Transcript Fasset
Budget & Tax
Update
2007
The morning ahead
2007 Budget
2006 Tax update
The Small Business Tax Amnesty and Amendment of
Taxation Laws Act 9 of 2006
The Second Small Business Tax Amnesty and
Amendment of Taxation Laws Act 10 of 2006
The Revenue Laws Amendment Act 20 of 2006
The Second Revenue Laws Amendment Act 21 of
2006
2006 Tax update - Appetiser
Small business tax amnesty
Waiver of additional tax, penalty and interest
Recreational clubs and PBOs
Scientific or technological research and development
Small business corporations
Section 103 and the new general anti-avoidance rules
CGT
VAT
2007 Budget – Highlights
Replacing the secondary tax on companies with a
dividend tax, reducing the rate from 12.5% to 10% and
broadening the base
Personal income tax relief for individuals amounting to
R8.4 billion
Abolishing the retirement fund tax
Treating the sale of shares held for more than 3 years
as capital gains
No change in VAT, CGT, Donations Tax or Estate Duty
rates
Wage subsidy and social security tax reform
Personal income tax
Reduction in personal tax
Tax thresholds
Rebates
Interest exemption
Couple over 65 earning only interest
R190 000 tax free
Monetary caps on medical aid contributions
CGT
Corporate tax rates
No change to basic rates
SBCs revised tables
STC
Other taxes, rates
Estate duty
Rate remains unchanged
Primary abatement increases NB: revisit wills
Donations tax
Rate remains unchanged
Tax free threshold increases
Transfer Duty
No change
Savings and retirement
reform
Move to expenditure model of taxing retirement funds
Tax treatment of contributions to pension, provident and
RAFs to be phased in over time
Favourable tax treatment of basic savings element
Some tax encouragement above basic element
No special tax treatment above a specified ceiling
Aim to encourage savings by lower and middle income
earners
Savings and retirement
reform
Abolition of retirement fund tax
Effective 1 March 2007
Simplifying retirement fund thresholds
Lump sum withdrawal rules too complex
Withholding tax on lump sums received by persons
earning below R43 000p.a abolished
Taxation on dividends
Worldwide model – shareholder level with treaty relief
STC – company level
SA company tax rate inflated by STC for comparison
purposes
STC to be replaced with a tax on dividends
Taxation on dividends cont.
Anti-avoidance measure effective immediately
Amalgamation transaction sec 44(9)
Additional measures around corporate
reorganisations to be proposed
First phase – 1 October 2007
STC renamed a dividend tax at company level
Tax base broadened
Cover all distributions not just profits
Provision for return of capital subject to antiavoidance
Tax rate reduced from 12.5% to 10%
Targeted exemption for amalgamation transactions
Taxation on dividends cont.
Second phase – 2008
Legal liability for dividend tax moved from company to
shareholder
Company must withhold the tax @ 10%
Implementation depends on renegotiation of several
tax treaties
Imputation system will not be followed
Final withholding tax
Companies to apply tax treaty to foreign shareholders
Gains on long term equities
Current section 9B
Elective
Listed shares only
5 years
Proposed change
Expanding to all shares
5 years reduced to 3 years
Depreciation allowances
New rail locomotives, wagons
New quay walls and other port facilities
20 yrs
New commercial buildings and upgrades
From 14 yrs to 5 yrs
20 yrs
Environmental capital expenses
Dams and tanks etc – allowances
Clean-up, restoration, decommissioning – immediate
w/off
BEE transactions
Share cross issue
Ords issued in exchange for redeemable prefs
Gains and losses on dual dispositions to be
disregarded
Share buybacks of listed shares
Purchase from public then trf to BEE partner
Forced section 311 sale and replacement of shares
Gains on forced sale to be ignored to extent replaced
Intra-group transfers
Rollover relief for assets moved within the group
De-grouping charge if company leaves the group
Currently no time limit, proposed 6 years
BEE transactions – cont.
Connected person sale of depreciable assets
Deals where BEE partner acquires close to 50% of
ownership
Transfer of depreciable assets to BEE entity subject to
connected person anti-avoidance levels
Exceptions to be accommodated where avoidance not
the driver
Broad-based share incentive schemes
Sec 8B not successful and so to be reviewed
Public benefit organisations
Level of tax deductible donations
Current level 5% of taxable income
Increase to 10% of taxable income
PBO threshold for trading activities
Greater of 5% of Gross inc or R50 000
Increased to
Greater of 5% of Gross inc or R100 000
Municipal Property Rates
Act
4 year implementation of new valuation roll and rating
Have you received your letter yet?
