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.
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%.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) released a statement on 30th May 2024. This article highlights the key findings.
In April 2024, an automated process for Trust taxpayers was introduced on eFiling to electronically submit documentation to lodge a dispute via a fully guided process.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way businesses operate, making it an essential component of a modern business strategy. Here’s how you can incorporate AI into your business strategy:
South Africa, known for its diverse economy and entrepreneurial spirit, offers a wealth of opportunities for businesses. Here are some key steps to achieving business success in this vibrant country.
In April Treasury held a ZOOM conference around the proposed two pot retirement system. We have summarised some of the key issues raised.
STATS SA has released a report on monthly earnings which makes for interesting reading. Below is a summary of the highlights.
The upcoming South African elections hold the promise of change, introducing a range of potential impacts on local businesses. As business leaders, we must pay attention to several factors that could significantly affect the business environment:
The Tax Chronology of South Africa: 1979–2024 provides a comprehensive overview of the current and historical rates for various taxes, duties, and levies collected by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This publication covers the period from 1979 to 2024 and includes details on tax rates, duties, and levies.
