month. Often the governments in these countries make money without taxes through ‘fees’, ‘levies’ and ‘duties’.
Similarly, as you go through this list you’ll see details of sales, payroll and social security taxes. These are not necessarily the exact terms each government uses, so I’ve had to use some creative license here.
Regardless, they all mean the same thing—you or your company will be paying a portion of your income to the government each year. The purpose of these statistics is is to give you some data points to compare in addition to that 0% rate of income tax.
Consider the Bigger Picture
Many other things that affect cost of living and financial secure, like property taxes, food and utilities, as well as the often much lower salaries in these locations.
In many cases, you may not end up being any richer by relocating. In some of these countries, you’ll almost definitely end up poorer.
In addition to this, remember that life isn’t all about finances. It’s very likely that healthcare isn’t up to your standard, schooling is either limited or insanely expensive for anything of quality, and personal security can be a real issue.
What’s the price you’re willing to pay for you and your family’s everyday safety and happiness?
Countries With No Income Tax
The alphabetical examples below include jurisdictions without a general personal income tax, special cases, and counterexamples often included incorrectly. The distinction matters: a salary exemption, a tax-free band and a complete absence of income tax are not the same thing.
While some of these countries or territories are a dream to live in, there are probably more than a few that you may not feel comfortable calling home.
Still, this is a fun thought exercise and I’m excited to share these countries with you!
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda abolished personal income tax in 2016. That does not remove business taxes, consumption taxes or social contributions. The government’s abolition announcement concerned personal income tax, not every payment to the state.
The US$20,000 annual figure quoted for a special tax-residence programme is not a universal charge on every resident. Immigration residence, a particular tax-residence programme and citizenship are different routes. Price the one you actually qualify for, including a home, insurance and living costs.
While there is technically 0% charged on income, in order to qualify as a resident you need to pay a flat fee of $20,000 per year. So straight off the bat, we can see that ‘no income tax’ doesn’t actually mean you get to keep 100% of what you earn.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas currently has no general personal income tax. Current personal-tax summary. VAT, property-related charges and other fees still affect your budget; a company’s obligations are not identical to those of its owner.
Economic permanent residence now has a qualifying investment threshold of BSD 1 million and a ten-year holding condition. The 2025 change replaces the old lower figures in many guides. An annual permit is a different category. Island life and proximity to North America may appeal, but compare actual housing and insurance costs.
Renewable annually, a temporary residence permit will set you back $1,000. Relocating here on a more permanent basis requires a property investment of at least $250,000.
Bahrain
Bahrain currently has no general personal income-tax regime, but employment-related contributions and indirect taxes remain. Current personal-tax summary. It is inaccurate to equate that with a tax-free company or a cost-free move.
Golden residency is subject to category-specific requirements. A November 2025 amendment changed the relevant property criterion to BHD130,000; other qualifying routes have different evidence requirements. Do not use old US-dollar conversions as an application checklist. Check the category and current work rights before committing funds.
Specifically, you must purchase property worth at least $132,000 or invest $266,000 in a local company. You’ll need to show a monthly income of at least $1,350 as well. Bahrain also has a golden residency visa for qualifying foreigners.
Bermuda
Bermuda has no general personal income tax, but payroll tax applies to employment and self-employment remuneration. The absence of a tax called income tax does not mean that earning locally has no tax cost.
A 15% corporate income tax has applied since 2025 to in-scope large multinational groups. Tax Reform Commission’s explanation. Residence and investment permissions also have their own conditions; marrying a resident does not simply let anyone pack a bag and settle. Housing and imported goods can be major costs.
Obtaining permanent residence is easy if you’re married to a Bermudian resident—you simply pack your bags and hop on a flight. Alternately, you’ll need to be an ordinary resident for at least 15 years prior.
The British Virgin Islands
The BVI generally has no income or capital gains tax, but payroll tax can apply to actual or deemed remuneration. Property transfers, licensing and other obligations still matter. Current private-client legal guide.
Owning a BVI company does not grant the right to live or work in the territory. Treat residence, employment and company administration as separate enquiries. The old claim that a particular net worth automatically grants immediate citizenship is not a sound basis for planning a move.
For a permanent residence application to be considered you must live there consecutively for a period of 20 years. You also cannot be out of the territory for more than 90 days in any calendar year.
Brunei
Brunei does not currently impose personal income tax on individuals. Current tax summary. Corporate taxation, social arrangements and the rules for foreign workers are separate matters.
This is not a general retirement or remote-worker residence offer. Establish a lawful immigration basis and understand local legal and cultural requirements before considering a move. Being able to afford a home does not by itself establish permission to settle or trade there.
For all but the most select expats, a work permit is the best case scenario for becoming a resident for tax purposes.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands has no general income or capital gains tax, but duties, property transaction costs, health insurance and pensions can make a substantial difference to a household budget. The government’s economic overview explains the reliance on indirect charges.
