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1
Perry, Nina. "Expenditure in South African Income Tax law." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4536.
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De, Saude Stefanie Maria. "South African tax - for the expatriate." Thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9173.
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Includes bibliographical referencesEisenberg de Saude inter alia assists and represents foreigners, corporates, non-resident companies and returning South Africans in their South African immigration affairs. Questions relating tax liability for the in respect of the aforementioned often arise during consultations/meetings/briefings. For this reason, I have decided to dedicate my research proposal to the aforementioned with the hope that it will equip me with sufficient knowledge to properly address and assist the foreign clients of Eisenberg de Saude in their tax uncertainties without getting a worrying feeling in the pit of my stomach. In addition to the above, I hope that my research proposal could and would be used as a guide by all relevant and interested persons in alleviating the uncertainties surrounding their tax liabilities and perhaps managing their affairs in a tax efficient manner and I hope that the material mentioned below effectively and clearly imparts what I have learned during preparing and drafting this proposal.
3
Lord, Tristan Sacha. "Transfer Pricing in South African income tax law." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4656.
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'Transfer pricing continues to be, and will remain, the most important international tax issue facing MNEs.' The term 'transfer pricing' is used to describe arrangements involving the transfer of goods or services, at an artificial price, in order to transfer income or expenses from one enterprise to an associated enterprise in a different tax jurisdiction. This results in the income derived at for each enterprise being disproportionate to their relative economic contributions, and thus impacting the relevant tax jurisdictions' fair share of tax. Tax authorities are therefore focusing their attention on transfer pricing rules and practices to ensure the correct attribution of income and expenses of related-party transactions. Another key issue, closely related to transfer pricing, is that of double taxation. Multinational enterprises, engaging in cross-border transactions, are at risk of having a single source of income taxed in two jurisdictions as a result of an incorrect application of transfer pricing rules. The purpose of this research is to evaluate South Africa's approach to transfer pricing, as well as compare it to the approaches as adopted by selected countries, namely Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, with the aim of identifying the areas that South Africa could learn from practices in foreign jurisdictions. Specific issues dealt with include acceptable transfer pricing methods for determining an arm's length price, documentation requirements and non-compliance penalties, the use of Advance Pricing Agreements ("APA"), and the effects of e-commerce in applying the arm's length principle. The first issue relates to the criteria for the selection of the most suitable method in ensuring an arm's length outcome. Because the South African market is considered to be lacking in comparables, compliance with the arm's length principle will be determined by evaluation of the facts and circumstances of each case. The second issue looks at the transfer pricing policy documentation required to be prepared, the benefits of preparing such documentation, and the imposition of penalties on taxpayers failing to do so. The lack of statutory documentation requirements and specific penalty provisions in the South African legislation is also addressed. The third issue evaluates the use of APAs in resolving transfer pricing disputes. This technique is adopted by Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, and therefore an assessment is made, taking into account both advantages and disadvantages of the technique, to determine whether it would be beneficial to South Africa to be able to agree in advance to transfer pricing methods to be applied to transactions with connected parties, thus reducing the potential for expensive and time consuming disputes with the South African Revenue Service ("SARS"). The fourth and final issue explores the challenges facing tax jurisdictions as a result of an increase in electronic trade. The relevance of the arm's length principle is assessed and recommendations for South Africa are made.
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Ward, Grant. "Investing into africa: comparison between South African headquarter company and Mauritian GBC1 regime." Thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9153.
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Includes bibliographical references.In the 2010 Budget review The South African National Treasury announced it intended to create a business environment that would promote South Africa as a gateway to investment into Africa.1 As such a headquarter company regime would be considered. With globalisation and free movement of capital internationally countries are pursuing holding company regimes to attract investment to, and through, their shores. At the forefront are countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United Kingdom.2 Following the 2010 Budget review South Africa has now joined this group.
5
Du, Toit Leo. "Tax implications for business rescues in South African Law." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26627.
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The South African Revenue Service has in the past had difficulty in applying debt forgiveness in cases of corporate and business rescues. Taxation legislation was drafted to counter innovative section 311 schemes of arrangements where the sole purpose was to obtain maximum taxations benefits in relation to entities in financial difficulties. This approach was only concerned with the interests of the Revenue authorities. The central theme of this study focuses of the procedures now available to tax authorities and debtors alike when compromises were and are considered in South Africa in terms of income tax and company legislation. The South Africa Revenue Service’s approach the corporate rehabilitation is examined which is vital for investors, creditors and debtors alike. A comparative study with similar procedures in England is undertaken to establish how valid the procedures are in establishing a viable corporate rescue environment in South Africa in the future.Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Procedural Law
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Du, Toit Genevieve. "Estoppel and Substantive Legitimate Expectation in South African Tax Law." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4598.
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The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the legal avenues that may be open to taxpayers for holding the South African Revenue Services ('SARS') to the representations which it makes to the public in the form of general statements and specific rulings or directives. These avenues lie in two areas of law, namely the doctrine of estoppel as it has been developed in a public law context, and (potentially) the realm of so-called substantive legitimate expectation.
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Grobler, Daniel Jacques. "The "realisation company" concept in South African income tax law." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2118.
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The Supreme Court of Appeal has revisited the issue that has attracted the most litigation in South African tax law: whether gains from the disposal of an asset are of a capital or of a revenue nature. In CSARS V Founders Hill (509/10) [2011] ZASCA 66, 73 SATC 183 the court held that „intention‟ is not conclusive in the enquiry and cannot be the litmus test in determining the nature of proceeds from the sale of an asset. This judgement relegates intention to only one of the factors to be considered as it was held that it should be considered objectively whether the taxpayer is actually trading or not. The court also indicated that a „realisation company‟ would only act on capital account if it is formed for the purpose of facilitating the realisation of property which could not otherwise be dealt with satisfactorily. This treatise was primarily aimed at an analysis of the court cases which dealt with the „realisation company‟ concept in South African income tax law. In analysing the „realisation company‟ concept through case law culminating in Founders Hill, it was found that in every instance where „realisation company‟ x had won the argument, there had been compelling reasons why the owners of the assets had found it necessary to realise the asset through an interposed company established for that purpose. These reasons include: to facilitate the sale of property previously held by different people and to consolidate and conveniently administer the interests of beneficiaries under different wills. Furthermore, this treatise criticised „intention‟ as the primary test in determining the nature of proceeds from the sale of a capital asset and examined the objective approach to the inquiry as advocated in CSARS v Founders Hill. A discussion on the advantages of this approach indicated that it will certainly obviate a number of difficulties that arise from invoking „intention‟ as the litmus test.
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Tarrant, Greg. "The distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004549.
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Tax avoidance has been the subject of intense scrutiny lately by both the South African Revenue Service ("the SARS") and the media. This attention stems largely from the recent withdrawal of section 103(1) together with the introduction of section 80A to 80L of the South African Income Tax Act. However, this attention is not limited to South Africa. Revenue authorities worldwide have focused on the task of challenging tax avoidance. The approach of the SARS to tackling tax avoidance has been multi-faceted. In the Discussion Paper on Tax Avoidance and Section 103 (1) of the South African Income Tax Act they begin with a review of the distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning. Following a call for comment the SARS issued an Interim Response followed by the Revised Proposals which culminated in the withdrawal of the longstanding general anti-avoidance rules housed in section 103(1) and the introduction of new and more comprehensive anti-avoidance rules. In addition, the SARS has adopted an ongoing media campaign stressing the importance of paying tax in a country with a large development agenda like that of South Africa, the need for taxpayers to adopt a responsible attitude to the management of tax and the inclusion of responsible tax management as the greatest measure of a taxpayer's corporate and social investment. In tandem with this message the SARS have sought to vilify those taxpayers who engage in tax avoidance. The message is clear: tax avoidance carries reputational risks; those who engage in tax avoidance are unpatriotic or immoral and their actions simply result in an unfair shifting of the tax burden. The SARS is not alone in the above approach. Around the world tax authorities have been echoing the same message. The message appears to be working. Accounting firms speak of a "creeping conservatism" that has pervaded company boardrooms. What is not clear, however, is whether taxpayers, in becoming more conservative, are simply more fully aware of tax risks and are making informed decisions or whether they are simply responding to external events, such as the worldwide focus by revenue authorities and the media on tax avoidance. Whatever the reason, it is now critical, particularly in the case of corporate taxpayers, that their policies for tax and its attendant risks need to be as sophisticated, coherent and transparent as its policies in all other areas involving multiple stakeholders, such as suppliers, customers, staff and investors. How does a company begin to set its tax philosophy and strategic direction or to determine its appetite for risk? A starting point, it is submitted would be a review of the distinction between tax evasion, avoidance and planning with a heightened sensitivity to the unfamiliar ethical, moral and social risks. The goal of this thesis was to clearly define the distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning from a legal interpretive, ethical and historical perspective in order to develop a rudimentary framework for the responsible management of strategic tax decisions, in the light of the new South African general anti-avoidance legislation. The research methodology entails a qualitative research orientation consisting of a critical conceptual analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance, with a view to establishing a basic framework to be used by taxpayers to make informed decisions on tax matters. The analysis of the distinction in this work culminated in a diagrammatic representation of the distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning emphasising the different types of tax avoidance from least aggressive to the most abusive and from the least objectionable to most objectionable. It is anticipated that a visual representation of the distinction, however flawed, would result in a far more pragmatic tool to taxpayers than a lengthy document. From a glance taxpayers can determine the following: That tax avoidance is legal; that different forms of tax avoidance exist, some forms being more aggressive than others; that aggressive forms of tax avoidance carry reputational risks; and that in certain circumstances aggressive tax avoidance schemes may border on tax evasion. This, it is envisaged, may prompt taxpayers to ask the right questions when faced with an external or in-house tax avoidance arrangement rather than simply blindly accepting or rejecting the arrangement.
9
Phumaphi, Samantha. "Do the South African headquarters provisions provide a competitive alternative for a gateway into Africa for international companies?" Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9160.
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Includes bibliographical references.Special tax regimes (“STR”) and tax havens are topics that feature in global news on an increasingly frequent basis in particular over the last few years. This can be partially attributed to the global financial crisis that has lead many countries being into financial strife coupled with news reporters and critics commenting on the amount of money that companies are avoiding paying in corporate tax due to the use of tax avoidance schemes and tax havens. Therefore Governments are under increasing pressure to curb the amount of revenues that are lost to other jurisdictions. However, whilst that makes the headlines, there is also a necessity for Governments to incentivise companies into their jurisdiction so to provide further revenue to their economy, in particular for the provision of additional jobs and to assist the property market following the crash, this can therefore be seen as very much a double edged sword. So whilst it is clear that a number of countries, governments and nongovernmental organisations including the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and groups such as the Tax Justice Network are trying to rid the world of tax havens and countries offering special tax regimes, on the other side many Governments are also trying to lure large corporations into their jurisdictions by offering lucrative tax regimes. South Africa is one such country that has decided to incentivise foreign companies in particular those involved in cross border transactions into its jurisdiction by introducing its Headquarter Company Regime.
