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 […]
Tax neutral intra-group transactions
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 […]
When are subordination loans used?
In the current economic climate, it is not uncommon for companies to find themselves going through periods of varying levels of financial distress. These periods of financial distress may be short-term or may be more sustained. As a result, many companies revert to entering into subordination agreements aimed at subordinating their loans in favour of third-party borrowings. A subordination […]
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 […]
Find out if your home office is tax-deductible
Tax practitioners have been inundated with queries from clients on the possible relief offered by the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) on the possibility of deducting from their taxable income home office expenses due to the shift in working policies by many employers. SARS recently hosted a webinar on the matter (the summary of which […]
Trading stock, capital assets and tax considerations
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 rules take preference in zero or low-interest loans
The in duplum rule originated from the South African common law and has been applied through South African case law for over 100 years. The rule aims to protect borrowers from exploitation by lenders that allow and, in some cases, cause interest to accumulate unabated: leading borrowers into further indebtedness. In terms of the common law, the interest charged on a […]
Employee share ownership plan – Part I
Binding Class Ruling 069 was issued on 23 October 2019 and relates to the tax implications that arise in respect of proposed employee share schemes (“the Schemes”) in terms of the Income Tax Act and the Eighth Schedule.[1] The applicant is a listed resident company that intends to implement new share incentive schemes, which will […]
Employee share ownership plan – Part II
Binding Class Ruling 069 was issued on 23 October 2019 and relates to the tax implications that arise in respect of proposed employee share schemes (“the Schemes”) in terms of the Income Tax Act and the Eighth Schedule.[1] The applicant is a listed resident company that intends to implement new share incentive schemes, which will […]
Pitfalls of VCC structures
Recently, much emphasis has been placed on the ever-growing Venture Capital Company (“VCC”) regime, particularly on the tax benefits for investors, in terms of which they can deduct the expenditure incurred in acquiring VCC shares, from their taxable income. This is not likely to change any time soon, as the 2020 tax year draws to […]