CARF expands SARS’s visibility over crypto transactions, says PwC
The new reporting regime, effective from 1 March, increases the information available to SARS through third-party reporting and international data exchange.
Tax
Smart tech boosts compliance, yet R646bn tax debt looms large
Using AI and third-party data, SARS identified some 100 000 high-income earners who were not registered for tax.
VDP interest relief proposed despite recent Constitutional Court precedent
Just a year after the Constitutional Court barred post-agreement interest remission in voluntary disclosure cases, Treasury proposes legislation to allow it.
Income tax brackets, medical tax credits adjusted for inflation
The government finally cuts payers of personal income tax some slack – and increases the medical scheme tax credits.
Changes to CGT, tax-free savings, retirement contributions, and donations
Treasury also proposes new thresholds at which fund members and living annuitants can commute to a cash lump sum.
Increase in the VAT registration threshold
The tax regime for small and micro-businesses will also be adjusted for inflation.
Zero-rated chicken will have minimal impact on tax revenue, report finds
Advocates say including certain chicken products in the zero-rated food basket will directly benefit poorer households that rely on bone-in cuts and offal.
Fewer taxpayers increasingly carrying the personal income tax load
With no inflation adjustment in 2025, PIT collections rose sharply, increasing the burden on individuals without changes to the headline rates.
Open letter to Kieswetter highlights rising taxpayer frustration
The Office of the Tax Ombud is seeing the same delays, verification snags, and procedural irregularities highlighted by a tax practitioner.
Courts willing to consider evidence beyond a contract’s written terms
Modern contract interpretation permits surrounding circumstances to explain contractual meaning – undermining SARS’s argument that extrinsic evidence is inadmissible.
Court tells SARS: A deal is a deal
A High Court ruling confirms that SARS must honour lawful settlement agreements and cannot rely on internal systems or administrative hurdles to escape binding terms.
Stricter reporting obligations for crypto-asset transactions
From 1 March, new frameworks will impose expanded due diligence and information-exchange obligations on exchanges, custodians and banks.
Calls grow for full audit trails in eFiling profile hijackings
Tax practitioners argue that the apparent targeting of refund-eligible profiles points to either insider access or critical control failures.
Treasury pushes back against increasing taxes on higher-income earners
Deputy DG Christopher Axelson tells Parliament Treasury will prioritise improved revenue collection and closing loopholes rather than further rate increases.
Treasury proposes 20% national online gambling tax to curb harm
The measure is expected to generate over R10bn, but Treasury says its primary aim is to deter harmful gambling behaviour.
Tax compliance is easier, but corporates’ trust in SARS remains split
PwC finds a downward trend in penalties and verification risk. Yet corporate taxpayers continue to voice concerns over consistency, fairness, and accessing SARS support.
Treasury upbeat on near-term tax haul, but flags medium-term shortfalls
The MTBPS raises the 2025/26 gross revenue estimate by R19.7bn but warns of a R15.7bn shortfall against Budget estimates for 2026/27.