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Oyetunde, Samson Oyebode. "The role of tax incentives in a trio of Sub-Saharan African economies : a comparative study of Nigerian, South African and Kenyan tax law." Thesis, Queen Mary, University of London, 2008. http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/1638.
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This Thesis evaluates the role of tax incentives in promoting sustainable economic development in developing countries, comparing the South African and Kenyan experiences with that of Nigeria, with a view to suggesting ways in which Nigerian tax incentive law and policy may be improved. After a general introduction in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 considers the nature of tax incentives as policy tools for economic development, reviews typical forms of incentives and highlights traditional arguments for and against their use as found in the literature. While there is a general consensus among economists that tax incentives are generally ineffective and inefficient policy tools the use of which should be generally discouraged, this view has not been universally accepted among developing country policymakers. Chapters 3,4 and 5 present findings from bibliographical and qualitative research into the role of tax incentive laws, practices and policies in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya (respectively). Chapter 6 considers important regional and international tax, trade and finance issues which constrain or otherwise influence the use of tax incentives by developing countries with particular reference to the circumstances of these three countries. Chapter 7 traces the evolution and critiques the content of contemporary Nigerian tax incentive policy. It finds that Nigerian tax incentive law and policy, while clear, is not entirely consistent, prudent or appropriate in view of contemporary development needs, available resources and national priorities. However, it also finds that Nigerian tax incentive policy may be significantly improved if certain lessons from the South African and Kenyan experiences are carefully considered and applied with an appreciation of the peculiar realities of Nigerian tax culture. In particular, Nigeria should target tax incentives to only those sectors where the benefits justify the attendant revenue loss; ensure that tax incentives are not only fit for purpose but are also cost-effective; dispassionately review the true economic rationales for tax incentives; count the cost of tax incentives to assess their cost-effectiveness; and adequately consult with the private sector. Further, Nigeria should: keep tax incentive policies and practices simple; use non-tax measures wherever possible to encourage growth in key sectors; and stripe for a dynamic, sustainable and responsive tax incentive policy. Finally, as tax policy is only as effective as tax administration allows, sufficient and sustained attention must be placed on improving the capacity, quality and effectiveness of Nigerian tax administration.
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Kafesu, Lovemore Takudzwa. "Interpretation of fiscal statutes by the courts: a South African tax law perspective." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12360.
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Includes bibliographical references.This study examines the way in which the South African judiciary approaches the interpretation of fiscal legislation. It refers back to the use of the literal/textual approach (traditional approach), its shortcomings and the modification of such approach if it leads to absurdity. It also explores the purposive and contextual approaches to the interpretation of fiscal statutes. It then ana- lyses whether the advent of the Constitution (The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996) has brought a paradigm shift from the strict literal approach to the purposive approach. The conclusion reached is that the Constitution has been a catalyst for change from the literal/textual approach to a purpo- sive approach. However, the conclusion does not shy away from showing that, in practice; there is a continued practical applica- tion of the literal/textual approach by South African courts.
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Naidoo, Linton. "An analysis of the effect of the amendments to the taxation of foreign non-South African employment income." Master's thesis, Faculty of Law, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30915.
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When South Africa moved from a source based to a residence based system of taxation on 1 March 2001, all South African residents were now being subject to tax on their world-wide income. Residents working outside the Republic were then at risk of being taxed twice on the employment income derived because of South Africa’s residence basis system of taxation. The section 10(1)(o)(ii) of the Income tax Act No. 58 of 1962 (“IT Act”) exemption was the relief mechanism for residents to prevent the possibility of double taxation on the employment income derived from working outside the Republic. As from the 1st of March 2020, Parliament has amended section 10(1)(o)(ii) of the IT Act. The section is amended so that foreign employment income should not be fully exempt in the hands of a resident. Section 10(1)(o)(ii) of the IT Act currently exempts in full, the foreign employment income derived by a resident subject to certain requirements as per the section. The amendment seeks to exempt the first one million rand (R1m) of a residents’ employment income earned outside of the Republic. Foreign employment income in excess of R1m will be taxed in the Republic, applying the normal tax tables for that particular year of assessment. All other requirements of section 10(1)(o)(ii) will not be affected by the amendment, therefore residents will still be required to fulfil the other requirements of the section such as to spend more than 183 and at least 60 continuous full days outside of the Republic rendering employment services during any 12-month period in order to qualify for the exemption. The primary reason for the amendment of section 10(1)(o)(ii) is to prevent situations where employment income is neither taxed in the foreign country nor in South Africa, i.e. double non-taxation, or where foreign taxes are imposed at a significantly reduced rate on employment income derived from working outside the Republic. The amendment of section 10(1)(o)(ii) exemption will negatively affect a resident earning in excess of R1m and working in a tax free or low tax jurisdiction. There are a few alternatives available to affected residents working outside the Republic such as: 1. Seek relief via section 6quat of the IT Act, which is a tax credit on foreign taxes paid. 2. Apply the relevant Articles of a Double Taxation Agreement (“DTA”) between South Africa and a source country in order to seek relief for juridical double taxation. 3. Immigrate and become a non-resident, which will trigger a deemed disposal for capital gains tax purposes in terms of section 9H(2) of the IT Act.
13
Woodbridge, Taryn. "The regulation of tax practitioners in South Africa: a proposed model." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003128.
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Tax practitioners in South Africa have been operating in an unregulated tax industry. This has allowed certain tax practitioners to fail in their duties to their clients, as many do not have to abide by any code of conduct or ethical principles, to the detriment of the public. Other than the provisions in the Income Tax Act, 58 of 1962, there has been no regulation. As a result of losses suffered by taxpayers either through the incompetence, ignorance or negligence of a tax practitioner, as substantiated by case law, and increased costs borne by the South African Revenue Services due to unnecessary queries and tax disputes, the Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, introduced the concept of tax industry regulation in his Budget Speech in 2002. This resulted in the introduction of section 67 A into the Income Tax Act, providing for a registration process for tax practitioners. All practising tax practitioners were required to register with the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Services by 30 June 2005. In addition, a discussion paper was issued in 2002 setting out the proposal of the Revenue Services to regulate the tax industry through the formation of an Association of Tax Practitioners. This proposal includes various contentious issues and casts significant doubt on whether the proposed model is the most suitable. The goal of the research was therefore to evaluate the current status of tax advisory services in order to demonstrate the need for regulation and to compare the proposed SARS model with two established regulatory authorities: the Estate Agency Affairs Board and the Australian Tax Agents Board. A conceptual model for regulation was developed in order to test all the models against a simple regulatory framework to determine whether each was aligned to certain best practices proposed in this framework. The research methodology was qualitative in nature, involving the critical interpretation of documentary data and data generated during a public discussion forum of tax practitioners. It was concluded that the SARS proposal is too prescriptive and, at the same time, too broad in its scope. In order to address the key objective, identified as protection of the taxpaying public, a simplified regulation procedure was recommended, which would adhere to the proposed regulatory framework.KMBT_363
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Deetlefs, David. "The deductibility of interest expenditure in leveraged buyout transactions under South African Income Tax Law : a critical examination of recent developments." Thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12820.
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Includes bibliographical references.The aims of this paper, are twofold: first, to provide an overview of the South African tax law principles governing the deductibility of interest expenditure incurred by taxpayers in respect of LBO transactions, as altered by the recent changes to the Act, and secondly, to critically consider and comment on the nature and perceived effect of such amendments.
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Elliott, Sarah. "The 'pay now argue later' principle in South African Tax Law: its development, operation, comparison to South African civil debt enforcement and consistency with the constitutional right of access to courts." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25267.
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Section 164 of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 (the TAA), previously contained in section 88 of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (the Income Tax Act) and section 36 of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Act 89 of 1991 (the VAT Act), provides that the payment of tax will not be automatically suspended until the resolution of a dispute regarding the liability for the said tax debt. This is known as the 'pay now argue later' principle. The objectives of this research were to analyse the development of the 'pay now argue later' principle in South African tax law, to provide an overview of the content and operation of section 164 of the TAA, to compare the principle and its purpose with civil debt enforcement procedures and, lastly, to test the principle against the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution), specifically the right of access to courts. The underlying theme of this research is the recognition of taxpayers' rights in South Africa, specifically the interplay between the powers of the fiscus and the rights of taxpayers. In order to achieve the abovementioned objectives, this research examined the development of the 'pay now argue later' principle from its first appearance in section 88 of the Income Tax Act and section 36 of the VAT Act to its subsequent incorporation into the Tax Administration Bill 11 of 2011 and, ultimately, into section 164 of the TAA. It was concluded that the development of the 'pay now argue later' principle, from its first appearance in the Income Tax Act in 1962 and the VAT Act in 1993 until their repeal in 2011, was relatively minor save for in 2009, during which year there was a marked change in the structure of this principle with the inclusion of the so-called 'suspension rule'. This research provided a practical overview and understanding of the operation of the 'pay now argue later' principle in terms of section 164 of the TAA, specifically focusing on the suspension rule. This research further compared the 'pay now argue later' principle with civil debt enforcement procedures, specifically provisional sentence and summary judgment. It was concluded that the 'pay now argue later' principle is an exception to the ordinary rules governing civil debt enforcement proceedings. Lastly, this research placed the 'pay now argue later' principle under constitutional scrutiny, specifically whether its application infringes on the right of access to courts of taxpayers. It was found that the 'pay now argue later' principle infringes a taxpayer's right of access to courts, but this limitation is justified in terms of section 36 of the Constitution.
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Froom, Natalie Marie. "Domestic tax law v double tax treaties in the context of controlled foreign companies." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3559.
