High net worth individuals (HNWI) are becoming increasingly exposed to a ‘global surge’ in wealth and exit taxes, requiring an increased focus on forward-looking planning, according to Global Citizen Solutions.

The consultancy, which specialises in residency and citizenship by investment, real estate, and global mobility, analysed how tax reforms in 2025 were reshaping financial strategies for HNWIs.

It noted that governments around the world were increasingly turning to wealth and exit taxes as tools for post-pandemic economic recovery and inequality reduction, highlighting recent developments in countries such as the UK, US, and Spain.

“We are witnessing a global trend toward taxing not just income, but the accumulation and movement of wealth,” said Global Citizen Solutions CEO, Patricia Casaburi.

“While these measures aim to address inequality and fund public spending, they also raise real concerns about legal certainty, investor confidence, and the long-term competitiveness of high-tax jurisdictions.”

The consultancy pointed to the UK’s replacement of the non-dom regime with a residence-based tax system that eliminates the remittance basis for foreign income and gains, leading to long-term residents facing global taxation, including inheritance tax, and reduced protections for offshore trusts.

Meanwhile, US citizens receiving gifts or bequests from expatriates will face a 40 per cent tax under new IRS rules, while Spain and Colombia have formalised temporary wealth taxes as permanent national obligations.

“This is not just about new tax rules - it’s about a philosophical shift,” Casaburi stated. “Tax residency, wealth mobility, and global citizenship are converging like never before. HNWIs are increasingly exposed, and that requires forward-looking planning.

“Wealth taxes are notoriously difficult to enforce without triggering unintended consequences. Without careful design, they can lead to capital erosion, legal disputes, and ultimately drive mobile wealth and talent to jurisdictions that offer more stable frameworks.”

HNWIs are responding to the shifting landscape by accelerating wealth transfers, restructuring assets, and increasingly using strategic residency and citizenship tools to protect mobility and long-term financial security, Global Citizen Solutions noted.

“Residency and citizenship are no longer just about lifestyle,” Casaburi added. “They’re now essential elements of global wealth strategy.”

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