Should you pay tax on refundable deposits?
The South African Revenue Service recently published a new Interpretation Note relating to the taxation of deposits. In the ordinary course of business, taxpayers may receive money in advance in the form of deposits related to goods or services to be delivered or rendered at a future date. Having regard to the definition of “gross income”, […]
Budget 2021: What was missing?
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivered his third annual budget address on 24 February 2021. While there was plenty of information on both income and expenditure issues, as well as proposed tax amendments, some aspects were, concerningly so, not addressed at all. Exchange control In 2020, the Minister indicated that changes would be made to South Africa’s capital flow system regulated through the South African […]
Budget 2021: Individuals and savings
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivered his third annual budget address on 24 February 2021. Below we highlight some of the significant proposals, which will likely be contained in the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill to be published for public comment in June or July 2021. Applying tax on withdrawals of retirement interest when an individual ceases to be a tax […]
Budget 2021: Corporate tax amendments
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivered his third annual budget address on 24 February 2021. The corporate tax rate reduction from 28% to 27% for years of assessment commencing on or after 1 April 2022 was arguably the most significant windfall for corporate taxpayers, although the actual cash benefits thereof will only be seen in the 2023 calendar year. Below, we highlight some of the other significant proposals, which […]
What lies ahead for SA’s budget?
On 24 February 2021, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni will deliver the annual budget address shortly on the heels of the State of the Nation Address a week earlier by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Given the expected R700 billion budget shortfall for the current cycle, Minister Mboweni will be forced to make some drastic decisions around taxation. We consider some of the potential areas that […]
SARS helping businesses lessen the tax load
The last few months have been extremely tough for small business owners as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and various lockdown measures that have created a challenging trading environment. The South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) has identified this hardship, and as a result, the National Treasury recently tabled the Disaster Management Tax Relief Administration Bill, which would assist micro, small and […]
What to expect this tax season as an individual taxpayer
The tax season is swiftly approaching. For many people, it’s a time of the year that they dread. When it comes down to it, tax can become complicated mess that involves a lot of maths and calculations that just doesn’t come naturally to most. For those of us who don’t have PhDs in accounting or […]
Can a third party collect my taxes?
Decisions of South Africa’s courts are an essential source of law. The courts uphold and enforce the Constitution and develop common law that is consistent with the values of the Constitution, and the spirit and purpose of the Bill of Rights. In a taxation context, court decisions assist in how legislation must be interpreted or […]
Confidentiality of taxpayer information: The Court decides
Decisions of South Africa’s courts are an essential source of law. The courts uphold and enforce the Constitution and develop common law that is consistent with the values of the Constitution, and the spirit and purpose of the Bill of Rights. In a taxation context, court decisions assist in how legislation must be interpreted or […]
2019 Tax Season: Officially open
The 2019 tax season officially started on 1 July 2019. Different filing periods apply, depending on the way a taxpayer chooses to submit their return: Taxpayers who use e-filing to submit their returns have from 1 July 2019 until 4 December 2019. Provisional taxpayers have until 31 January 2020. Taxpayers who prefer to visit a […]