Two retirement pots: Limited access, compulsory preservation

Is the proposed two-pot retirement system ‘stirring the pot’ in the retirement fund industry? The draft tax legislation released by National Treasury on 29 July 2022 contains details of the much anticipated two-pot retirement system.  The proposed changes are quite far-reaching—although there will also be criticism that the changes do not go far enough. The […]

Don’t lose that assessed loss!

Assessed losses can be carried forward—provided that the company doesn’t cease trading If the amount of allowable deductions exceeds the taxable income in your business, you will end up with what is known as an ‘assessed loss’ for tax purposes.  In terms of Section 20 of the Income Tax Act, you are entitled to carry […]

Balancing your business’s losses and taxes

In line with the 2020 Budget Announcement, Government proposes to broaden the corporate income tax base by restricting the offset of the balance of assessed losses carried forward to 80% of taxable income. The proposal extends to the balance of assessed losses at the time of implementation, i.e. it is not only the accumulation of losses starting […]

VAT concerns during the temporary letting of property

The VAT Act makes provision for the supply of residential fixed property by a VAT vendor (being a property developer) to be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 15%. The property developer has to charge VAT on the sale of the residential fixed property. Depending on market conditions, residential fixed property developers are at times […]

Why do I need to know my rights as a taxpayer?

Since the introduction of the Tax Administration Act in 2011, which aimed to consolidate most of the administrative matters in tax acts, taxpayers have become ever more aware of their rights in dealing with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). There has also been a significant increase in the number of cases in the Tax Court (as […]

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 […]