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.
#taxation
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.
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.
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.
Budget: Key changes for taxpayers and investors
Watch Moonstone Update for an overview of some of the stories covered in the past week’s Investment Indicators and Moonstone Monitor. This weeks update focuses on the budget Income tax brackets, medical tax […]
Taxed out: why South Africa’s spending problem can’t be ignored
Experts slam the idea of a VAT increase, pointing to a record tax burden and bloated expenditure. From uncollected billions to inefficient governance, the real fix lies in reining in waste, not squeezing taxpayers.
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.
Farmer wins court battle over R10m insurance deduction
The Tax Court rules against SARS in a dispute over a contingency insurance deduction, reaffirming the legitimacy of the policy and its role in protecting income-generating activities.
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.
Treasury accepts most of the industry’s two-pot proposed amendments
Among other things, the revised Amendment Bill will clarify how funds should calculate seeding when provident fund members choose to join the system.
ASISA flags ‘problematic’ amendments to two-pot legislation
Funds made different calls on the conditions for the exclusion of provident preservation fund members and the seeding date for members who opt in.
Precedent-setting case highlights legal hurdles in transfer pricing disputes
The tax dispute between ABD and SARS highlights the complexity of IP royalty pricing and the importance of expert testimony in transfer pricing audits.
