Category: SARS
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Ceasing tax residency: Changes on the horizon for interest and capital gains
Section 9H of the Income Tax Act provides that a natural person’s year of assessment is deemed to have ended on the date immediately before the day on which that person ceased to be a resident for South African tax purposes. Furthermore, that person’s subsequent tax year is deemed to commence on the day that…
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ETI schemes: SARS rules
In a Binding Private Ruling issued on 6 July 2021, SARS has made strict ruling on an Employment Tax Incentive Act (ETI) scheme that has been doing the rounds. It is not often that negative rulings get published and it is therefore a unique situation that should serve as a warning to those participating in…
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What are bitcoins?
1.1 Background to Bitcoin Bitcoin, Ether and Litecoin. These are some of the most prominent cryptocurrencies on the market today. Bitcoin is by far the best-known cryptocurrency due to the substantial increase in the price that was experienced in the past couple of years. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency – a digital asset designed to work…
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Tax season 2019: What do you need to keep in mind?
SARS recently released two media statements, in which it notes several improvements made to eFiling for the 2019 tax season, including the issue of customised notices indicating specific documents required in the event of an audit or verification and a simulated outcome issued before a taxpayer has filed. What is the tax season? Tax season…
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Transitional rules for interest payable by SARS
The South African income tax system is not cash-based. This means that a person can effectively be taxed on amounts that they have not yet received in cash, but that merely accrued to them within a year of assessment. Cash is also not a requirement to trigger tax – any “amount” that a person receives…
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Requests for suspension of payment from SARS
Since its introduction, the “pay now, argue later” rule relating to disputed amounts of tax has been and remains to be the subject of much controversy, and rightfully so. The basic premise is that even though you disagree with an amount of tax, once you have been assessed by SARS, the amount becomes due and…
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Form requirements for objections
Dispute resolution with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) generally has a two-pronged approach. Firstly, taxpayers must present their case on the merits – this will include the factual basis and background that has led to the dispute. Secondly, and equally important (if not more so), is the procedural process. This deals with timeframes, form…
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Section 24C future expenditure
The South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) issued a binding private ruling (“BPR 315”) in accordance with sections 78(1) and 87(2) of the Tax Administration Act[1] on 10 January 2019. This ruling determines the application of the definition of “future expenditure” in section 24C(1) of the Income Tax Act[2] to a commodities purchase agreement. The applicant…
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Management’s responsibility
Throughout the audit of a set of financial statements, the phrase “management/director’s responsibility” appears. It is included in the engagement letter, the financial statements and the auditor’s report. But what does it mean? Management is responsible for the management of the business, for implementing and monitoring of internal controls in the business, and in terms…
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SARS verifications, audits – when, why and what to do
Being selected for an audit and being selected for verification are two different processes. Verification: Once you have submitted your return, it could be selected for verification. A verification involves a comparison of the information per your return against the financial records and other supporting documents to ensure that the information completed on the return…