Receiving an Inheritance from South Africa — Guide for Overseas Beneficiaries
Simplifying Cross-Border Inheritance Transfers
If you’re an overseas beneficiary, navigating South Africa’s inheritance process can feel complex. With SARB exchange control rules, residency requirements, and banking regulations, it’s often unclear how to access your inheritance abroad.
Simplifying Cross-Border Inheritance Transfers
If you’re an overseas beneficiary, navigating South Africa’s inheritance process can feel complex. With SARB exchange control rules, residency requirements, and banking regulations, it’s often unclear how to access your inheritance abroad.
How We Assist Overseas Beneficiaries
Confirm Your Residency Status
We help determine if you’re a South African resident, non-tax resident, or full non-resident, ensuring your inheritance follows the correct and compliant transfer route.
Prepare Documentation
We guide you in gathering key documents — ID, passport, proof of address, and SARS or tax emigration records — for quick and smooth approval.
Open a Bank Account
We help set up the right account, often a non-resident bank account in your name, to receive your inheritance and transfer it abroad securely.
Understand Transfer Limits
From the R1 million allowance to the R10 million limit, we simplify requirements, handle SARS clearance, and assist with any special approvals.
Transfer Funds Abroad
We convert your Rand into foreign currency and transfer funds securely to your offshore account, ensuring a smooth and compliant process.
Common Scenarios We Handle
South Africans Living Abroad
Resident permanently abroad (tax emigrated): We assist with non-resident account setup and inheritance transfer.
Resident temporarily abroad, no SA bank account: Use your R1 million and R10 million allowances (with SARS clearance) to move funds overseas.
South African-Born Without Local Documents
Born in South Africa, no SA ID or tax number: We work with banks to approve transfers using alternate proof, such as a passport and proof of address.
Non-resident, never lived in South Africa: We facilitate inheritance transfers through a non-resident account setup.
Large Inheritances (Above R10 Million)
- We assist with SARS applications, SARB approvals, and manual tax compliance letters for transfers exceeding R10 million.
Why Choose Merchant West Treasury for Inheritance Transfers?
Avoid delays and penalties with our expert navigation of SARB rules, ensuring full compliance at every stage. Benefit from competitive rates and transparent fees to maximise your inheritance value with no hidden costs. Enjoy personalised service through direct access to a dedicated trading and advisory team. For transfers over R1 million, we provide free SARS assistance, obtaining AIT tax clearance at no cost. Trusted since 2003, we’re backed by the Merchant West Group, with a proven track record of helping overseas beneficiaries.
Frequently Asked Questions — Inheritance Transfers
Not always. Often, we assist beneficiaries in opening a non-resident bank account specifically for inheritance purposes. Funds are then converted and transferred abroad.
Once all documents are in order, bank account setup typically takes about 3 working days. The overall timeline depends on the Executor of the estate releasing the funds.
Yes, but the process varies depending on residency status. We ensure compliance with SARB rules and help convert and transfer your inheritance securely.
Merchant West does not charge to assist with account setup or approvals, unless it is external costs (eg special Reserve Bank approvals). The only cost is a transparent spread applied when converting Rands into foreign currency for transfer.
For inheritances above R10m, special SARS and SARB approvals are required. We manage the process, including applications and manual compliance letters.
Merchant West Treasury Solutions specialises in helping overseas beneficiaries receive and transfer inheritances from South Africa — securely, compliantly, and efficiently.
Secure, Compliant & Competitive Treasury Solutions
Ready to Transfer Your Inheritance?
Merchant West Treasury Solutions specialises in helping overseas beneficiaries receive and transfer inheritances from South Africa — securely, compliantly, and efficiently.