Valuations are close to market value
Look out for the new rating formula
Wage subsidy & social
security
A wage subsidy by 2010
Reduce direct cost of employment
Help alleviate high rate of unemployment amongst the
youth
Facilitate the social security reform
SARS to administer the social security tax and wage
subsidy
Payroll based tax
PAYE system will be administrative platform
Small business development
Small business tax compliance cost study
Develop a simplified tax regime for very small businesses
– target 2008
Enhanced tax administration
SARS to place greater emphasis
E-filing
Re-engineer forms
Scanning and imaging
Reliance on 3rd party data
3 cross-industry areas of focus
Trusts – co-operation with master’s office
Undervaluation of stock – additional audit activity
Employees’ tax – SARS audit teams to be trained
Small business tax amnesty
11 301 applications by 13 Feb 2007
Pace of applications expected to pick up
Technical issue on certain types of trusts
Legislation may follow to clarify
Miscellaneous income tax
amendments
Residential accommodation fringe benefit
Exemption for South Africans working abroad
Streamlining the medical regime
Deductibility of foreign taxes
Simplifying the averaging formula for individual farmers
Provisional payment system
Reciprocal tax relief for sportspersons
Employee tax relief for sole proprietors
Miscellaneous VAT
amendments
E-commerce downloads
Dried maize
Streamlining business reorganisations
Transfer among rental pool members
Horse-racing industry
Game-viewing clarification
Change of use adjustments to fixed property
Improper use of turnover apportionment method
Clarifying payment dates
Documentary evidence for input tax
Documentary evidence for zero-rated exports
Electronic storage of cheques, bank deposit slips and other
docs
Pension Funds Act, 1956
Forced early withdrawal from retirement fund
Through divorce or maintenance order
Deferred until final retirement date
Tax complications at that stage
Amendment to trigger immediate severance
Living annuity drawdowns
Current rate 5% to 20%
Proposed change 2.5% to 17.5%
Cross-border enforcement
SARS will explore memoranda of
cooperation with neighbouring jurisdictions
Counter avoidance and abuse
Artificial dual residence
Transfer pricing
Non-declaration of foreign income
Indirect tax proposals
Fuel taxes
General fuel levy up 5 cents a litre to
Petrol R1.21 per litre
Diesel R1.05 per litre
Road Accident Fund levy up 5 cents a litre
41.5 cents per litre
Indirect tax proposals –
cont.
Duties on alcoholic beverages
Up between 8% and 10.5%
Traditional beer
Duties on tobacco products
Up between 5.3% and 10.7%
Look out for ‘snus’ smokeless tobacco
Tips for Trevor
2005 & 2006 Lobola
‘Lobola is a social responsibility put upon one’s
shoulder unwillingly so it should be tax-deductible’
2007 Lobola the sequel
‘Impose VAT and tax on lobola trusts, since some
people are making money out of them’
Tax Update
2006
Developments in 2006
Small Business Tax Amnesty and Amendment of Taxation
Laws Act 9 of 2006
Second Small Business Tax Amnesty and Amendment of
Taxation Laws Act 10 of 2006
7 February 2007
Second Revenue Laws Amendment Act 21 of 2006
25 July 2006
Revenue Laws Amendment Act 20 of 2006
25 July 2006
7 February 2007
Interpretation notes and guides
Small Business Tax
Amnesty and Amendment of
Taxation Laws Act 9 of 2006
Second Small Business Tax
Amnesty and Amendment of
Taxation Laws Act 10 of
2006
Small Business Tax Amnesty
Astounding move from government which must
leave all law abiding taxpayers a little irritated.
Purpose and objective
Broaden the tax base
Facilitate normalisation of tax affairs of small business
Increase and improve tax compliance culture
Facilitate participation in the taxi recapitalisation
programme
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Separate unit within SARS has been established
to process all applications.