There are different residence categories for employment, independent means and investment. Their investment amounts, income tests and work rights are not interchangeable, so the old single US$600,000 example is not a current universal entry price. Price the actual category and island, plus the imported goods and services your family uses.
It’s worth noting that these figures are for the pleasure of living on the main island of Grand Cayman. If you’re happy to settle on one of the smaller islands you can get away with half of that amount.
Kuwait
Kuwait currently has no personal income-tax regime. Current personal-tax summary. Corporate and employment-related obligations still need separate attention.
The right to live there generally needs an appropriate immigration or sponsorship basis. A low tax rate does not create a remote-worker permit, and business ownership, employment and family routes have different conditions. Check the available category rather than relying on an old claim that only marriage, ancestry or one particular work arrangement is possible.
While it would be tax-free heaven to live in Kuwait, it’s by no means easy to obtain permanent residence.
The Maldives
The Maldives is a counterexample, not a country without income tax. Its income-tax system began in 2020. Individuals have a zero-rate band up to MVR 720,000 of annual taxable income, followed by progressive rates up to 15%. MIRA’s individual tax guide.
Residents are generally taxed on worldwide income; non-residents and people meeting the statutory temporary-resident definition have a different scope. The definition must be checked in the current Income Tax Act, rather than inferred from one stay-length or marriage test. A holiday in a resort is also quite different from securing permission to live and work in the country.
Why does this matter? Well, while permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income, temporary residents are only taxed on income derived from the Maldives. Yet another incentive to build a location independent business!
Monaco
Monaco generally has no personal income tax for its residents, but the French-nationality rules and continuing liabilities in other countries matter. A residence permit does not automatically end your tax residence elsewhere.
Applicants need suitable accommodation, sufficient financial resources and the relevant supporting documents. A bank may set its own minimum for providing a reference; a €500,000 account minimum is not a universal statutory government deposit. The government’s relocation guidance describes the underlying requirements.
This is a very expensive, compact place to live. Compare actual properties you could afford and would enjoy living in, rather than a precise monthly cost estimate or an anecdote about a particularly expensive parking space.
While becoming a resident requires very deep pockets, the application process itself is not complicated.
Nauru
Nauru should not be described as a place where every resident has a $250,000 personal income-tax allowance. Its Revenue Office explains separate employment, service and business taxes, with different rules for citizenship, residence, entity type and turnover.
A new Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program exists, so the old statement that investment citizenship simply ended is also stale. Buying citizenship does not itself produce tax residence or eliminate taxes where you already live. For most online business owners, the remote location and available services would need as much investigation as the tax rules.
Sadly, the potential of this island nation is unrealised. Environmental problems caused by phosphate mining and limited environmental and health laws is causing trouble on land, while climate change is having an impact on coral, posing significant risks.
Oman
Oman has no general personal income tax in force in October 2026, but that is already scheduled to change. Royal Decree 56/2025 introduces personal income tax from the beginning of 2028, with a 5% rate and an annual OMR 42,000 income threshold under the law’s conditions. Tax Authority’s announcement.
A long-term relocation budget should account for the enacted change. Investor and employment residence have their own requirements, while VAT, business taxes and local costs remain relevant now. An undated quality-of-life ranking is not a substitute for trying the place yourself.
For most Westerners, the conservative Omani culture is an adjustment. Take for example the fact that you need a personal liquor licence from a local police station just to purchase a bottle of wine.
Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn is an unusual, remote community, not a simple “free land and no tax” relocation hack. Travel requires careful planning, and settlement depends on immigration approval, health, character, accommodation and the ability to support yourself.
The government’s immigration guidance distinguishes a short visit, a longer visit and settlement. Establish transport, internet, medical access and a viable livelihood before treating a land arrangement or tax headline as the deciding factor. This is a very different proposition from moving between well-connected cities.
Those visiting the country generally fly to Tahiti, then continue the journey via air a few days later, onwards to Mangareva. From there, a ferry completes the journey to Pitcairn.
Qatar
Qatar generally does not impose income tax on employed individuals’ salaries, wages and allowances. Qualifying business income from Qatar can nevertheless be taxable, including for a self-employed individual. Current distinction between employment and business income.
That makes “no income tax for everyone” an incomplete description. Immigration residence and permission to work have separate categories and conditions. Family circumstances, schooling, insurance and the cost of the home you would actually rent belong in the calculation, rather than an unsupported claim that Qatar is the only Gulf state offering permanent residence.
Requirements are notoriously strict. For starters, you must have lived in the country for over 20 years and have a strong command of Arabic to even be eligible.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis is generally described as having no personal income tax, but payroll-related Social Services Levy and social security still matter. The Revenue Department’s explanation of the levy makes clear that ordinary wages remain subject to its normal provisions; a temporary December 2025 bonus waiver is not a permanent exemption.
The current Sustainable Island State Contribution starts at US$250,000 for an applicant or qualifying family of up to four, with due-diligence and other charges additional. Official programme conditions. The old US$150,000 donation figure is stale. Citizenship, actual residence and ending tax residence elsewhere are separate questions.
