Additional changes to income tax returns for trusts
The South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) implemented several changes to the income tax returns for trusts (the ITR12T) on 17 September 2018. These changes are in addition to the changes already made on 26 February 2018. The September 2018 changes apply in respect of the year of assessment ending on 28 February 2018. Taxpayers that […]
Deduction for photovoltaic solar energy plants
Section 12B(1) and (2) of the Income Tax Act[1] provides for a 50/30/20 income tax deduction in respect of certain machinery or plant owned by the taxpayer and which was or is brought into use for the first time by that taxpayer, for the purpose of his or her trade to be used by that […]
REGISTRATION OF A TRUST AS A TAXPAYER
The frustration experienced by taxpayers and the complexity of registering a trust as a taxpayer with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), has been widely publicised in recent years. Despite calls from industry bodies for a simplified approach (like companies and individuals), registering a trust as a taxpayer remains an overly complex process. The inconsistency […]
THE INTERPRETATIVE VALUE OF SARS INTERPRETATION NOTES
In terms of section 4 of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Act,[1] one of the objectives of SARS is to secure the efficient, effective and widest possible enforcement of tax and related acts. One of the methods employed by SARS in this mandate is through the publication of official documents on the application, or […]
CUSTOMS FOR INDIVIDUALS TRAVELLING ABROAD AND RETURNING TO SA
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) recently published a media release to clarify the confusion about the customs requirements for South African travellers returning from abroad regarding their personal effects (such as laptops and other electronic equipment). The confusion stems from various media reports on the inconsistent treatment of returning travellers by customs officials, some […]
DEDUCTIBILITY OF INTEREST FOR NON-TRADING INDIVIDUALS
SARS Practice Note 31.2 (PN31.2) provides for a person to be able to deduct interest paid, even where that person is not a moneylender or doesn’t carry on any other trade, where that interest expense is incurred in the production of other interest earned to the extent that it does not exceed the interest income. […]
2018 TAX SEASON: SARS SHORTENS SUBMISSION PERIOD
The annual tax filing season is upon us and acting SARS Commissioner, Mark Kingon, announced that the season will open on 1 July 2018 for eFilers. SARS branches will assist taxpayers from 2 July 2018. The filing season will then end on 31 October. To improve efficiency, the season will be shortened by three weeks, […]
THE TAX COURT REVIEWS THE DEDUCTIBILITY OF GENERAL BUSINESS EXPENSES
The recent Cape Town Tax Court judgment of S G Taxpayer v The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service,[1] delivered on 9 May 2018, re-affirmed a number of key concepts regarding the deductibility of expenses for tax purposes generally in terms of the general deductions formula contained in section 11(a) of the Income Tax […]
VALID TAX INVOICE REQUIREMENTS FOR VAT VENDORS
When making a purchase for your business, you should always ensure you receive a valid VAT invoice. This enables you to claim input VAT from SARS. With the change in VAT rate from 14% to 15%, VAT has come under the spotlight. This brings more focus on VAT compliance and more specifically on when we […]
CLAIMING VAT INPUT ON “PRE-ENTERPRISE” EXPENDITURE
In terms of section 17 of the Value-Added Tax Act, 89 of 1991, a registered VAT vendor is entitled to claim back any amounts of VAT paid on goods and services acquired or imported that will be used in the furtherance of that particular VAT enterprise. The ability to claim input VAT in this manner […]