The secrecy provisions of section 4 are
extended to cover tax amnesty
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Persons who may apply
A natural person
Deceased or insolvent estate of natural person
A trust (inter vivos or testamentary) where all
beneficiaries (discretionary and vested) throughout
2006 y.o.a were natural persons
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Requirements to qualify –
Must have carried on a business
The gross income of the business or businesses for
the 2006 y.o.a was not more than R10 million
Apportion the R10 million if y.o.a is less than 12
months and part of a month is treated as a full month
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Method and period of application
Form SBA-001 together with supporting docs
1 August 2006 to 31 May 2007
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Information required in the application
2006 taxable income from carrying on of business
‘Carrying on of business’ includes investment income
incidental to the regular carrying on of a business
Capital gains?
What if business ceased in 2006?
Income tax return for 2006 y.o.a
Statement of assets (at cost) and liabilities at end of 2006
y.o.a
SARS liabilities subject to amnesty?
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Information required in the application - cont
If actual amounts cannot be ascertained for purposes
of the SBA-001 or statement of assets & liabilities,
reasonable estimates can be provided
Must disclose which amounts are estimates
Beware materially wrong estimates
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Evaluation and approval
Commissioner must approve an application
If applicant is a qualifying person
Applies on correct form and within period allowed
Provides all information
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Evaluation and approval - cont
Commissioner must not approve an application
If before submission of application
Formally notified of an audit, investigation or other
enforcement action
This disqualification falls away if before the application is
submitted
Notice of audit, investigation or other enforcement action has
been withdrawn
The audit or investigation has been concluded
Commissioner must issue a notice of approval or rejection
Subject to objection and appeal
Tax court has jurisdiction to hear any appeal
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Amnesty levy
Based on 2006 y.o.a taxable income but only from
carrying on of business
Sliding scale see page 20 of notes
2005 Assessed loss
2005 Assessed capital loss
What does 2006 y.o.a mean?
Year end during 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Example
2006 y.o.a sources of income
Salary 2006 - R200 000
Printing business net income - R300 000
Profit on sale of printing press - R100 000 = Capital gain
Capital gain on sale of holiday cottage - R50 000
Rental from holiday cottage by a friend - R5 000
2006 other deduction/allowances
RAF contributions - R10 000
Medical expenses – R10 000
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Example - cont
2006 y.o.a taxable income from business
Printing business net income = R300 000
Capital gain (100 000 – 10 000) x 25% = R22 500
Taxable income from business = R322 500
Levy table pg 20, levy = 1 300 + 4 500 + 2 900
Total levy payable = R8 700
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Payment of amnesty levy
Within 12 months of delivery of notice of approval
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Scope of relief
Income Tax - receipts and accruals for all years pre 2006
from carrying on of a business
Employees tax – remuneration paid on or before 28 Feb
2006. NB ‘paid’
VAT - any supply or import on or before 28 Feb 2006
Withholding tax on royalties – amount paid on or before 28
February 2006
STC – div declared or deemed to be declared in y.o.a
preceding 2006 i.e. year ends prior to 1 April 2005
UIF levies – remuneration paid on or before 28 Feb 2006
SDL – remuneration paid on or before 28 Feb 2006
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Scope of relief
Not only the tax but also any additional taxes,
penalties and interest
SARS may extend the date to submit all subsequent
returns and waive all penalties and interest on these
No prosecution
Deemed not to have committed any offence
No criminal prosecution
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Exclusion from relief
Any amount already paid
Payable as a result of any return submitted to SARS
Payable as a result of assessment
VAT not paid due to false declaration of input tax claim
or false zero-rating of exports
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Deductions and losses going forward
Assessed loss and capital losses arising during
qualifying period are lost
STC credits are lost
VAT input tax lost for any supply during the qualifying
period
Small Business Tax Amnesty
– cont.
Circumstances where approval is void
Failure to pay levy in time
Failure to make full disclosure-
On application form
Of taxable income for 2006
Information in 2006 tax return
Statement of assets and liabilities
Any estimate provided is materially incorrect
Waiver of additional tax,
penalty and interest
Draft regulation issued on 24 January 2007 to prescribe
circs that SARS may waive
Additional tax, penalty or interest
Imposed on a failed applicant
Business tax debt
Any additional tax, interest and penalty imposed in
respect of
All taxes covered by the tax amnesty
Payable during the qualifying periods prescribed in
the tax amnesty
Waiver of additional tax,
penalty and interest – cont.
