Taxpayers who have a dispute with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) can now benefit from new rules that aim to simplify and expedite the resolution process. The new rules, which came into effect on 1 July 2023, replace the previous dispute resolution rules that were in place since 2003.
The tax incentive available for businesses to promote renewable energy will be temporarily expanded to encourage rapid private investment to alleviate the energy crisis. The current incentive allows businesses to deduct the costs of qualifying investments over a one- or three-year period, which creates a cash flow benefit in the early years of a project. Businesses are able to deduct 50 percent of the costs in the first year, 30 percent in the second and 20 percent in the third for qualifying investments in wind, concentrated solar, hydropower below 30 megawatts (MW), biomass and photovoltaic (PV) projects above 1 MW. Investors in PV projects below 1 MW are able to deduct 100 percent of the cost in the first year.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in terms of the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011, has made provision for the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) to be permanently available to a qualifying individual, company or trust that seeks to voluntarily disclose and regularise their tax affairs. This step is aligned to the SARS’ strategic objective, which seeks to provide clarity and certainty as well as make it easy and seamless for taxpayers and traders to comply with their obligations.
“Democracy will have little
Many may think that they are not old enough or wealthy enough to warrant
Taxpayers, your turn to file your tax return starts on 1 July this year. The good news is that a significant number of individual taxpayers will be auto-assessed again this year, and this process will start in July. You will be sent an SMS if you are selected to be auto-assessed. When you receive the SMS, log into eFiling or MobiApp to view your assessment. If you agree with the assessment there is nothing more to do.
On 31 March 2022, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy jointly announced a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of R1.50 per litre from Wednesday 6 April 2022 until 31 May 2022 to provide limited short-term relief to households from rising fuel prices following the Russia/Ukraine conflict. The relief was to be funded by a liquidation of a portion of the strategic crude oil reserves.
The Bounce Back Support Scheme, a loan guarantee mechanism of R15 billion which was first highlighted in the February 2022 budget speech, has come into effect in April 2022. The scheme aims to facilitate job creation and economic growth in the wake of shocks such as the Covid-19 lockdowns, the July 2021 civil unrest in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng, and the ongoing flood disaster.
It is normal practice for the new rates for travel allowances for the ensuing year to be tabled in the Budget speech in February. For some odd reason the last two years SARS has only made this information available post-budget.
The Minister of finance Enoch Godongwana tabled his Budget review on the 23rd February 2022. The following were the key tax issues arising.
Graph 1 indicates Mid-year population estimates for South Africa by population group 2024
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced key updates for the 2024 tax filing season, which commenced on July 1, 2024. This year, SARS will continue issuing auto-assessments for taxpayers with simpler tax affairs. Taxpayers are advised to check their auto-assessment status via eFiling or the SARS MobiApp, following an SMS or email notification.
CIPC requires that a mandatory Compliance Checklist be completed and submitted by all categories of companies whose annual financial statements are audited or independently reviewed. This requirement does not apply to a close corporation. The checklist is required to be submitted within 30 business days after the anniversary of the company’s date of incorporation. The period for which the company declares its compliance is to be known as its “Compliance Year”, and is aligned to the anniversary date of its incorporation.
Starting from 1 September 2024, individuals planning to withdraw from the savings pot of the Two-Pot Retirement System must be registered for tax. Unregistered individuals must complete their registration before applying to their relevant fund, as unregistered requests will be rejected by SARS.
SARS has introduced a comprehensive draft guide outlining tax incentives to boost renewable energy generation. Taxpayers can benefit from accelerated deductions, enhanced deductions for new assets, and deductions for expenses related to infrastructure construction. These incentives aim to encourage investment in renewable energy projects, support sustainable practices, and drive economic growth in the renewable energy sector.
In a recent development, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a Binding General Ruling (Income Tax) 73 on the 30th of July 2024, shedding light on the meaning of taxable income for the purpose of setting off the balance of an assessed loss by companies. This ruling aims to provide clear guidance on the limitation of set-off for companies under section 20(1)(a)(i) as amended by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act 20 of 2021.
In a recent consolidated media briefing, the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic) highlighted significant outcomes from the 21st African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Washington, DC, and the 14th BRICS+ Trade Ministers Meeting in Moscow, Russia. The South African delegation engaged with key stakeholders to bolster trade and investment ties, focusing on economic growth and job creation.
National Treasury expressed its satisfaction as the President signed the Pension Funds Amendment Act (31 of 2024) into law, marking the final step in implementing the two-pot system set to begin on 1 September 2024. This act introduces crucial changes to various pension-related laws, including the Pension Funds Act of 1956 and the Government Employees Pension Law of 1996, essential for retirement funds, including public sector funds, to adopt the two-pot reform.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has recently announced the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa. This decision was made in response to the clear desire of South Africa’s people for political parties to cooperate for the nation’s future. The GNU is a coalition of 11 parties that have committed to collaborating together.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has recently made an important announcement regarding the upcoming Filing Season. In line with their commitment to making the process easier and more convenient for taxpayers, SARS will be implementing auto-assessment for a larger pool of taxpayers this year. Additionally, they have introduced various digital platforms to facilitate seamless interactions with taxpayers. Here is an overview of the announcement and highlights the key points for taxpayers to take note of.
Operation Vulindlela (OV) has emerged as a crucial initiative in South Africa, aimed at accelerating the implementation of structural reforms to foster economic growth. Recently, a successful two-day conference was held to assess the progress made by OV and chart the way forward for the next five years. This article will delve into the key highlights of Operation Vulindlela and explore the support it has garnered, including that of the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Key Points:
Over the past years business process automation, or BPA, has become more accessible to each and every business, regardless of their size or capacity. Thanks so numerous plug-and-play software and applications that are readily available online, you do not even need a whole tech team to implement and maintain automation within your business,
StatsSA has released gross domestic product (GDP) data for the first quarter of 2024, showing South Africa’s GDP has decreased by 0,1%.
