Tag: Income Tax Act

Thousands of South Africans who have traded or invested in crypto assets may soon face severe penalties. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has started issuing letters to individuals suspected of undeclared crypto gains. Experts warn that those who fail to act now risk not only hefty fines but also potential criminal prosecution.

Charitable giving is a powerful way to leave a lasting legacy. You can make an impact that extends far beyond your lifetime. Include donations to causes close to your heart when writing your will. This practice allows you to give back meaningfully. Sadly, it remains underutilised.

In the dynamic landscape of workforce management, the concept of retirement age holds both rational and practical importance. For employers, understanding the legal framework is crucial. It helps ensure compliance and supports adaptation to evolving standards.

Locally, as trust compliance becomes more complex and trusts become more costly to administer, their value is increasingly being questioned. However, a trust’s worth extends beyond its financial benefits, and as such, they are still very relevant tools to use in a well-crafted estate plan, especially for high-net-worth families. 

South Africa’s hotel development market, and specifically Cape Town’s, is showing astounding buoyancy despite a tough economy and the after-effects of the drought. Innovative ways of accommodating corporate and leisure travellers, such as ‘aparthotels’ or serviced apartment-style hotels, are quickly gaining momentum.

To assist employers and employees with over-coming transport-related difficulties, the Income Tax Act introduced a mechanism to allow employers to provide transport services to their employees and that, although qualifying as a taxable fringe benefit in the employees' hands, no taxable value was given to such benefit. 

On 1 March 2020 the amended section of the Income Tax Act concerning the foreign employment income exemption comes into effect. This so-called 'expat tax' has caused concern among South Africans working abroad who currently pay no tax if they meet certain criteria. But, from next year, only R1 million of this income will be exempt from tax here.

S12J refers to a section of The Income Tax Act. This section allows an investor to deduct the full cost of their investment into an approved s12J company against their taxable income. This benefit is available to individuals, companies and trusts and can be utilised against normal income as well as Capital Gains tax.

There are now more than 100 registered Section 12J (S12J) companies in South Africa and it is estimated that the market has raised more than R3.6 billion in investments. S12J was instituted in 2009 with a 12 year sunset clause set to end in June 2021. 

Incorrect information and advice from tax practitioners, or in some cases South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials, has resulted in the misunderstanding of complex South African expatriate tax legislation, which has landed many South African in deep water with SARS.