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The South African fiscal legislators have found it necessary to introduce anti-avoidance legislation which governs controlled foreign companies in order to counteract schemes devised by taxpayers where companies are established outside South Africa for the purpose of diverting income from the South African fiscal net. Whilst the enforcement of such legislation does have merit in that the intention behind the introduction of such domestic legislation is to prevent the erosion of the South African tax base, it is submitted that this does pose a problem from an international perspective. The objective of this treatise is to conduct a critical analysis of how compatible the South African fiscal legislation which governs controlled foreign companies is with the provisions of the double taxation agreement as prescribed in terms of the OECD Model Tax Convention (which was published in July 2010). In addition, the aim of this study is to deduce whether the purpose of the double taxation agreement is not only the avoidance of juridical double taxation but also that it addresses the avoidance of economic double taxation. This will assist in determining whether domestic controlled foreign company legislation (as embodied in section 9D of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962) conflicts with the purpose of the double taxation agreement. By conducting an extensive research study and by depicting a certain scenario which addresses the issue at hand, the following is concluded: The tax treatment of the business profits generated by a controlled foreign company resident in a State outside South Africa and which have been generated from active business operating activities, is held to be in agreement with the provisions of the double taxation agreement. By contrast, the tax treatment of the controlled foreign company’s passive income in the form of interest income, is found not to correlate with the aforesaid agreement. As will be demonstrated in the chapters that follow, the controlled foreign company’s interest income is subjected to economic double taxation in terms of the scenario depicted in this treatise. This means that such income is taxed twice in the hands of two different taxpayers in two different States. As a result of this it is submitted that the following problem arises: Because section 9D of the Income Tax Act causes economic double taxation to occur (as illustrated in the previous paragraphs) and owing to the fact that the purpose of the double taxation agreement is the avoidance of economic double taxation, it can be shown that the section 9D domestic legislation conflicts with the terms of the double taxation agreement. This conflict is considered to be an area of concern because a contravention of the purpose of the double taxation agreement is regarded as a breach of the Contracting States’ international obligations in terms of the aforesaid agreement. It is further submitted that paragraph 23 of the OECD Commentary on article 1 and paragraph 14 of the OECD Commentary on article 7 are incorrect when they express the sentiment that domestic controlled foreign company legislation does not conflict with the provisions of the double taxation agreement. It is proposed that this be corrected to state the contrary.
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Cloete, Loriaan. "A critical analysis of the distintion between mining and manufacturing for South African income tax purposes." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1344.
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"Mining operations" and "mining" are defined in s 1 of the Income Tax Act (ITA). A concept that is of great significance to this definition is the matter of when a mineral is won and the related question of when does the mining process end and the process of manufacture commences. Case law has not established a definitive point that can be used by the mining taxpayer to determine where the mining process ends for income tax purposes. The Supreme Court of Appeal was presented with the perfect opportunity in the Foskor1 case to clearly define the boundaries between these processes. Unfortunately, the court did not seize this opportunity to provide legal certainty. The significance of the distinction lies in the fact that a mining taxpayer is allowed to claim accelerated capital allowances. The objective of these allowances is to provide tax relief to the mining taxpayer taking the immense risk of investing billions of rands in capital expenditure. The capital expenditure incurred will also result in direct foreign investment. This in turn will result in economic growth and job creation. Currently, there is no legal certainty as to which processes will qualify as mining operations for income tax purposes. This may result in mining taxpayers being hesitant to incur capital expenditure as the risk relating to a project would have increased. The accelerated capital allowances may therefore not serve their intended purpose. The gross domestic product (GDP) contribution from gold mining has been decreasing in the last number of years, but this decrease has to a large extent been offset by an increase in the downstream or beneficiated minerals industry. This industry has also been identified by Government as a growth sector. The downstream or beneficiated mineral industry may not be catered for in the current definition of "mining operations" and "mining" and may therefore not qualify for beneficial tax allowances. It is therefore proposed that the term "won" as used in the definition of "mining operations" and "mining" should be defined in s 1 of the ITA as follows: A mineral is "won" when all the requisite and necessary processes, including, amongst other things, refinement, beneficiation, smelting, separation, have been undertaken to the mineral to render it saleable in an open and general market. This extension will provide legal certainty to a mining taxpayer and will ensure that South Africa obtains direct foreign investment and maximum value for its minerals. This will contribute to economic growth for South Africa's developing economy and result in job creation.
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Jaffer, Taskeen. "Women’s rights are human rights – a review of gender bias in South African tax law." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/80447.
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The role of taxation in gender inequality is something that is perhaps not considered earnestly enough. Both in South Africa and within the context of global initiatives such as the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which are aimed at eradicating all forms of gender-based discrimination, the importance of understanding the gender consequences of tax policy, whether intended or not, should not be underestimated.
This study seeks to identify whether or not there are any instances where South Africa’s personal income tax laws have an effect which is potentially inconsistent with both the Constitutional right to equality between genders and international gender equality agreements to which South Africa is bound, namely the CEDAW and the SDG. In doing so, determine whether South Africa’s personal income tax legislation should become a focal point in this regard and be one of the pillars that could further be used as a means to uphold and further the cause of substantive gender equity.Mini Dissertation (MCom (Taxation))--University of Pretoria, 2020.
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Taxation
MCom (Taxation)
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Kula, Xoliswa Beverley. "An analysis of interest deductions and other financial payments in terms of South African income tax legislation." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8188.
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Tax avoidance through interest deductions has been highlighted internationally as a concern with the effect of eroding tax revenues of countries, including South Africa (SA). The evident cause of this concern is what is termed base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) mainly orchestrated by multinational companies using aggressive tax planning schemes. Although the concern continues to exist, comprehensive measures are in place in SA such as the anti-avoidance rules and exchange control regulations to mitigate the concern. The study was undertaken to analyse the legislation on interest deductions in terms of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962 (‘the Act’) with particular focus on anti-avoidance. A number of issues pertaining to the operation of the provisions in the Act; administrative challenges as well the possible exploitation of loopholes within the provisions were identified. Furthermore, a comparative analysis conducted against Australia and the United Kingdom indicated that the measures adopted in SA are relatively similar, if not ahead. The effect the anti-avoidance measures have on the economic growth was considered. The results were positive in that the measures do not counteract the pursuit of economic growth. Lastly, the study assessed the position of SA against the internationally recommended best practice on the subject matter and it became evident that opportunities exist to improve the current measures applied in SA to mitigate the BEPS risks through interest deductions.
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Loof, Grethe. "A critical analysis of the requirements of the South African General Anti Avoidance Rule Section 80A of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962." Thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4655.
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Includes bibliographical references.I welcome you in reading this research dissertation looking at the South African General Anti Avoidance Rule. I hope that this paper will shed some light on the complex requirements of the GAAR as contained in section 80A, read together with relevant sections.
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Hughes, Rebekah. "A critical review of South Africa' future carbon tax regime." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25301.
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The world is currently facing a global climate crisis largely associated with growing
greenhouse gas emissions, of which carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are a significant
component. As the fourteenth largest emitter of CO₂ globally and the highest per
capita CO₂ emitter in Africa, South Africa has a responsibility to implement legal and
fiscal instruments to reduce its emissions. One instrument receiving growing global
attention to reduce CO₂ emissions is carbon tax; a tax imposed directly on the
emission of carbon or the use of products which generate carbon emissions. South
Africa is following the global trend and has for the past decade sought to formulate a
carbon tax regime which is effective in its operation, equitable in its impact across
different sectors, and which does not result in the collapse of the country's economy.
Whilst yet to be finalised, several policy documents have provided a clear indication
of its anticipated form, and 2015 saw the publication of the Draft Carbon Tax Bill with
the Bill being re-released in 2017, which by all accounts is due to be finalised for
implementation in mid-2017. The time would accordingly appear ripe to critically
review the country's anticipated carbon tax regime, and this forms the focus of this
dissertation. This critical review was undertaken against several tax design elements
identified by international commentators, namely: environmental effectiveness; tax
revenue; support for the tax; legislative aspects; technical and administrative viability;
competitiveness effects; distributional aspects and adjoining policy areas. The critical
analysis of South Africa's imminent carbon tax regime against generally accepted tax
elements has determined that it will be effective in its operation, equitable in its impact
across different sectors and it will promote a more sustainable and resilient domestic
economy.
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Poetschke, Martin Erik. "Investors' deductions and allowances in film funds : German and South African income tax laws compared." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15436.
Full textAbstract:
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-139).By comparing the income tax allowances and deductions for private investors in film production funds in Germany and in South Africa, the author aims to show how the governments of these two countries are taxing private individuals who invest in film funds, i.e. what incentives are offered to such venturesome investors. The tax incentives examined here provide the taxpayer with a deferment of his tax payments. By making the comparison the author intends examine what role a domestic film fund can play as an instrument for financing domestic and export films and how the government can promote film production in this way.
23
Daniels, Paul. "The meaning of place of 'effective management' in the context of South African domestic tax law." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018822.
Full textAbstract:
South Africa has a residence based system of taxation in which South African tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income. A company or other artificial person is regarded as a South African resident for tax purposes if it is incorporated, established or formed in South Africa or if its ‗effective management‘ is located in South Africa. Where a tax treaty determines in terms of its tie breaker rule that an artificial person is not resident in South Africa for treaty purposes, the company will also not be regarded as a tax resident in terms of South African domestic law. Treaties to which South Africa is party will often use the effective management‘ as the tie-breaker where a person other than an individual is resident in both Contracting states in terms of the respective states‘ domestic laws. The tests of ‗incorporation, established and formed‘ provide simplicity and certainty to governments but are easily open to manipulation by taxpayers. Therefore, the legislature found it necessary to incorporate effective management‘ as a test for residency into the Act. Effective management‘ is a substance over form concept which be described as a function which embodies the periodic, most senior executive management functions, which are required for the management of the affairs of the entity as whole. The test of effective management‘ by its very nature is concerned with where the crucial decisions are made in order to make a business function. To identify the location of effective management‘ it is necessary to enquire who calls the shots‘ in the context of the management of the company as opposed to who controls the company notwithstanding that there may in certain instances be overlap between the two functions. It is submitted that any person who, on the face of it seems unconnected to a company, could effectively manage‘ a company if that person is, in substance, responsible for the most senior executive management functions of the company. The discussion paper issued by SARS recognises the principal difficulties experienced with its current interpretation of the concept and makes valuable points, concessions and recommendations. It also recognised that the 'calling of shots' by the most senior executive is a critical marker of effective management‘ and that control of a company is irrelevant in determining effective management‘. To determine who effectively manages‘ a company each situation would have to be analysed on its own as it is not possible to create a definitive rule on the concept. In many cases the nature of the entity and its modus operandi would have to be taken into account to determine effective management.
24
Van, den Berg Jana. "Taxing the Minerals Sector in South Africa: a comparative analysis of the proposed tax model for South Africa and the models adopted in selected African countries." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017545.