Compared to other places, the cost of their citizenship by investment programme is quite low. Getting a passport requires a donation of $150,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund or an investment of at least $200,000 in a government-approved real estate project.
Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos generally has no personal income or capital gains tax. National Insurance, health insurance, import duties, business licences and property transaction charges still affect the cost of living and earning there. Local guide to taxes and compulsory contributions.
Temporary residence, permanent residence and permission to work have different conditions. Do not use the old island-by-island investment figures or annual permit fee as a current universal quote. Get the requirements for the exact category and a budget for housing, insurance and imported essentials before treating it as a tax saving.
A temporary residence permit can be obtained for those interested in residing in the islands without the right to work. An investment of $500,000 must be made in Providenciales and West Caicos, or $250,000 on any of the other islands. Permits cost $1,500 and must be renewed annually.
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Barthélemy has a distinctive tax regime, not an immediate general exemption for anyone spending six months there. The French statutory rules include a five-year residence condition and rules that can preserve mainland French taxation before that condition is met.
French nationality is not the only relevant test. Check the application of those rules to your previous tax home, income sources and household. Immigration rights are another enquiry, while housing on a small, expensive island may outweigh the apparent tax advantage.
Tourists from the United States and Canada can visit for up to three months without a visa. If you’re from elsewhere you may need a French visa to gain entry.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE does not impose a general personal income tax on wages. But a natural person conducting business can enter the corporate-tax regime if the conditions are met, including the AED 1 million annual business-turnover threshold. Qualifying personal investments and real-estate investment income are excluded categories. Federal Tax Authority’s explanation.
A company’s tax position is different again. Residence visas have multiple routes; the old claim that every ten-year visa requires AED 10 million is not a universal rule. Compare the route you qualify for, actual presence and your continuing tax position elsewhere before relying on the headline zero.
Like its neighbours, the Emirates enjoys considerable wealth from oil exports. Wealth it generously passes onto its residents in the form of a tax-free lifestyle.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu has no general income-tax system, but consumption taxes, duties, business requirements and other charges remain. The Customs and Inland Revenue financial-reporting guide also illustrates why the absence of income tax does not mean the absence of tax-residence documentation or information exchange.
Residence and citizenship programmes are separate. Do not buy a passport on the assumption that it ends tax residence elsewhere or guarantees a fixed list of visa-free destinations. Assess the actual right to live and work, travel connections, medical access and housing before committing money.
While it may sound appealing to move here, it’s worth noting that no physical residency is required in order to gain Vanuatu citizenship. Vanuatu’s passport has gained considerable strength in recent years, offering visa-free travel to 98 countries around the globe.
Vatican City State
The Pope still is not advertising for roommates. More seriously, Vatican residence and citizenship arise from specific functions and permissions, not an ordinary investor or remote-worker immigration programme. The state’s population and citizenship explanation describes that connection.
It is an interesting place to visit, but not a practical tax-residence recommendation for an online entrepreneur. A table of zeroes gives a misleading impression of an option that is generally available to the reader.
You can at least visit the Vatican City. While you don’t need a visa to enter, the dress code is fairly strict. When you enter the facilities, you’ll soon discover one of many non-tax sources of revenue. Admission, tours, collectible coins and stamps, publications and more, all contribute.
Wallis and Futuna
The territory’s official fiscal notice states that a local income tax is not implemented. That does not settle French-source withholding or another country’s tax claims; for example, the French state-pension guidance has separate treatment.
Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas collectivity with its own entry and stay rules, not simply an EU destination governed by Schengen permissions. Use the territory-specific entry rules for your nationality and intended stay, and investigate transport, healthcare and business permissions.
Because Wallis and Futuna is part of France, they fall under the auspices of the EU. As such, EU citizens can settle on the island without much difficulty.
Western Sahara
Western Sahara should not have been offered as a verified tax-free country. The United Nations lists it as a Non-Self-Governing Territory with unresolved status. Disputed sovereignty is not evidence of a general zero income-tax regime.
I would not use it as a tax-residence option on the basis of a list like this. The relevant administration, exact location, immigration permission and applicable laws would need specific advice. The former row of zero tax rates has been removed because it was not substantiated.
Western Sahara is recognised as a full member of the African Union and enjoys diplomatic relations with 35 countries, so it wouldn’t be fair to dismiss it out of hand.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, shopping about for countries without income tax isn’t enough. That in itself doesn’t mean a place is worth moving to.
If nothing more, there’s still the matter of obtaining the legal right to reside there.
From my perspective, there are plenty of other factors that make a place appealing beyond its tax regime.
After spending time in Canada, my wife and I eventually decided to settle in a tiny principality in the Pyrenees.
Living in Andorra affords us a high quality of life that includes an excellent healthcare system, a wide range of school systems for our son and plenty of access to outdoor activities.
For all of that (and more) we’re more than happy to pay a very reasonable 10% into Andorra’s tax system.