Tag: Tax Consulting SA

As 28 February 2021 looms near on the horizon, so too does the deadline for the second provisional tax submissions for 2021. This February will be the most important tax submission to date for expatriates earning above the R1.25 million threshold as they will now be exposed to a previously non-existent tax liability in South Africa.

Over the course of lockdown, pundits have shared some harrowing statistics regarding the increase in unemployment in South Africa. In general, our unemployment rates are moving in the wrong direction and the affected households have suffered great hardship as a result, but it is important to understand what this means for our tax base and our growing budget deficit.

The days where SARS shuts its eyes to taxpayers’ offshore holdings are thing of the past. SARS is finally utilising the Automatic Exchange of Information regime to pin down taxpayers who have not disclosed their offshore interests and numerous taxpayers have already received some alarming notices to this effect.

December has arrived, and with Christmas around the corner, many employers are left in a pickle when deciding on gestures of good faith and appreciation for their employees.

1 March 2021 marks a watershed for retirement funds in South Africa. Most are focussed on the annuitisation rules that have been pending since 1 March 2015, otherwise known as 'T-day'. While these reforms are significant, retirement fund members need to understand them in the grand scheme of things.

The hotly debated amendment to Section 10(1)(o)(ii) or 'Expatriate Exemption' took effect from 1 March 2020, with the questions on many expatriates’ minds often being 'how will SARS find me? What does the SARS audit of an expatriate look like and what questions should I expect?'

The first period for provisional tax ends on 31st August. Provisional taxpayers must therefore have submitted their initial IRP6 return and settled any payments due by that date. In addition, COVID-19 relief allowances make the calculation of estimated tax all the more complicated and I advise those who wish to take advantage of this relief to act promptly to beat the deadline.

It seems the SARS Commissioner had an epiphany – make an example of delinquent taxpayers so others will fall in line. Apparently, following SARS’ media briefing on 30 July 2020, this is a deterrence tactic SARS will use in the coming filing season.

An interview with Jean-Louis Nel, Tax Attorney, Tax Consulting SA, and Dr Ivor Blumenthal, CEO, ArkKonsult, discussing how the Pretoria High Court granted a small business owner an urgent basis for relief against SARS who depleted his bank account without following due process.

Earlier this month, the Pretoria High Court granted a small business owner an urgent basis for relief against the South African Revenue Service (SARS) who depleted his bank account without following due process. The court ordered SARS to set aside the third appointment of Absa who collected R1.3 million on behalf of SARS from the taxpayer’s bank account in terms of Section 179 of the Tax Administration Act (TAA).