Full textAbstract:
The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report emerged as a resolution during the 3rd National General Council Resolution on Economic Transformation held in 2012, during which the Council stated that: “The ANC’s approach to economic transformation of the South African economy should always be holistic and comprehensive, covering all sectors of the economy. In this regard, the ANC should ensure greater state involvement and control of strategic sectors of the economy, such as mining, energy, the financial sector and others.” It was for this reason that the National General Council mandated the National Executive Committee to ensure that further work be done on ways in which the African National Congress can implement economic transformation in sectors such as the mining industry. It was suggested that methods including research, study tours and discussions be conducted to gather the required information. As a result of the research, The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report emerged. In The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report, the mineral sectors of developed as well as developing countries are compared with each other. The developing countries compared included Botswana, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and these countries have also been selected for the purpose of comparison in the present research. The goal of this study is to analyse the recommendations made in The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report regarding State involvement in the minerals sector. To determine whether the economic situation in South Africa is comparable to the five other African countries, an analysis based on demographic indicators, the history of the minerals sector in the various countries, its contribution to the fiscal regime of that country, its economic contribution, as well as the extent of involvement from Government and the model implemented for its involvement, is conducted. According to a work paper published by the World Bank on the world development indicators for 2014, control over metal supply to the economy has been considered vital for political and economic reasons in most societies. It further states that most State-owned mining companies have over the years and, in particular, in developing countries, not been able to operate successfully, leading to privatisation. Poor performance is, however, not necessarily the reason for State ownership. Areas not addressed by this thesis include the Gold Mining industry in South Africa and the Diamond mining industry in Botswana.
25
Le, Roux Ayesha. "An analysis of the South African income tax legislation in respect of transfer pricing." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13105.
Full textAbstract:
Transfer pricing has become a very popular term in South Africa over the last few years, even more so since July 2013 when the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action plan was issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20 (an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies). The OECD and G20 has issued the plan to address the perceived flaws in international tax rules, giving rise to profit shifting. Subsequently, the OECD has issued numerous reports and as a result has updated its 2010 Transfer Pricing Guidelines. Many countries have adopted these guidelines. However as South Africa is not an OECD member, there is no certainty that it will be adopted. The question is therefore: has the South African Tax legislation met the OECD guidelines and addressed the BEPS issue? Therefore, the objective of the research is to understand whether the current South African tax legislation is in line with the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines and BEPS Action Plan. The South African tax legislation provides South African taxpayers with no guidance as to how the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines needs to be implemented and interpreted. However, even though not legislation, the SARS practice note 7 and draft interpretation note on thin capitalisation provides taxpayers with a good basis of understanding the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, as these documents provided by SARS is similar to that of the guidance in the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, specifically relating to transfer pricing documentation. The issue that may result where the South African tax legislation is not in line with the OECD guidelines and the BEPS Action Plan is that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) may use South Africa as the country to shift its profits to or from, thus effectively resulting in a loss to the Fiscus.
26
Peerbhai, Aneesa. "Base erosion and profit shifting by multinational corporations and weaknesses revealed in South African income tax legislation." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017540.
Full textAbstract:
This research examined the concept of base erosion and profit shifting in the context of tax schemes employed by multinational corporations. The objective of this thesis was to identify weaknesses within South Africa’s income tax legislation, based on these schemes, and further to propose recommendations to counter the occurrence of base erosion and profit shifting by multinational companies. The research also comprised of a limited review of current global and South African initiatives to address the problem of base erosion and profit shifting. It was concluded that there are a number of weaknesses in the definitions and provisions of the South African income tax legislation that need to be addressed in order to reduce base erosion and profit shifting. Brief recommendations were proposed in relation to each of the weaknesses, in order to address them.
27
Dewar, Michael. "Global convergence of tax judgments and principles between South African courts and foreign courts: Assessing evidence of convergence in South African case law and its desirability in a South African context." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29571.
Full textAbstract:
This paper seeks to assess the presence of convergence of domestic and foreign tax judgments and principles in South African courtrooms. Besides the practical fact of assessing the general view of South Africa courts to the application of foreign cases and principles, it also explores whether convergence is beneficial to South African in a variety of contexts. The case law review concludes that while South Africa courts are bound only to take foreign cases as persuasive and not as binding, they appear to assign such cases similar weight to domestic cases, refuting them primarily on the facts of the matter as they would any other domestic citation and not dismissing them purely due to their foreign nature. With the evidence clearly favouring the existence of convergence, the paper goes on to assess whether this convergence is a benefit to South Africa, first in the example of the specific case law reviewed and then in the larger context of South Africa as a country. The cases largely show benefits from the inclusion of foreign cases, with the only caution that the court must be sensitive to the context of a foreign case, particularly when dealing with principles of language or business which may be culturally-specific. In the larger context, the paper cites writers from American, European and South African sources. The conclusion from these varying arguments is that convergence is primarily a positive force to a country of South Africa’s relative size, position and economic power. The greatest risk the country faces would be to be forced in a form of convergence which is detrimental to its needs by other more powerful countries – however, historic evidence of how convergence in the European Union has led to clusters of countries with similar principles (and with free movement between these groups) suggests that it is far from likely that convergence will become such an autocratic influence.
28
Wessels, Jacques. "The tax implications of non-resident sportspersons performing and earning an income in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003719.
Full textAbstract:
As the number of non-resident sports persons competing in South Africa increases so does the need to tax them more effectively. It was for this reason that the South African legislature decided to insert Part IlIA into the Income Tax Act which regulates the taxation of non-resident sports persons in South Africa. The new tax on foreign sports persons, which came into effect during August 2006, is a withholding tax placing the onus upon the organizer of the event to withhold the tax portion of the payment to the non-resident sportsperson and pay it over to the revenue services. The rate of taxation has been set at 15 percent on all amounts received by or accruing to a foreign sportsperson. The question which the research addressed is whether this new tax will prove to be an effective tax, both from the point of view of its equity and the administration of the tax. In order to determine the impact of the new tax, it was compared to similar taxes implemented in the United Kingdom and Australia and also to other withholding taxes levied in South Africa. The new tax was also measured against a theoretical model for effectiveness, compared to the pre-August 2006 situation and to the taxation of resident sportsmen and women, using hypothetical examples. The major shortcomings of the new withholding tax are the uncertainty with regard to the intention of the legislature on matters such as the taxation of capital income versus revenue income, the question whether payments to support staff are included in the ambit of the new tax, the taxation of the award of assets in lieu of cash payments and the definition of a resident. A further area of concern is that the rate of taxation of 15 percent appears to be too low and creates horizontal inequity between the taxation of resident and non-resident sports persons. The new tax on non-resident sports persons may have its shortcomings but, depending upon the administrative and support structures put in place to deal with it, will be an effective tax. The rate at which the tax is levied could result in a less tax being collected than before but, with the reduced administrative cost of tax collection, the effective/statutory ratio of the tax could well be much higher than it was. This is a new tax in South Africa and certain initial problems are inevitable and will undoubtedly be solved as the administrators gain experience and as the case law governing this tax develops.KMBT_363
29
Burger, Bianca. "South African VAT implications in respect of supplies by non residents to residents." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019977.
Full textAbstract:
Paragraph 7(1) of the VAT Act provides for the charging of VAT at 14 percent on the supply of goods or services by a vendor in the course or furtherance of an ‘enterprise’, the importation into South Africa of goods by any person or the supply of ‘imported services’. The term ‘enterprise’ has been interpreted to require an on-going activity and therefore once off sales should be excluded. The sale must relate to enterprise activities, thereby excluding private sales. Furthermore the enterprise activities are required to be carried out in the Republic or partly in the Republic. Establishing whether the enterprise activities are carried out in the Republic remains a contentious issue as the VAT Act does not specify the minimum required business activities to meet this criterion. ‘Imported services’ excludes services imported for the purposes of making taxable supplies and the liability of accounting for VAT on ‘imported services’ lies with the recipient of the imported service. Supplies (imported services) which are chargeable in terms of s 7(1)(a) and supplies, which if made in the Republic, are exempt from VAT or zero rated. ‘Imported services’ definition requires services to be consumed in South Africa. Services offered outside South Africa therefore generally do not qualify as imported services even the South African entity benefits from such services, for example a training course attended in a foreign country. Technological developments in the field of e-commerce globally have required countries to examine VAT laws relating to e-commerce. Extensive research has been done by the OECD on this topic, with reports issued on recommendations of how e-commerce should be taxed. Most guidance issued by the OECD on taxing e-commerce relates to indirect electronic commerce, which refers to goods or services where ordering, payment and delivery occur on line. Distinction is drawn between taxation of business-to-business transactions and business-to-consumer transactions. The OECD suggests that the ‘reverse-charge’ or self-assessment method should be applied to the taxing of B2B transactions resulting in minimal compliance and administrative costs. It is further recommended that for B2C transactions place of consumption should be defined as the recipient’s usual jurisdiction of residence and that non-resident suppliers should be required to register and pay VAT in the jurisdiction of the consumer, as this would result in the most effective tax collection method. ‘Enterprise’ includes electronic services from a foreign supplier where the recipient is a resident of South Africa or where the payment originated from a South African bank account. The Minister’s regulation, which came into effect on 1 June 2014, includes the following items in the definition of electronic services: educational services, games, online auction services, miscellaneous services and subscription services. The South African VAT legislation draws no distinction between B2B and B2C supplies of electronic services. The reasoning behind this was to avoid situations in which private customers could pose as business customers in order to avoid the levying of tax. A review of the services currently included in the Minister’s regulation on electronic services indicate that services that would relate to B2B supplies have mostly been excluded from the regulation. Effectively the South African VAT legislation manages to indirectly exclude B2B supplies from the definition of electronic services and therefore achieves the objective of minimising the administrative burden on B2B supplies.
30
Grebe, Alta-Mari. "The income tax implications resulting from the introduction of section 12N of the Income Tax Act." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020787.
Full textAbstract:
Section 12N, introduction into the Income Tax Act by way of Taxation Laws Amendment Act and which became effective on 2 November 2010, provides for allowances on the leasehold improvements on government-owned land and land leased from certain tax exempt entities as stipulated in section 10 (1) (cA) and (t). As section 12N deems the lessee to be the owner of the leasehold improvement, the lessee now qualifies for capital allowances which were previously disallowed.
31
Roberts, Justin Esrom. "The proposed new gambling tax in South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1639.
Full textAbstract:
In the 2011/2012 Budget Speech delivered by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, it was announced that a 15% withholding tax on gambling winnings above R 25 000 was to be introduced with effect from 1 April 2012. This treatise was undertaken to critically analyse the different elements of the proposed new withholding tax. It was established that the fiscus already benefits significantly from the gambling industry and levies and taxes from the gambling industry dwarf the revenue SARS collect from other forms of taxes such as Donations tax and Estate Duty tax. The necessity, therefore, of taxing gambling winnings in the hands of the individual is debatable. A comparison with the three foreign countries used by the Minister as an example of countries who have successfully implemented a withholding tax on gambling winnings exposed operational or other characteristics which bear no significant relationship to the situation in which the industry operates in South Africa. Probably the most significant difference is the fact that in the three foreign countries, losses are deductible and only the net gains are taxed. Although it iv could add to an already seemingly administrative-intensive legislation, it is submitted that taxing gambling winnings and ignoring losses suffered by gamblers will be disproportionately unfair towards the taxpayer. The many questions raised in this treatise illustrate the level of uncertainty still surrounding the new proposed gambling tax. It is hoped that communication will be provided by SARS as soon as possible to address the issues at hand. This would go a long way in ensuring that the implementation of the proposed withholding tax on gambling winnings is as smooth and efficient as possible.