Who qualifies?
Anyone who qualifies for tax amnesty
But is to extent prohibited from applying because
amount owing or becomes owing to SARS due to
information furnished in a return to SARS
amount owing to SARS in terms of an assessment
issued
May apply for waiver of business tax debt
No later than 31 May 2007
On prescribed form
Waiver of additional tax,
penalty and interest – cont.
Information required in application
List categories for waiver
Statement of assets (at cost) & liabilities for 2006
All returns outstanding as on 31 Dec 2006 (except
returns covered by a successful amnesty approval)
If actual amounts not available then reasonable
estimates can be provided
SARS must approve if all requirements are met
Waiver of additional tax,
penalty and interest – cont.
Business tax debt will not be waived
Sheriff has attached assets
Sequestration or liquidation proceedings have started
Notice of audit or investigation delivered by SARS
N/A if SARS withdraws or concludes
Waiver of additional tax,
penalty and interest – cont.
What is being waived?
Business tax debt outstanding on 31 July 2006 after
setting off any refunds or credits due
What will not be waived?
Business tax debt above R1 million
Amounts paid after 31 July 2006
If approved agreement must be signed
Agreeing balance owing to SARS and payment terms
Any other conditions required by SARS
Waiver of additional tax,
penalty and interest – cont.
SARS not bound to waiver if
Failure to make full disclosure
Materially incorrect information supplied to SARS
Failure to comply with conditions of signed agreement
If SARS not bound
full amount of business tax debt can be reinstated
plus interest thereon from 1 August 2006
FICA Exemption
Persons who assist or advise a client in terms of the
Small Business Tax Amnesty
Applies for the duration of the amnesty application
period
Currently 1 Aug 2006 to 31 May 2007
Auditing Profession Act
(APA)
Registered auditor
Assists or advises a client in terms of the Small Business
Tax Amnesty
Exempt from section 45 of the APA from 1 Aug 2006
Condition
Must have signed engagement letter in place
Small Business Corporations
Section 12E turnover limit increased
R6 million up to R14 million
Learnership Allowances
Section 12H was set to expire in Oct 2006
Extended to Oct 2011
Maximum allowance on entering increased
From R17 500 to R20 000 for existing employees
From R25 000 to R30 000 for new employees
Maximum allowance on completion increased
from R25 000 to R30 000
Effective for agreements entered into on or after 1March
2006
Learnership Allowances –
cont.
New section 12H(2A) for disabled learners entering
learnerships on or after 1 July 2006
On commencement
Existing disabled employees – lesser of
150% of the annual remuneration
R40 000
New disabled employees – lesser of
175% of the annual remuneration
R50 000
Completion allowance – lesser of
175% of the annual remuneration
R50 000
VAT – Small scale farmers
and other vendors
Section 27 of the VAT Act
Farmers falling into category D – 6 monthly
Small vendors falling into category F – 4 monthly
Annual turnover threshold increased from R1 mill to R1.2
mill
Revenue Laws Amendment
Act 20 of 2006
Second Revenue Laws
Amendment Act 21 of 2006
Section 1 definitions
Company
Now includes a co-operative
Co-operative
Section 1 of the Co-operatives Act
Autonomous association of persons united voluntarily
to meet their common economic and social needs
through a jointly owned enterprise
Shareholder
Includes a member of a co-operative
Recreational clubs
Clubs received full exemption in terms of section
10(1)(d)(iv)(aa) and para 64 of 8th Schedule
Club amenities used by general public and members
Growing level of trading activities to raise funds
Were treated more leniently than PBOs
System of partial taxation has been implemented
Exemption narrowed to only cost sharing
Income from non-members subject to tax
Now treated consistently with PBOs
Recreational clubs – cont.
Section 10(1)(cO) is added
Applies to clubs approved in terms of sec 30A
Defines the limits of the new system for partial
taxation
Separates exempt income from taxable income
Section 30A is added
covers the conditions for exemption
Recreational clubs – cont.
Section 10(1)(cO) exempts receipts and accruals
from
Membership fees
Any business or trade that
Integral to provision of amenities or facilities
for the members
On cost recovery basis
No unfair competition
Occasional fundraising activities by volunteers
Any other source on condition receipts and accruals fall
below greater of
5% of total annual membership fees and subs
R50 000
Recreational clubs – cont.
