VAT TREATMENT OF IRRECOVERABLE DEBTS
What happens to the VAT that was paid over to SARS? Vendors often provide goods or services to clients on credit. In the current economic climate, clients are more likely to acquire goods or services on credit and may thereafter be unable to settle these debts. Other factors, for example disputes, may also result in […]
IT’S HUNTING SEASON! ARE YOU READY?
As the traditional winter hunting season approaches and South African borders are (somewhat) more open after the stricter COVID-19 lockdown, it is important revisit the Value-Added Tax (VAT) impact of the various goods and services generally supplied to foreign hunters. The general rule is that the supply of goods or services in the Republic by a vendor to a […]
SELF-INVOICING FOR VAT PURPOSES
As a result of the specific nature of goods, it is common practice that certain recipients of goods and services “self-invoice” when they receive goods or services from their suppliers. In other words, they do not receive an invoice from the suppliers – instead, they invoice themselves. This scenario is typically found where the volume […]
TAX ODDITIES AND VAT FRUSTRATIONS
The Tax Administration Act provides for the audit and verification of taxpayers’ tax returns for all taxes administered by the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS). In many instances, such requests for information are general, boiler-plate letters received by taxpayers, not indicating specifically what additional information SARS requires in the circumstances and which supporting […]
REFUND OF SIGNING PAYMENTS TO AN EMPLOYER
It often happens that a person may receive remuneration and other similar amounts (for services rendered or to be rendered, or by virtue of employment or the holding of any office), which subsequently have to be refunded, often because of contractual obligations not having been fulfilled, or due to an overpayment which was previously subject to tax. These amounts […]
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 […]
AUDITING YOUR TAX COMPLIANCE PROFILE
Taxpayers who make use of the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) electronic filing system (or as it is generally known, eFiling) will know that, in addition to containing a history of income returns, value-added tax, pay-as-you-earn, etc., a significant amount of personal and company data is stored on the platform. This includes information such as banking details, a person’s physical address, email addresses, and relevant contact persons for […]
USUFRUCTS AND THE TAX CONSEQUENCES THEREOF
A usufruct is a limited real right in property. The usufruct construct takes the form of a common-law personal servitude, which, as a limited real right, grants the holder (the usufructuary) the right to use someone else’s property, including the fruits. Typical examples include where someone is granted the right to use a house, or […]
MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING: HOW CAN MANAGERS USE ACCOUNTING INFORMATION TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS?
As a manager of an organisation, there is a great responsibility for decision making. The question lies in how a manager can utilise accounting information to make better decisions. Managerial accounting is a common practice within an organisation where accounting information is identified, measured, analysed, interpreted and communicated to relevant parties to pursue a goal. Accounting information can be analysed in different […]
EMIGRATED AND SELLING YOUR HOUSE? BEWARE OF WITHHOLDING TAXES
Many South Africans who simultaneously emigrate and cease to be South African tax residents are faced with a situation where the sale of a fixed property has not been finalised by the time they cease to be tax residents. This may result in the unintended consequence of them becoming a non-resident seller of immovable property in South Africa. In terms […]