32
Cassiem, Rehana. "The taxation of income and expenditure of Trusts in South Africa - are they still viable estate planning tools?" Thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12821.
Full textAbstract:
Includes bibliographical references.This research paper will explore the taxation of the income and expenditure in today’s day and age. We will have an in - depth look into the mechanics of trusts, to ascertain whether they still have a role to fulfil in estate planning. Therefore the paper will first explore the background in trusts in Section A, Section B will deal with how trusts are tax and Section C will try and answer why trusts are still popular amidst the unfavourable changes in recent legislation.
33
Massaga, Salome. "The general anti-avoidance section: a comparative analysis of Section 80a of the South African Tncome Tax Act no. 58 of 1962 and Section 35 of the Tanzanian Income Tax Act no. 11 of 2004." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15177.
Full textAbstract:
The study will be based on a comparative analysis of the general antiavoidance section of the South African Income Tax Act no. 58 of 1962 and the Tanzanian Income Tax Act no. 11 of 2004. The focus is on how the two provisions are interpreted by showing the similarities and differences. The approach will be analytical and comparative, starting by showing the concept of tax avoidance and historical backgrounds of the two provisions.
34
Pidduck, Teresa Michelle Calvert. "The South African general anti-tax avoidance rule and lessons from the first world: a case law approach." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60328.
Full textAbstract:
Tax avoidance has been a concern to revenue authorities since the time that the concept of tax was first introduced. Revenue authorities worldwide constantly strive to ensure taxpayer compliance, while combating impermissible tax avoidance. South Africa uses a general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) as part of its arsenal to combat the increasingly innovative ways in which taxpayers seek to minimise their tax. However, the GAAR has been the source of much criticism and its effectiveness in combatting impermissible tax avoidance is untested in the courts. Therefore, the use of hindsight to criticise the GAAR is not possible. This study applied a qualitative approach to compare the South African, Australian and Canadian GAARs in order to propose changes which are intended to improve the efficacy of the South African GAAR. This research was performed by first comparing the three GAARs using a doctrinal research methodology and then applying the South African GAAR to the facts of selected cases from Australia and Canada in the form of reform-oriented research. In order to apply the South African GAAR to the facts of the cases a framework was developed in phase 1 of the research in order to ensure consistency in the application. This allowed for a more reliable analysis to be made regarding the areas where the South African GAAR could be improved. The convergence of results from the two research methodologies validated many of the suggestions made for the improvement of the South African GAAR This thesis examined the GAARs in South Africa, Australia and Canada with a view to identifying if there are any lessons to be learned for their application and interpretation, in order to suggest improvements which can be made to the South African GAAR. Further, relevant Australian and Canadian case law was found to be instructive as to the approach that could be adopted for purposes of applying the South African GAAR. The findings of the research revealed that while the South African, Australian and Canadian GAARs differ in their structure, each is directed to achieve the same end. The results of the study identified two types of improvements to the South African GAAR. Firstly, the South African GAAR should be consolidated into a three-part enquiry instead of the current four-part enquiry. In doing so the tainted elements (previously the abnormality requirement) could be used to inform an objective test of purpose. Secondly, guidance on areas of uncertainty regarding the application of the South African GAAR needs to be provided in order to prevent possible inconsistent judicial interpretations that may limit the efficacy of the GAAR whilst still protecting the right for taxpayers to legitimately minimise their tax burdens. One additional cause for concern highlighted in this research is the use of provisions from other jurisdictions without guidance on the application in the South African context. The use of similar provisions to that of its much-criticised predecessor has also introduced areas of uncertainty regarding the application of the South African GAAR. These areas of weakness and uncertainty arguably prevent the South African GAAR from being an effective deterrent to tax avoidance and many could be addressed by the legislature.
35
Holm, Darryn. "Funding higher education and training in South Africa: a comparative study of tax incentive measures, in conjunction with a dedicated tax." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59445.
Full textAbstract:
Higher education and training in South Africa in the post-Apartheid era has never been more volatile than it is currently, some two decades into democracy. Despite the many advances and achievements of higher education, the student protests of 2015 and 2016 have given expression to underlying fault-lines, including increasing student expectations and frustrations with regard to access and funding. This research was undertaken to document the underlying historical issues and models pertaining to funding within the higher education and training sector as well as the existing higher education and training taxation policies and incentives enacted in South Africa and selected international jurisdictions. This was done with a view to providing a framework for higher education and training tax policy formation in South Africa to assist in meeting its higher education and training “access and affordability” targets as set out in the National Plan on Higher Education and the Higher Education White Paper, while at the same time not hindering economic growth. A doctrinal research methodology was adopted in this study as it mainly analysed and interpreted legislation and policy documents and therefore the approach was qualitative in nature. An extensive literature survey was done in order to document the various internationally selected legislated higher education and training tax policies and incentives. The literature indicated that there are widespread funding perspectives and initiates, and that international tax policies enacted with the aim of ensuring that higher education and training is more accessible and affordable to the public, is stable and effective in certain jurisdictions. It is submitted that while a higher education dedicated tax may not be sufficiently effective in South Africa, a combination of broad-based tax incentives will help to promote the change to a more affordable and stable higher education funding system, whilst not preventing growth through sustainable development.
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Parker, Mashooma. "A warning by press release that the retrospective application of legislation to completed transactions will be applied: A case analysis of the Pienaar Brothers (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner of the South African Revenue Services and Another (2017)." Master's thesis, Faculty of Law, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30907.
Full textAbstract:
Pienaar Brothers (Pty) Ltd was an amalgamated company who sought to introduce a BEE element of ownership into its company in a tax efficient manner. Upon consulting their legal experts they were advised that the best manner in which they could achieve this objective was to enter into an amalgamation agreement in terms of section 44 of the ITA. At this particular time, the law was structured in a way in which it was possible to achieve this objective in a tax efficient matter, particularly because any distribution made by parties to the amalgamation transaction would be tax free. The problem however was that the tax collecting agency never intended the section 44 of the ITA amalgamation process to be STC free, and instead intended a temporary deferral thereof. To address this, the taxing authorities accordingly started putting mechanisms in place to limit the loss of such STC. On the 10 January 2007, SARS issued a public announcement stating that they planned to investigate certain corporate entities which had elaborate corporate structures that led to an impermissible loss of tax. On the 21 February 2007, the Minister of Finance stated that section 44 of the ITA, as it stood, allowed for a loss of STC as opposed to a deferral thereof, and that the taxing authorities intended on withdrawing such STC exemption in order to align it with their initial intention, and to further make such amendment retrospective to the date of such announcement. This was then once again cemented in the form of a press release on the part of SARS on that same day. Thereafter, this proposed amendment was submitted to Parliament in the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill on 27 February 2007, and in May 2007, the Taxpayer completed its amalgamation transaction and achieved its BEE objective into its ownership. On the 7th June 2007 the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill was published together with an Explanatory memorandum which however no longer proposed the withdrawal of the STC exemption contained in section 44 of the ITA, but instead introduced a new addition into section 44 of the ITA. This provision now targeted a resultant company’s equity share capital and share premium, instead of the distribution of company income at the amalgamated company’s level. This new insertion was then promulgated into law on 8 August 2007 as section 44(9A) of the ITA. In complete difference to the initial proposal contained in the forewarning, the practical consequence of section 44(9A) of the ITA was that the income which rolled over from the amalgamated company to the Taxpayer (the resultant company) had in the process changed its nature from revenue to capital which was caught up in the share premium account of the Taxpayer. Section 44(9A) of the ITA accordingly targeted any distribution made by the resultant company of this share premium. The Taxpayer’s problem in the present matter arose in 2011 when SARS sought to tax the Taxpayer on its May 2007 completed transaction, particularly its distribution of its share premium at the time. In addition to this assessment, SARS furthermore also levied interest on such outstanding STC payment from 8 August 2007, the date on which the final enactment was promulgated into law. This was that which accordingly prompted the Taxpayer to bring its matter before the High Court. Here, the prime relief sought by the Taxpayer was an order of constitutional invalidity, while the second order, couched as an alternative to the first was an interpretational argument which had the effect that section 44(9A) of the ITA did not apply to Taxpayer’s distribution when it was made because it was a completed transaction. The gist of the Taxpayer’s constitutional issue requested of the court to declare that the provision did not pass constitutional muster to the extent of its retrospectivity. The court however dismissed the Taxpayer’s claims and held in favour of SARS. The paper seeks to analyse this case alongside the values of legal certainty, as espoused in the Rule of Law, and to consider the probability of success on the part of the Taxpayer if they opted to take the matter on appeal.
37
Haffejee, Yaasir. "A critical analysis of South Africa's general anti avoidance provisions in income tax legislation." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1243.
Full textAbstract:
This treatise was undertaken to critically analyse the new general anti avoidance rules (new GAAR) as set out in sections 80A to 80L of the Income Tax Act1. A discussion on the difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance was performed in the first chapter. The goals of this treatise were then set out. An analysis of the requirements for the application of the new GAAR was performed in the second chapter. The courts have historically reviewed the circumstances surrounding an arrangement when determining whether tax avoidance has occurred. The new GAAR requires the individual steps of an arrangement to be reviewed in isolation. Secondly, the courts have historically held that the purpose test, when determining the taxpayer‘s purpose, was subjective. The wording of the new GAAR indicates that this test is now objective. Thirdly, the courts have historically viewed the abnormality of an arrangement based of the surrounding circumstances. The wording of the new GAAR requires an objective view of the arrangement. An analysis of the secondary provisions contained in sections 80I, 80B and 80J of the new GAAR was performed in the third chapter. With regards to section 80B, it was submitted that the Commissioner should issue an Interpretation Note detailing all the methods ―he deems appropriate.