Expenditure incurred in producing exempt
income cannot be offset against taxable club
income
Sec 10(1)(cO) is effective for years of
assessment commencing on or after 1 April 2007
Recreational clubs – cont.
Capital gains tax
Rollover provisions apply (same as para 65 and
66)
Assets used mainly for
Providing social and recreational facilities
The proceeds on disposal must be reinvested in
another recreation club directed asset
Elective provision
Recreational clubs – cont.
New section 30A definition of a recreational club
Section 21 company, society or association
Principal purpose to provide social and recreational
amenities or facilities to its members.
Exemption is not automatic
Clubs must apply for approval
Recreational clubs – cont.
Approval must be granted if
Non-profit motive
Surplus funds may not be distributed
On dissolution assets may only be transferred to
another club or PBO
No excessive remuneration or commission based
All members entitled to annual or seasonal
membership
No sale of membership rights
No tax avoidance schemes
Recreational clubs – cont.
Penalties for violating section 30A
Withdrawal of approval
6 months to transfer remaining assets to another
approved club or PBO
If fail to transfer
Market value of those assets less liabilities
deemed to be an amount of taxable income in
year approval withdrawn
Recreational clubs – cont.
Effective dates
Transitional period for sec 30A approval,
applications must be made before the later of
31 March 2009, or
Last day of its 1st y.o.a
Scholarship and bursaries
Section 10(1)(q)
Taxed employees on salary sacrifice schemes
Prohibited deduction sec 23(j)
Skills shortage in SA needs to be addressed
Amendment provides for exemption of all bona fide schemes
However, if granted purely because of employment relationship
To an employee, the employee must agree to reimburse employer
if fails to complete his or her studies
To a relative of an employee, will only be exempt if
Remuneration of employee below R60 000 per annum,
and
Only exempts up to R3 000 per year, anything more is
taxable
Registration of intellectual
property
Sec 11(gB) has been extended and allows
deduction for
The grant, restoration or extension of a patent
Registration or extension of a design
Renewal of the registration of a trade mark
Applies to all expenditure after 2 Nov 2006
Pre 2 Nov 2006 sec 11B(2)(b) applied
Scientific or technological
research & development
Sec 11B allowed
a deduction for R&D expenditure including registering,
extending or renewing intellectual prop rights
Capex 40:20:20:20
Improved R&D tax incentives to stimulate R&D
New sec 11D for expenditure after 2 Nov 2006
Scientific or technological
research & development – cont.
Section 11D provides 2 sets of incentives
Operating expenses deductible up to 150%
Capital allowance 50:30:20
Applies to R&D undertaken in RSA
Discovery of novel, practical and non-obvious information
of a scientific or technological nature
Or creation of any invention, patent, design or computer
copyright or other similar property of scientific or
technological nature
Specific exclusions – prospecting, business
processes, trade mark creation, social science
and humanities and market research, sales or
marketing
Scientific or technological
research & development – cont.
Part R&D
Apportion 150% deduction only for R&D
Capital allowance 50:30:20 applies only to R&D
portion of asset used regularly for R&D (e.g. pg 48)
Recoupments
Recovery of R&D expenditure will result in
recoupment of the previously allowed deduction (e.g.
pg 49)
Cease of use of building on which R&D allowance
claimed subject to recoupment limited to 100% of cost
less 10% for each year used for R&D (e.g. pg 49)
Scientific or technological
research & development – cont.
Government grant funded R&D projects
If grant is taxable
150% allowed only to extent expenditure
exceeds twice the amount of the grant (e.g.
pg 50)
If grant exempt then no deduction
Reporting requirement
Info on R&D project to Minister of Science &
technology
Small business corporations
Small co-operative did not qualify for 12E status
Unfair
Section 12E now available to co-operative
Small business corporations
– cont.
Sec12E disqualification through dual shareholding or
membership other than
Listed share or unit trust
Body corporate
Share block
Collective interest entity
List of exceptions extended
allowed to act as members of non-business co-operatives
e.g. consumer buy-aids, social co-operatives (nursery
school) and funeral societies
can be members of friendly societies.
Small business corporations
– cont.
