Countries That May Trigger Taxes When You Move Your Stocks

Countries That May Trigger Taxes When You Move Your Stocks

There are three major ways countries tax you when you move your assets:

1. Exit tax when you leave the country (a “deemed sale” of your shares)

2. Capital-gains tax triggered by transferring your stocks between brokers

3. Stamp duties / financial transaction taxes on transfers

1. Countries With Exit Taxes (Deemed Capital Gains When You Move Away)

These countries impose tax when you change your tax residency and own significant financial assets (including stocks):

Canada

Levies a Departure Tax, treating your stocks as sold the day you emigrate.

Netherlands

Has an exit tax for “substantial interest” shareholders (≥5%).

France

Exit tax applies if significant shareholdings were held before leaving France.

Germany

Exit tax for anyone holding ≥1% of a company’s shares in the last 5 years.

Spain

Exit tax on shareholders with significant assets once residency ends.

Norway

Has a strict exit tax for unrealized gains over certain thresholds.

Japan

Exit tax on unrealized gains for large shareholders leaving Japan.

Denmark

Applies exit tax on unrealized gains when tax residency changes.

---

2. Countries Where Transferring Stocks Between Brokers Can Trigger Tax

In many countries, transferring shares between brokers does NOT trigger tax if done as an “in-kind transfer.”

However, tax may apply in countries that treat transfers as disposals in specific cases.

These countries may trigger taxation depending on the method of transfer:

United Kingdom

No tax for in-kind transfers, but stamp duty applies if the transfer involves a new “purchase.”

Italy

Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) may apply to certain transfers.

France

FTT applies to purchases of French securities; transfers sometimes treated as purchases.

Belgium

Has a stock transaction tax that can hit transfers depending on the intermediaries.

Switzerland

Stamp duty can apply when Swiss securities are transferred through a Swiss financial institution.

Hong Kong

0.2% stamp duty applies to any share transfer (buyer + seller), including some internal transfers.

Singapore

No capital gains tax, but stamp duty applies on certain private share transfers.

---

3. Countries Where Moving Stocks Does NOT Trigger Tax

In these countries, in-kind brokerage transfers are typically tax-free:

United States — no tax on transfers; only selling triggers capital gains.

Australia — transfers normally tax-neutral unless an exit tax applies when you leave.

United Kingdom — transfers tax-neutral unless treated as a “purchase.”

Ireland

New Zealand

UAE

Chile

Most tax-free or capital-gains-exempt jurisdictions

Simplified Overview

Situation Examples of Countries

Exit tax when you move countries Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Japan, Denmark

Taxes on stock transfer between brokers UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore

No tax on stock transfers USA, Australia (within country), NZ, UAE