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Mabele, Katlego Oliva. "The income tax implications of becoming a republic resident." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14521.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this treatise is to identify the income tax implications of the persons becoming South African tax residents. It will provide a clear understanding of the income tax implications for natural and non-natural persons wishing to take up residence in South Africa. The definition of “resident” in section 1 of the Income Tax Act, 1962, has a direct impact on the tax implications bearing down on any foreigner planning to reside within the Republic of South Africa, especially in relation to the prevention of the double taxation. The following issues or areas have been identified, these issues are summarised below. The persons receiving foreign pensions may be exempt from normal tax under section 10 (1)(gC) and in terms of the tax treaty, they may also escape taxation in their former country of residence. The treatise will look at various treaties that exist between the South Africa and other countries and to discuss the taxing rights. There is a case of double non-taxation and good reason for immigrants to come and avoid tax in South Africa. It is suggested that the legislation and the double tax agreements should be amended. A person who becomes a resident will receive a step-up in base cost for assets other than South African immovable property and assets of a permanent establishment in South Africa under paragraph 12(2)(a) of the Eighth Schedule. The main purpose of the legislation is to ensure that these assets are correctly valued, determining the base cost, when the person becomes a tax resident. The valuation of these assets carries with it the problem of securing sufficient evidence long after the valuation. Most of the tax planning for such for immigrants revolves around estate duty and donations tax. The person would donate his assets to an offshore discretionary trust before taking up residence in South Africa. The advantage is that donations tax will be avoided because there are exemptions in terms of section 56, for assets acquired before becoming a resident. The income and capital gains vested in nonbeneficiary can be taxed in the hands of the donor in terms of section 7 and paragraph 72 of the Eighth Schedule. The donor should be aware of the antiavoidance measures; section 7(2) to 7(8) and paragraph 72 of the Eighth Schedule will deem a different person other than the person who is entitled to the income to be taxable on that person. The income and gains received by the beneficiary of a trust can be taxable in the hands of the donor. The assets owned by the trust will be sheltered from South African estate duty. The foreign discretionary trust, as a non-resident, will not be liable for tax in South Africa. The beneficiaries of such a trust will be liable for income tax from the trust distributions, once they have acquired a vested right to the income. The liability of income tax is deferred to the year when the trustees decide to make distributions. The distribution by the trustees in a subsequent year creates a delay or postponement for taxes which should be paid by the beneficiaries. The trustees are most likely to make distributions in a tax year when the tax rates are low. There are tax opportunities for the immigrants who intend to take up residence. The tax resident might be subject to withholding taxes on foreign income from the previous country of residence, but might be subject to Double Tax Agreement between South Africa and other countries.
39
Bovijn, Silke. "Warranted and warrantless search and seizure in South African income tax law : the development, operation, constitutionality and remedies of a taxpayer." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17961.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Section 74D of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962 (the Act) grants the power of search and seizure to the South African Revenue Service, the basic underlying principle being that the Commissioner has to obtain a warrant from a judge prior to a search and seizure operation. The previous section 74(3) of the Act provided that the Commissioner was allowed himself to authorise and conduct a search and seizure operation without the requirement of a warrant. Section 74D of the Act was recently reviewed and the Tax Administration Bill (the TAB) contains the new provisions on search and seizure that will replace section 74D of the Act. In this assignment, the concept of search and seizure was examined by considering the cases, academic writing and other material on the topic. The objectives were to analyse the development of search and seizure in South African income tax law, to provide a basic understanding of the warranted and warrantless search and seizure provisions of the Act and the TAB, to determine their constitutionality and to determine the remedies available to a taxpayer who has been subject to a search and seizure. It was found that search and seizure has developed from warrantless under the previous section 74(3) of the Act into the requirement of a warrant under section 74D of the Act into a combination of both under the TAB. The concept of an ex parte application was analysed, which was shown to be permissible in certain circumstances under section 74D of the Act, while it is now compulsory in terms of the TAB. It was shown that the TAB closed the lacuna in the Act relating to the validity period of a warrant before it has been executed. It was, however, concluded, regarding whether a warrant expires when exercised or whether the same warrant can be used again to conduct a second search and seizure, that the position is not quite certain in terms of the Act and the TAB. It was found that there is no defined meaning of the reasonable grounds criterion, which is often required to be met in terms of the Act and the TAB, but that anyone that has to comply with the criterion must be satisfied that the grounds in fact exist objectively. The new warrantless search and seizure provisions of the TAB were analysed. It was established that warrantless search and seizure provisions are not uncommon in other statutes, but that the content thereof often differs. The new warrantless provisions were compared to the warrantless search and seizure provisions of, inter alia, the Competition Act No 89 of 1998 (the Competition Act), and it was found that the warrantless TAB provisions are not in all respects as circumscribed as those of the Competition Act and recommendations for counterbalances were made. It was concluded that the warranted search and seizure provisions of the Act and the TAB should be constitutionally valid but that the constitutionality of the new warrantless provisions of the TAB is not beyond doubt. It was furthermore found that the remedies at the disposal of a taxpayer who has been subject to a search and seizure should indeed be sufficient, but that there are no remedies available to a taxpayer to prevent injustice or harm.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Artikel 74D van die Inkomstebelastingwet No 58 van 1962, (die Wet) verleen aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens die mag van deursoeking en beslaglegging, die grondliggende beginsel synde dat die Kommissaris ’n lasbrief van ’n regter moet verkry voor die deursoeking en beslaglegging kan plaasvind. Die vorige artikel 74(3) van die Wet het bepaal dat die Kommissaris self ’n deursoeking en beslaglegging kon magtig en uitvoer sonder die vereiste van ’n lasbrief. Artikel 74D van die Wet is onlangs hersien en die nuwe Belastingadministrasie-wetsontwerp (BAW) bevat die nuwe bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging wat artikel 74D van die Wet sal vervang. In hierdie werkstuk is die konsep van deursoeking en beslaglegging ondersoek deur oorweging van die hofsake, akademiese skrywe en ander materiaal oor die onderwerp. Die doelstellings was om die ontwikkeling van deursoeking en beslaglegging in die Suid-Afrikaanse inkomstebelastingreg te ontleed, om ’n basiese begrip van die bepalings in die Wet en die BAW oor deursoeking en beslaglegging met en sonder ’n lasbrief te verskaf, om die grondwetlikheid daarvan te bepaal en om die remedies te bepaal wat beskikbaar is vir ’n belastingpligtige wat onderworpe was aan deursoeking en beslaglegging. Daar is bevind dat deursoeking en beslaglegging ontwikkel het vanaf sonder ’n lasbrief ingevolge die vorige artikel 74(3) van die Wet tot die vereiste van ’n lasbrief ingevolge artikel 74D van die Wet tot die kombinasie van albei ingevolge die BAW. Die konsep van ’n ex parte-aansoek is ontleed, en dit blyk in sekere omstandighede ingevolge artikel 74D van die Wet toelaatbaar te wees, terwyl dit nou ingevolge die BAW verpligtend is. Daar is aangedui dat die BAW die lacuna in die Wet oor die geldigheidsperiode van ’n lasbrief voordat dit uitgevoer is, verwyder het. Daar is egter bevind, rakende die vraag of ’n lasbrief verval wanneer dit uitgevoer word en of dieselfde lasbrief weer gebruik kan word om ’n tweede deursoeking en beslaglegging uit te voer, dat daar nie sekerheid ingevolge die Wet of die BAW bestaan nie. Daar is bevind dat daar geen gedefinieerde betekenis vir die kriterium van redelike gronde is nie, waaraan dikwels ingevolge die Wet en die BAW voldoen moet word, maar dat enigiemand wat aan die kriterium moet voldoen tevrede moet wees dat die gronde inderwaarheid objektief bestaan. Die nuwe bepalings van die BAW oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief is ondersoek. Daar is vasgestel dat bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief nie ongewoon is in ander wette nie, maar dat die inhoud daarvan dikwels verskil. Die nuwe bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief is vergelyk met die bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief van, inter alia, die Mededingingswet No 89 van 1998 (die Mededingingswet), en daar is bevind dat die BAW-bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief nie in alle opsigte so afgebaken is soos dié van die Mededingingswet nie en voorstelle vir teenwigte is gemaak. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging met ’n lasbrief van die Wet en die BAW grondwetlik geldig behoort te wees, maar dat die grondwetlikheid van die nuwe bepalings van die BAW oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief nie onweerlegbaar is nie. Daar is verder bevind dat die remedies tot die beskikking van ’n belastingpligtige wat onderworpe was aan deursoeking en beslaglegging inderdaad genoegsaam behoort te wees, maar dat daar geen remedies aan ’n belastingpligtige beskikbaar is om ongeregtigheid of skade te voorkom nie.
40
Fourie, Leonie. "A comparison between the South African "source rules" in relation to income tax and the "permanent establishment rules" as contained in double taxation agreements." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008203.
Full textAbstract:
South Africa's right to tax the income of a non-resident is determined in terms of the South African "source rules" established by court decisions in relation to the imposition of tax in terms of the Income Tax Act. Unless a non-resident's income is captured by the South African "source rules" (on the basis that hi slits income is derived from a South African source), South Africa would have no right to tax such income, even if such non-resident creates a permanent establishment in South Africa by performing business activities within South Africa which could be considered essential (but not dominant) in nature. In such scenario the activities performed by the non-resident in South Africa may utilise the natural resources and the infrastructure of South Africa, but the South African fiscus would be deprived of the right to any tax revenues attributable to the income produced partly by such activities within South Africa. The South African "source rules" refer only to the main or dominant activities giving rise to the income for the purpose of determining the source of such income (and accordingly the right to tax such income). On the other hand, the "permanent establishment rules" as set out under the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital refer to all the taxpayer's essential business activities for the purpose of determining whether or not such activities create a pennanent establishment. The result of the narrow nature of the South African "source rules" is that, under certain circumstances, the South African fiscus would not necessarily be granted the right to tax all income produced partly within South Africa. The research demonstrated that incorporating the principles underlying the "pennanent establishment rules" into South African legislation would be a reasonable and logical solution to the problem of detennining the source of income. In so doing, the South African "source rules" would determine the source of income, and consequently South Africa's taxing rights, with reference to the essential business activities giving rise to such income. In such case South Africa would be afforded the right to tax the income of a non-resident in the event that it performs any of its essential business activities within South Africa, albeit not the dominant or main activities giving rise to the income.
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Coelho, Andrew Satiro. "The scope for multilateral international co-operation in tax affairs / The tax and exchange control consequences of virtual currency transactions in South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25210.
Full textAbstract:
1. The scope for multilateral international co-operation in tax affairs: While some measures have been taken in the past to create some form of multilateral co-operation in respect of the enforcement of domestic tax laws, these have been limited either in scope or in scale, or both. This paper seeks to analyse the various attempts at multilateralism, investigate the theoretical reasons behind the perceived dominance of bilateralism in tax relations, and assess the scope for potential multilateral issues in the international tax law environment. 2. The tax and exchange control consequences of virtual currency transactions in South Africa: There is seemingly little research on how virtual currencies might be affected by domestic tax laws, or whether there should be a new tax regime implemented specifically for virtual currencies. This paper looks at how virtual currencies fit into the South African legislature and tax authorities' current tax and exchange control regime, as well as the problems this presents. It then compares that stance to select foreign jurisdictions before arriving at a conclusion at how the problems faced in South Africa might be better resolved. This results in a finding that while legislative measures might need to be taken in the future, it might only be an urgent necessity for the purposes of Exchange Control.