Section 12E(4)(c) definition of investment
income
Limits rentals to those derived from immovable
property only
Section 12E(4)(d) definition of personal service
Requirement to employ at least 4 full-time non
connected employees
Decreased to 3 or more
Public Benefit Organisations
Tax rates of PBOs
Depended on legal form of PBO
Company 29%
Trust 40%
Unfair for PBO trusts
Tax rate applicable to all PBOs irrespective of
legal form
29%
Effective y.o.a ending in the 12 months to 31 March
2007
Public Benefit Organisations
– cont.
Refining the PBO activity list
Low cost housing PBO - minimum earnings of
beneficiaries to be increased from current R3 500 (chg
to Part I and II)
PBOs that issue guarantees for low income housing
loans (added to Part I)
Conservation, environment and animal welfare (All
activities in part I added to part II)
Foreign established charities
Agencies or branches
Qualify for exemption but not section 18A donations
Public Benefit Organisations
– cont.
Liberalising permissible investments
Sec 30(3)(b)(ii) limitations deleted
Free to invest as desired
CGT on disposal of PBO assets
Clarifies how to deal with assets used for dual trading
and public benefit purposes
Definition of PBO
Sole object test relaxed to principal object
Public Benefit Organisations
– cont.
Dual registration
Director of Non-profit Organisations (NPO)
Precondition for tax exemption status
Removed
PBO exemption now without NPO registration
Provisional tax
PBOs are exempt from the system
Only for 3 years from 1st y.o.a commencing on or after
1 April 2007
Public Benefit Organisations
– cont.
Withdrawal of approval
PBO in violation of section 30 or its founding
statement
Failed to transfer assets to another PBO
Subject to tax on ‘accumulated net revenue’
Change
Amount taxable is market value of assets not
transferred less liabilities
Personal service companies
and trusts
Section 23(k) limits deductions to
Salaries
Legal expenses (sec 11(c))
Bad Debts (sec 11(i))
Benefit fund contributions (sec 11 (l))
Expenses i.r.o premises, finance charges, insurance,
repairs and fuel and maintenance i.r.o assets
Condition that assets are used wholly and
exclusively for trade
Oil and Gas Exploration and
Production
Section 26B and Tenth Schedule inserted
Oil & Gas exploration and production will be
subject to provisions of IT Act but subject to 10th
Schedule override
Mining environmental
rehabilitation funds
New section 37A and 10(1)(cP)
Fund growth is exempt from tax
Contributions by eligible parties will be tax deductible
General anti-avoidance rule
Part IIA inserted in Chapter III
Old section 103 required 4 elements
Transaction, operation or scheme
Avoidance, reduction or postponement of tax
Manner not normally employed for business purposes,
other than tax benefit or abnormal rights and
obligations created
Purposes solely or mainly for avoiding, postponing or
reducing tax
General anti-avoidance rule
Old section 103 – cont.
If requirements satisfied
SARS determined liability for tax as if the transaction
had not been entered into or carried out
103 has been ineffective
Deleted for any arrangement or scheme after 2
Nov 2006 and new sections apply.
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Sections 80A to L of Part IIA inserted in Chapter
III
Requirements for an impermissible avoidance
arrangement
An arrangement
Plus the tax effect
Results in an avoidance arrange
Plus the sole or main purpose is tax avoidance
Plus a tainted element
Results in an impermissible tax avoidance
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Definitions section 80L similar to sec 103
Arrangement
Avoidance arrangement
Transaction, operation, scheme, agreement or
understanding
Any arrangement that results in a tax benefit
Party
Anyone who participates or takes part in an
arrangement
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Section 80A - Impermissible tax avoidance
arrangement if
Sole or main purpose to obtain a tax benefit, and
A tainted element is present
Abnormality (based on sec 103)
Lack of commercial substance (sec 80C expands)
Misuse or abuse of tax provisions (Canada and
Europe)
The 2 new elements provide a far more effective
remedy for SARS
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Section 80B – Tax consequences
Provides SARS with
specific remedies
and general remedy modelled on 103(1)
Specific remedies
Disregard, combine, re-characterise any steps
Disregard any accommodating or tax-indifferent party
Treat any accommodating or tax indifferent party and
the other person as one and same person
Reallocate amounts, re-characterise amounts
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Section 80C – Lack of commercial substance
Contains indicators to determine when an
avoidance arrangement lacks commercial
substance
Substance over form ‘unblinkered approach’
Round trip financing
Accommodating or tax indifferent parties
Offsetting or cancelling elements
No reasonable expectation of pre-tax profit
Pre-tax profit insignificant compared to tax benefit
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Section 80D – Round trip financing
Section 80E – Accommodating or tax indifferent
parties
Section 80F – Treatment of connected person
and accommodating or tax indifferent parties
Section 80G – Presumption of purpose
Rebuttable presumption if tax benefit
Step or part may have different purpose to whole
General anti-avoidance rule
– cont.
