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.
#taxpayers
Court halts SARS’s ‘pay now, argue later’ rule in R531m tax battle
The judgment clarifies that when a taxpayer offers over-collateralised security and SARS cannot explain real risk, suspension should follow.
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.
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 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.
Treasury concedes on one CIS tax proposal, holds firm on another
National Treasury has withdrawn its proposal that would have triggered capital gains tax when fund managers merge collective investment scheme portfolios.
Schools’ exit VAT liability postponed for a year
VAT-registered schools will have to deregister from 1 January 2026, but the deemed output VAT on retained assets will only be payable the following year.
More taxpayers will be caught by lower ringfencing threshold
The threshold for ringfencing assessed losses from ‘suspect’ or ‘hobby-like’ trades will be reduced from the 45% marginal rate to 39%.
Treasury withdraws plan to tax foreign pensions, pledges wider consultation
Although the amendment will not proceed, Treasury remains concerned about double non-taxation and will re-engage with the industry to find a balanced approach.
SARS launches expedited tax-debt compromise process
SARS will negotiate compromises only where liability is undisputed and both parties agree the taxpayer cannot pay in full.
Tax Ombud’s 10 top refunds total R167m
Requiring SARS to provide written reasons when it rejects the OTO’s recommendations has resulted in an increase in the resolution of complaints.
Treasury urged to retain tax relief for manager-initiated unit trust transactions
ASISA says further consultation is needed to avoid negative consequences for investors and the collective investment schemes market.
Why using the correct IRP5 source code matters for SA expats
Incorrect source codes trigger unnecessary tax for hundreds of expatriates. The result is lost refunds or large tax bills.
Capital gains tax is ‘sabotaging South Africa’s economic growth’
CGT levies gains created by inflation and currency depreciation, eroding real returns and discouraging long-term investment, says the Free Market Foundation.