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Grenville, David Paul. "A critical analysis of the practical man principle in Commissioner for Inland Revenue v Lever Brothers and Unilever Ltd." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013238.
Full textAbstract:
This research studies the practical person principle as it was introduced in the case of Commissioner for Inland Revenue v Lever Brothers and Unilever Ltd 1946 AD 441. In its time the Lever Brothers case was a seminal judgment in South Africa’s tax jurisprudence and the practical person principle was a decisive criterion for the determination of source of income. The primary goal of this research was a critical analysis the practical man principle. This involved an analysis of the extent to which this principle requires judges to adopt a criterion that is too flexible for legitimate judicial decision-making. The extent to which the practical person principle creates a clash between a philosophical approach to law and an approach that is based on common sense or practicality was also debated. Finally, it was considered whether adopting a philosophical approach to determining the source of income could overcome the problems associated with the practical approach. A doctrinal methodology was applied to the documentary data consisting of the South African and Australian Income Tax Acts, South African and other case law, historical records and the writings of scholars. From the critical analysis of the practical person principle it was concluded that the anthropomorphised form of the principle gives rise to several problems that may be overcome by looking to the underlying operation of the principle. Further analysis of this operation, however, revealed deeper problems in that the principle undermines the doctrine of judicial precedent, legal certainty and the rule of law. Accordingly a practical approach to determining the source of income is undesirable and unconstitutional. Further research was conducted into the relative merits of a philosophical approach to determining source of income and it was argued that such an approach could provide a more desirable solution to determining source of income as well as approaching legal problems more generally.
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Theron, Nico. "A comparative study of value added tax collection methods in the context of e-commerce and virtual worlds from a South African perspective." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26408.
Full textAbstract:
E-commerce and transactions in virtual worlds has monetary value and may lead to actual cash flows. Where real money trade occurs tax authorities are bound to seek ways and means in which to levy and collect taxes (Pienaar, 2008:38). Previous research on the application of the South African income tax laws to transactions in virtual worlds has been conducted. The application of the charging section of the value added tax laws in South Africa has also been researched in the context of e-commerce and transactions in virtual worlds. Limited research has been conducted on the actual value added tax collection methods in the context of e-commerce and transactions in virtual worlds. This study critically analyses the value added tax collection methods employed in South Africa in the context of ecommerce and transactions in virtual worlds and compares the extent of its application to the extent of the goods and services tax collection methods’ application employed in Australia in this context. The study concludes that that the value added tax collection methods employed in South Africa and the goods and services tax collection methods employed in Australia are similar. Special rules have been adopted in Australia to ensure goods and service taxes are collected on the supply electronic goods. This is not the case in South Africa. However, in the case of transactions in virtual worlds, both countries’ collection methods struggle in ensuring value added tax and goods and service taxes is collected where the supplier of a virtual item is foreign in relation to South Africa or Australia. AFRIKAANS : E-commerce en transaksies in virtuele wêrelde het monetêre waarde en mag in sekere omstandighede kontantvloeie tot gevolg bring. Wanneer regte geld verhandel word sal belasting owerhede altyd maniere soek om belasting the hef op die onderliggende transaksies en dit in te vorder (Pienaar, 2008:38). Vorige navorsing rakende die toepassing van die Suid Afrikaanse inkomste belasting wetgewing in virtuele wêrelde is al voorheen gedoen. The toepassing van die heffings artikel in the belasting op toegevoegde waarde (BTW) wetgewing op e-commerce en transaksies in virtuele wêrelde was ook al vorheen nagevors. Min navorsing was gevind wat aleenlik fokus op die invorderings meganismes in die BTW wetgewing in die konteks van transaksies in virtuele wêrelde en e-commerce. Hierdie studie analiseer krities die toepassing van die invorderings meganismes in die Suid Afrikaanse BTW wetgewing in die konteks van e-commerce en transaksies in virtuele wêrelde en vergelyk die toepassing daarvan met die toepassing van die Australiaanse goods and services tax wetgewing se invorderings meganismes in dieselfde konteks. Die studie lig uit dat die twee lande se invorderings meganismes baie dieselfde is. The Australiaanse wetgewing maak egter spesiale voorsiening vir lewerings met betrekking tot e-commerce. Dit is nie die geval in Suid Afrika nie. Met betrekking tot transaksies in virtuele wêrelde sukkel beide lande se invorerings meganismes om seker maak dat BTW en goods and services tax ingevorder word waar die verskaffer nie Suid Afrikaans of Australiaans is nie.Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Taxation
unrestricted
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Ostler, Luise Marie. "The impact of estate planning on the effectiveness of estate duty as a wealth tax in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003741.
Full textAbstract:
The thesis examined the current system of the taxation of wealth in South Africa with an emphasis on the taxes that apply upon the death of the taxpayer. The focus of the research was on the problems associated with estate duty, namely the issue of double taxation; the alleged cumbersome administration of the tax and the limited revenue that it brings in; it’s questionable efficacy due to extensive estate planning on the part of taxpayers while they are still alive and its lack of uniformity with other wealth taxes. An interpretative research approach was followed which involved analysing documentary data. The conclusions that were reached were that estate duty as a wealth tax in South Africa has been rendered ineffective due to the inherent problems associated with its application, namely the fact that double taxation exists, not only in the context of capital gains tax, but also in that taxpayers resent being taxed upon death after having paid income tax during their lives. The perceived unfairness that is associated with estate duty has caused the creation of a secondary industry of estate planning, with the aim of minimising estate duty, which industry has resulted in the ineffectiveness of estate duty and its limited revenue. No evidence could be found regarding the Treasury’s assertion that estate duty is a cumbersome tax to administer. The final conclusion reached was that the current estate duty regime needs to be overhauled preferably by extending the current system of capital gains tax and abolishing estate duty, with due consideration being given to the consequences associated therewith.
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Schweitzer, A. G. "Aspects of the administrative law relationship between the taxpayer and the Commissioner for Inland Revenue." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22172.
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Bibliography: pages 133-135.There is an administrative law relationship between the taxpayer and the Commissioner for Inland Revenue, (hereinafter referred to as 'the Commissioner') The basis of this relationship is that the Commissioner is required to collect tax and the taxpayer is required to pay the tax. In exercising his powers under the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 (hereinafter referred to as the Act), the Commissioner has been conferred with discretionary powers. In this thesis, this administrative law relationship is examined with specific reference to the means of regulating the exercise by the Commissioner of his discretionary powers. There are a number of ways in which the discretionary powers of the Commissioner may be regulated. Generally discretion may be regulated by 'rule based administrative action' (1). This means that discretionary power is exercised subject to internal rules which state how discretionary power must be exercised. Another method of regulating the exercise of discretionary power is subsumed under the category of 'adjudicative techniques of decision' (2). The essence of the latter category is that the affected person participates in the decision which affects him. The exercise of discretionary power may be regulated furthermore if the Minister who has responsibility for the Department is required to be responsible for and account publicly for the actions of his subordinate. In this thesis, examples of rule based administrative action and adjudicative techniques of decision are examined.
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Smit, Jacobus Gideon. "Analysis of the interaction between the income tax and capital gains tax provisions applicable to share dealers." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85830.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MAccounting)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The interaction between the income tax provisions contained in sections 9B, 9C, 11(a) and 22 of the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 (the Act), and the capital gains tax (CGT) provisions of the Eighth Schedule of the Act, are complex and share dealers should approach the tax consequences of share dealing profits with caution. The objective of the assignment was to ensure that the share dealing profits of share dealers (who transact on revenue account) are taxed correctly, with specific reference to the interaction between the aforementioned provisions. This was achieved by considering tax cases, the interpretation notes of the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and commentary of tax writers. Examples of share disposals were incorporated to illustrate that consistency is required between the calculation of profits for income tax and CGT purposes. The guidelines laid down by case law to determine the revenue nature of share disposals were investigated. It was concluded that share dealing profits which are designedly sought for and worked for, either as part of a business operation or not, are of a revenue nature and taxable as such. The method of identification of shares sold as trading stock is important when calculating the income tax profit, since it is used in order to determine both which shares are sold as well as the cost of the shares sold. It was concluded that the method of identification applied in terms of generally accepted accounting practice (GAAP) is generally also acceptable from an income tax perspective. Section 9C of the Act provides a share dealer income tax relief when a ‘qualifying share’ is disposed of. Any amount received or accrued as a result of the disposal of a qualifying share is deemed to be of a capital nature, regardless of the revenue intention of the share dealer. Prior to 1 October 2007, section 9B of the Act provided similar relief to the disposal of an ‘affected share’. It was concluded that section 9C of the Act has a wider scope of application compared to section 9B of the Act. Because the proceeds received on the disposal of affected or qualifying shares are excluded from gross income, the acquisition costs previously incurred and deducted in respect of such shares must be included in taxable income. It was determined that the amount to be included in income is the actual cost of such shares and not the opening trading stock value determined in terms of GAAP and claimed in terms of section 22(2) of the Act. It was concluded that the first-in-first-out (FIFO) method of identification should be applied to determine which affected or qualifying shares have been disposed of. From a CGT perspective, it was illustrated that a share dealer loses the opportunity to choose which identification method to apply and is obliged to also apply the FIFO method in calculating the CGT base cost of the shares. It is concluded that the Eighth Schedule of the Act should be amended to clarify that the FIFO method should be applied for CGT purposes where sections 9B or 9C of the Act find application. Only then will the tax profits of a share dealer be in sync with his or her cash benefit.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die interaksie tussen die inkomstebelastingbepalings vervat in artikels 9B, 9C, 11(a) en 22 van die Inkomstebelastingwet No. 58 van 1962 (die Wet), en die kapitaalwinsbelastingbepalings (KWB bepalings) van die Agtste Bylae tot die Wet is kompleks en aandelehandelaars moet die belastinggevolge van aandelewinste met omsigtigheid benader. Die doelwit van die werkstuk was om te verseker dat die winste van aandelehandelaars (wat aandele verkoop op inkomsterekening) korrek belas word, met spesifieke verwysing na die interaksie tussen die voorgenoemde bepalings. Dit is bereik deur die oorweging van hofsake, uitlegnotas van die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens en kommentaar deur belastingskrywers. Voorbeelde van aandeleverkope is gebruik om te illustreer dat konsekwentheid tussen die berekening van winste vir inkomstebelasting en KWB-doeleindes ‘n vereiste is. Die riglyne wat deur regspraak daargestel is om die inkomste-aard van aandeleverkope vas te stel, is ondersoek. Daar is bevind dat aandelewinste wat opsetlik nagejaag word en voor gewerk word, ongeag of dit deel van die bedryf van 'n besigheid is al dan nie, van ‘n inkomste-aard is en aldus belasbaar is. Die metode van identifikasie van aandele wat as handelsvoorraad verkoop word is belangrik by die berekening die inkomstebelastingwins aangesien dit gebruik word om vas te stel watter aandele verkoop is en wat die koste van die verkoopte aandele is. Daar is bevind dat die metode wat ingevolge algemeen aanvaarde rekeningkundige praktyk (AARP) toegepas is, gewoonlik ook vir inkomstebelastingdoeleindes toelaatbaar is. Artikel 9C van die Wet verskaf aan ‘n aandelehandelaar inkomstebelastingverligting met die verkoop van 'n 'kwalifiserende aandeel' deurdat die bedrag ontvang of toegeval geag word van 'n kapitale aard te wees, ongeag die inkomstebedoeling van die aandelehandelaar. Voor 1 Oktober 2007 het artikel 9B van die Wet soortgelyke verligting verskaf met die verkoop van n 'geaffekteerde aandeel’. Daar is vasgestel dat artikel 9C van die Wet 'n wyer toepassing het in vergelyking met artikel 9B van die Wet. Omrede die opbrengs ontvang met die verkoop van geaffekteerde of kwalifiserende aandele uitgesluit word van bruto inkomste, moet die vorige aankoopskostes wat voorheen ten opsigte van die aandele aangegaan en afgetrek is, by belasbare inkomste ingesluit word. Daar is bepaal dat die bedrag wat by belasbare inkomste ingesluit word, die werklike koste van die aandele is en nie die AARP openingswaarde van handelsvoorraad wat ingevolge artikel 22(2) van die Wet geëis nie. Daar is bevind dat die eerste-in-eerste-uit (EIEU) metode van identifikasie gebruik moet word om te bepaal watter geaffekteerde of kwalifiserende aandele verkoop is. Vir KWB doeleindes verloor 'n aandelehandelaar ook die geleentheid om te kan kies watter identifikasiemetode toegepas moet word. Hy of sy is verplig om die EIEU metode toe te pas in die berekening van die KWB basiskoste van die aandele. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die Agtste Bylae van die Wet gewysig moet word om te bevestig dat die EIEU metode toegepas moet word vir KWB doeleindes waar artikels 9B of 9C van die Wet van toepassing is. Slegs dan is die belasbare wins van 'n aandelehandelaar in lyn is met sy of haar kontantvoordeel.