Section 80H – Steps in or parts of an
arrangement
Section 80I – Use in the alternative
SARS may apply GAAR as an alternative basis for raising an
assessment
Section 80J – Notice
SARS must give notice of intention to invoke, with reasons
Taxpayer has 60 days to reply (extendable)
SARS has further 180 days to raise queries, withdraw or
invoke
Section 80K – Interest may not be waived if
GAAR invoked
Reportable arrangements
Old section 76A – introduced 1 March 2005
2 classes of arrangement
Interest, fees etc vary depending on actual tax benefits
Hybrid debt and equity instruments
Intended to provide early warning to SARS
Section 76A not effective and replaced with
sections 80M to T
New provisions not yet effective, date to be
announced
Reportable arrangements –
cont.
New provisions trigger reporting when an
arrangement
Interest, finance costs, fees or other charges are
dependant on tax treatment
lack of commercial substance as contained in GAAR
financial liability for GAAP but not for tax
No expectation of pre-tax profit for any of the
participants
Pre-tax profit is less than NPV of tax benefits
Reportable arrangements –
cont.
Responsibility for reporting is placed on the
promoter of the arrangement
In the absence of a promoter all participants
must report
On reporting only a list of agreements to be
reported and not the actual agreements
Penalty for not reporting is R1 million
Small personal service
entities
Para 1 of the 4th Schedule
Obligation to withhold 34%
Denial of tax deductions except for salaries
Three amendment to relax provisions
Client supervision applies only if must be at clients
premises
Regular payments deleted
Escape hatch 4 or more employees now 3 or more
Small personal service
entities – cont.
Relaxation of client withholding
Onus of proof on client relaxed
Rely on affidavit or solemn declaration that not PSE
If in good faith then no liability to withhold
Directives available again
Relief for over withholding
Reduce rate below 34%
CGT valuations – submission
dates
Para 29(5) of 8th Schedule
Value asset by 30 Sept 2004, and
Lodge CGT 2L form, generally y.o.a asset sold
High value assets had to submitted with 1st
return after 30 Sept 2004
Value exceeds R10 million
Intangibles exceed R1 million
Unlisted shares, all share exceed R10 million
If forgot to submit can still use the valuation just
prove it was done pre 30 Sept 2004
Capital gain attributed to
trust beneficiaries
Concern that old wording of para 80(2) did not
permit
Attribution of portion of a capital gain
Attribution of a capital gain in multiple beneficiaries
Amendment confirms
VAT - Excessive
consideration
Section 8(27) 10(26) and 16(3)(m)
Any amount received in excess of amount charged
If not refunded in 4 months
Account for output tax
If amount is refunded later then input tax can be
claimed
VAT – Entertainment
expenses
Section 17(2)(a)
Generally denied
Exception for subsistence i.r.o employees away on
business
Extended to self employed natural persons
(contractors) where meals, refreshments and
accommodation is paid by the vendor
VAT – Deemed output on
cessation of enterprise
Section 22(3) triggered where supplier has not
been paid within 12 months
Creditors outstanding on date of cessation of
enterprise did not trigger output tax
Amended to trigger output tax on all amounts
unpaid on date of cessation of enterprise if input
tax has been claimed
2010 FIFA World Cup
Schedule 1 of VAT Act
Schedules 1 and 2 of Revenue Laws Amendment
Act, 2006
Customs and Excise Act, 1964
2010 FIFA World Cup – cont.
Tax free bubble concept
Income tax and VAT (not other taxes)
Restricted to FIFA designated sights
For specified periods
Receipts and accruals exempt from income tax
VAT on supplies at zero rate
Expenses on tax free income not deductible
Tickets sales VAT at 14%