Proposal to tweak ‘bona fide inadvertent error’ in favour of SARS
The move will limit taxpayer defences that rely solely on claiming an unintentional mistake.
SARS
Higher VAT will impact business operations and consumer spending
The Minister of Finance cites an average 19% VAT among peers to argue that South Africa’s 15% rate is low, but isolated comparisons miss key factors such as exemptions, corporate rates, and overall business costs.
How SARS arrives at R800bn in uncollected tax
Commissioner Edward Kieswetter explains to Parliament why ‘between R700bn and R800bn is not an unreasonable amount’.
South Africa already has wealth taxes, says Kieswetter
Almost half the revenue from personal taxes is derived from people who earn more than R1 million.
VAT hike scaled back, but social grants take the biggest hit
With the government now R8.6 billion short, planned social grant increases have been slashed – while Home Affairs and border management also see deep budget cuts.
ASISA rejects proposed ‘dualistic nature’ of CIS portfolios
ASISA warns that reclassifying collective investment scheme portfolios as profit-making schemes will undermine years of established investment policy.
SARS’s tax collection powers strengthened – will enforcement get tougher?
Taxpayers may struggle to challenge SARS’s authority to repatriate foreign assets after a High Court ruling upheld its powers, potentially paving the way for more assertive tax enforcement.
Provisional tax simplified: key deadlines and compliance strategies
Missing the provisional tax deadlines can lead to steep penalties and interest. This article outlines the key dates and payment rules to help you stay ahead.
Budget 2025: can debt stability lay the foundation for growth?
With South Africa’s debt-to-GDP ratio at 75.1%, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana faces a tough balancing act – can his Budget Speech reassure investors and spark economic growth?
How to maximise your tax benefits in a two-pot era
Carla Rossouw, head of tax at Allan Gray, discusses what investors need to know about retirement fund products and the looming end-of-tax year deadline on 28 February.
Tax collections miss forecasts – will taxpayers bear the burden?
A dip in corporate and VAT revenues has left a R10bn hole in expected tax collections. As the Budget approaches, Treasury faces a difficult balancing act.
Ombud urges taxpayers to share eFiling hijacking experiences in survey
Have you or your clients been affected by eFiling profile hijacking? The Tax Ombud is investigating SARS’s handling of these incidents.
SARS ramps up scrutiny as trust and provisional tax filings surge
With more tax returns submitted, SARS is intensifying efforts to ensure full compliance, particularly among trusts, using AI and data-driven enforcement.
SARS anticipates up to R12bn from two-pot withdrawals
This is double the initial estimate of between R5bn and R6bn.
Gross two-pot withdrawals top R43 billion
SARS highlights common errors that can lead to application rejections and warns against attempts to evade tax.
Industry raises red flags over tax treatment of collective investment schemes
Treasury’s proposed tax changes for investment funds may lead to trading distortions and reduced revenue, say industry experts.
Be aware of the difficulties when dealing with tax debt in business rescue
Can a creditor lose their right to enforce post-commencement debt? A High Court case sheds light on the fine print of business rescue rules and SARS’s role in enforcing tax obligations.
