Tax

An increasing number of jurisdictions are embracing digital nomads as a potential source of economic good, lightly taxed but who contribute to the fiscus through their daily and considerable spending habits. South Africa is no exception, following some recent exciting developments within the immigration policy space.

To the relief of Coronation Investment Management SA (Coronation), the Constitutional Court has overturned the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA) judgment in favour of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

On 27 June 2024, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced its enhanced Beneficial Ownership disclosures for the 2024 Filing Season. Not even 24 hours later, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) issued a media release enforcing beneficial ownership (OB) declaration, to be able to file annual returns. This may simply be a compliance coincidence, but more likely a strategic move to eradicate non-compliance for companies, trusts, and partnerships, on all levels.

There’s an old saying "there are two sides to every story". And the current battle over the question of chicken import duties and tariff rebates serves as a case in point. While the issue may be complex, there is a potentially simple solution: extend the rebate for those products that are critical for lower income families and manufacturing, where they add the greatest value for local businesses and consumers.

During the April 2024 SARS Revenue Results Announcement Media Conference, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner brought to light concerning observations regarding non-compliance and delinquent behaviour by tax practitioners.

Paying monthly contributions to a registered medical aid scheme ensures your healthcare cover and offers financial benefits facilitated by the government through tax relief. This tax relief, known as "tax credits", is a percentage deducted from your tax liability and subsequently refunded to you.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced that it will impose a 45% import tax on goods that cost R500 or less, imported from China through online retailers such as Shein and Temu. Unions and businesses praise this as a ‘levelling of the playing field’, but for the consumer it simply translates to higher prices.

The premise of Tax Freedom Day is relatively simple to understand. It takes the total amount of taxes paid and divides it by the number of individuals in that jurisdiction to calculate how many days it would take them to pay those taxes. The first day of the year when all the income would remain with its owner is Tax Freedom Day.

Paying employees sounds straightforward, but it is not unusual for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to make mistakes in managing their payroll. These errors can have serious consequences, ranging from damaging employee morale to fraud losses, and tax penalties for late or incorrect tax payments and submissions.

Twenty-one African countries have already enacted rules for non-resident suppliers to account for Value-Added Tax (VAT) / Goods and Sales Tax on electronically supplied services. The digital economy is more than just technology and the internet.