Tag: Tax Consulting SA

Provisional tax season brings with it the heightened panic of many taxpayers upon the discovery of penalties and interest suddenly imposed by SARS. The disgruntled taxpayer seeks immediate recourse through his attorney, hoping for some sort of justice to be served, but alas the attorney is worn down by complex tax calculations, the onerous and incessant engagement with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the ambitious endeavours to deliver a favourable outcome to their client.

President Ramaphosa announced on 25 July that government will provide continued support to businesses by deferring employees’ taxes (PAYE) for three months. On the face of it, the relief measure will help businesses stay afloat, but employers should think carefully before they choose to implement it.

The Tax Court has again confirmed that there is no safety for taxpayers in relying on their auditor’s views to justify a tax position adopted. To the contrary, where a taxpayer infers that their tax position is justified 'because my auditor said so', it can actually result in a larger tax penalty.

National Treasury published the latest Draft Tax Bills on 28 July 2021, which incorporate the tax proposals made in the 2021 Budget. Highlighted are five key changes proposed by government that taxpayers need to be aware of.  

Too often, taxpayers seem to forget that the most important aspect of dealing with SARS is to ensure that they can discharge their burden of proof. As a taxpayer, it is on you to provide SARS with the relevant material that, on a balance of probabilities, supports your position. 

The new regulations proposed by the South African Government will lead to greater regulatory oversight and control in the crypto asset sector and will spell bad news for non-compliant operators. It has long been clear that regulation in South Africa was inevitable, regardless of this being contradictory to the philosophy of most of those involved in the crypto asset sector.

Post-COVID-19 economic resurgence saw an increase in international work opportunities. With skills in hand, many South African professionals have become sought-after in other countries. As a result, their finances and subsequent taxation have come under scrutiny. However, along with the awareness of tax complications, another threat has emerged.

South African residents who work for international companies inside South Africa need to be sure they have a clear understanding of their tax situation or risk losing out. A growing number of South Africans are electing to work abroad, but there is also a substantial group that is working here for foreign companies.

Cryptocurrency has heralded a new dawn of investment, and regulators worldwide have been sluggish to respond. However, it is now firmly on the tax radar for revenue authorities globally; and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) position seems to be no different.

It has been widely reported that SARS has committed to probing the tax affairs, and information disclosed by High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWI) on their tax returns, in order to determine their compliance with the respective tax legislation, with the establishment of the High Wealth Individual Taxpayer Segment (HWI).