47
Mawire, Patrick N. "The tax implications of a private equity buy-out : a case study of the Brait-Shoprite buy-out." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/803.
Full textAbstract:
This treatise examines the history of private equity as a context in which to understand its role in the economy and specifically, the background for the high profile leveraged buy-outs that have been entered into in the past year. The treatise then focuses specifically on the Brait-Shoprite buy-out, examining its structure and the tax implications. The treatise then reviews the reaction of the South African Revenue Authority (“SARS”) to the buy-out and evaluates whether it was the best approach that could have been taken under the circumstances. As a result of the research, the following conclusions have been reached: Private equity transactions Private equity transactions have a role to play in the business world despite the apprehensions of tax authorities. The perception that these transactions are tax driven as part of an avoidance scheme is not justified. Structure of the Shoprite buy-out transaction: The Shoprite buy-out transaction was structured to obtain deduction for interest. The transaction was also structured to utilise the relief provisions of Part II of Chapter II (Special Provisions Relating to Companies) of the Income Tax Act no.58 of 1962, as amended (“the Act”). The relief was for capital gains tax (“CGT”) on disposal of the Shoprite assets. Finally, the transaction was designed to allow the existing shareholders to exit their investments free of Secondary Tax on Companies (“STC”). The reaction of SARS to the Shoprite buy-out transaction Whereas SARS may have been justified in questioning the structure and its impact on fiscal revenue, the response in the form of withdrawing STC relief from amalgamation transactions in section 44 was not in the best interest of a stable tax system and the majority of tax payers who are not misusing or abusing loopholes in the income tax legislation. It may have been possible for SARS to attack the structure based on the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) in part IIA of the Chapter III of the Act.
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Mhango, Muyeyeka Bazuka. "The impact of competition law remedies on the taxation process in South Africa." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26630.
Full textAbstract:
Combating the effects of the global recession that hampered the economies of various nations has been endeavoured by many governments since 2008. The South African government’s stand to do this shows that it is possible to return the economy back to its glory days, however, the duration of this process of overturning the same is unknown. The government has raised policies and programs, one of which being the New Growth Path (NGP) to combat these effect. This programme, inter alia, calls for increased government expenditure to facilitate job creation through infrastructure development. It is trite economic principles that government expenditure has to be balanced with its revenue collection, otherwise it might lead to budget deficit. Prolonged budget deficit, naturally, is not ideal for a nation’s economy as the same increases government borrowing, results in higher taxes, and affects inflation. While government revenue is mostly financed through taxes, studies show that increasing taxes is also to the detriment for the economy. Therefore, there is a need for disenable policy stand to be taken in respect of the government’s programme, as well as the generation of revenue to support the same. In this regard, one of the ways being advanced by this research in respect of a better combating the recession is to utilise economic legislations enacted in the country. Amongst other economic legislations in South Africa this paper discusses Income Tax Act (SA ITA) (which regulate the persons to pay income taxes) and Competition Act (which regulate fair competition). The focus of this dissertation revolves around the impact competition law remedies have on the income taxation process. The aim of the research is to analyse the possible loopholes in the current legislation that might hamper a government revenue generation to support its new growth path. This was met through an extensive study of relevant literature in competition and income tax laws in South Africa and also comparative analysis with relevant laws of the United States of America (USA). The main conclusion drawn from this research is that there is an impact of the current competition law remedies on the income taxation process. This research promotes and argues for a change in approach, through government enactment of clear and certain laws both in the field of competition law and tax law. This change would assist government in raising revenue more effectively and achieve it economic growth path and, in turn, combat the global economic crisis that affected the economy.Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Mercantile Law
unrestricted
49
Arendse, Jacqueline A. "An investigation into the introduction of a new wealth tax in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61379.
Full textAbstract:
In a world of economic uncertainty and manifold social problems, South Africa has its own unique challenges of low economic growth, persistent budget deficits that produce increasing government debt and the highest level of economic inequality in the world. The history of injustice and economic marginalisation and the failure of the economy to provide inclusive growth drives an urgent need to address economic inequality through tax policy, placing ever more focus on wealth taxes as a possible solution. There is a hope is that taxing the wealthy may provide the opportunity to redistribute desperately-needed resources to those denied the opportunity to build wealth and who are trapped in the cycle of poverty. Yet, as appealing as a new wealth tax may seem, the introduction of such a tax carries with it a range of risks, not all of which are known. Of great concern is the possible effect on the economy, which, in its vulnerable state, cannot afford any loss of capital and investment. Very little research has been done on wealth tax in the South African context and there is a dearth of literature focusing on the views and perceptions of the wealthy individuals themselves. This qualitative study investigates the merits and disadvantages of a new wealth tax and seeks to identify any unintended consequences that could result from the implementation of a new wealth tax in South Africa, drawing from historical and international experience and primary data obtained from interviews with individuals likely to be affected by such a tax. Having explored the literature and international experiences with wealth tax and having probed the thinking of wealthy individuals who would be the payers of a wealth tax, the study finds that a new wealth tax may contribute towards the progressivity of the tax system, but it is doubtful whether such a tax would provide a sustainable revenue stream that would be sufficient to address economic inequality and there is a risk of causing harm to the economy. Recognising that the motivation for wealth taxes is often driven more by political argument and public perception than by rational quantitative analysis, the study also anticipates the introduction of a new wealth tax and suggests guidelines for the design of such a tax within the framework for evaluating a good tax system. This study informs the debate on wealth taxes in South Africa and contributes to the design of such a tax, should it be implemented.
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Surtees, Peter Geoffrey. "An historical perspective of income tax legislation in South Africa, 1910 to 1925." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004578.
Full textAbstract:
From Introduction: This work considers the period from Union, 31 May 1910 until promulgation of the Income Tax Act No. 40 of 1925.(1) It will describe the means, both financial and otherwise, by which the fledgling Government of the Union of South Africa contrived to balance its budget, and will consider the various sources of revenue available up to 1914, when the Government of Gen. Louis Botha first decided that a tax on income was necessary in order to maintain the solvency of the new State. Similarly the political pressures which shaped the nature of the Income Tax Acts up to 1925 will be discussed, and the political principles (or expediencies, depending on the degree of cynicism of the reader) which led the parties in power from time to time to make the decisions they did regarding the provisions of the various Acts. The effect of external political situations such as the Great War of 1914 - 1918 will be examined, as will the consequences of the rebellion of 1914 and the strikes of 1913 and 1922. The legislation predictably spawned a considerable body of litigation as taxpayers hastened to find and exploit loopholes in it; the resultant Income Tax Cases, in the Income Tax Special Court, Supreme Court and Appeal Court, formed the embryo of a body of judicial precedent which today encompasses some two thousand case reports. A few of the cases decided in the period up to 1925 are still quoted today; for example, CIR v Lunnon 1924 AD 1 SATC 7. The relevant cases from the period will enjoy consideration, with descriptions of how their verdicts affected either subsequent income tax principles or later legislation. Also considered will be the inception during this period of the way in which income tax legislation largely develops: the legislature promulgates an Act, the taxpayers discover legitimate ways to reduce their tax burden and the Minister of Finance consequently causes the Act to be changed in order to protect the tax base. Thereupon the resolute taxpayers seek loopholes anew. The effect of economic conditions on income tax legislation will engage attention; several such conditions cast their shadows into the House of Assembly during that 15 year period, notably the post-war recession and the drought of 1919. The selection of this period is apposite for several reasons: it covers the period during which income tax legislation came into being; - it includes several notable political occurrences. thus making possible a consideration of their effect on income tax legislation; it includes a natural cataclysm. namely a major drought. which also had an effect on subsequent Income Tax Acts; - a sufficient number of income tax cases was heard during the period to afford a fair indication both of how the body of case law would develop and how it would perpetually interplay with the legislation; it clearly illustrates the differences between the two great political parties of the time, differences largely caused by the vested interests of each; the dominant South African Party, with its need to retain the support of the commercial and particularly the mining sectors, and the smaller but even then growing National Party with its face set firmly towards the rural constituencies and the embattled farmers; - the period culminates in the Income Tax Act of 1925, a significant change from its predecessors, and the second Income Tax Act of the Pact Government. The imposition of taxes by the respective provinces does not form part of this work, as the scope of the discussion is limited to the various Income Tax Acts, and their development has been overseen by the central government.