Employee share incentive schemes

Employer companies generally implement employee share incentive schemes to retain and incentivise their employees by enabling the latter to receive indirect benefits from the appreciation in the growth of the company. This is an effective way to offer benefits to employees and encourage their participation and loyalty of employees. Even though these schemes are generally […]

PAYE and non-residents

Employment income is generally taxed where the services are physically exercised. The place of contract conclusion, where the employer is based and where the remuneration is paid is irrelevant in determining the taxation of employment income. This principle is supported by South African legislation and case law. Income earned from South African employers for services […]

Are civil judgments susceptible to rescission?

On 11 March 2022, the Constitutional Court (CC) of South Africa granted leave to appeal and set aside an order from the High Court of South Africa (HC), Western Cape Division. The issue before the court in Barnard Labuschagne Incorporated v SARS was whether a certified statement filed by SARS that is treated as a […]

Transfer of assets between spouses: What are the tax implications?

Section 9HB of the Income Tax Act provides for a roll-over of a capital gain or loss when an asset is transferred between spouses during their lifetimes. The roll-over is mandatory, and spouses do not have the option to elect out of it. The policy rationale for the roll-over is that the transferor spouse must benefit […]

Anomalies in fringe benefits regarding retirement funds addressed

With effect from 1 March 2016, and in terms of paragraph 2(l) of the Seventh Schedule to the Income Tax Act, all employer contributions to a retirement fund on behalf of employees are considered taxable fringe benefits in the employees’ hands. In turn, paragraph 12D(2) of the Seventh Schedule stipulates that if the employer contributes towards a fund […]

More time to benefit from the learnership tax incentive

The Learnership Tax Incentive, which was introduced in the Income Tax Act on 1 October 2001, is a programme that supports skills intensity through the tax system. To encourage skills development and job creation, the Learnership Tax Incentive provides employers with an additional tax deduction over and above the normal deduction on remuneration. The additional […]

Explained: Dividends according to the Income Tax Act

Although there are several exclusions to the general rule, South Africa applies a withholding tax on dividends declared by companies at a rate of 20%. It is essential to appreciate that such a withholding obligation for companies do not arise only on “ordinary” dividends but that the concept of what constitutes a dividend, goes much wider. The Income Tax […]

Tax neutral liquidation distributions

The Income Tax Act contains various provisions in terms of which transactions can occur between specified parties without adverse tax consequences being incurred in respect of those transactions. These provisions are contained in sections 41 to 47 of the Income Tax Act and are generally known as the “group relief provisions”. Apart from certain value-shifting and general anti-avoidance provisions, the group relief […]

Deductions on amounts already taxed

It often happens that a person may receive remuneration and other similar amounts (for services rendered or to be rendered, or by virtue of employment or the holding of any office), which subsequently have to be refunded, often because of contractual obligations not having been fulfilled, or due to an overpayment which was previously subject to tax. These amounts […]

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 […]