Global Corporate Tax Changes: Advice Is More Crucial Than Ever

“Over the next few years, we are also implementing a global minimum corporate tax to limit the negative effects of tax competition.” (Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance, Budget 2024) There have been significant shifts in the corporate income tax landscape in South Africa and globally. Recent trends noted by the…
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How To Avoid an eFiling Profile Hijacking

“…it is vital that all stakeholders in the digital ecosystem, including the taxpayers, SARS, and the banks, work together to prevent and combat profile hijacking.” (SARS) The recent spike in the number of SARS eFiling profiles being hacked by cybercriminals should raise red flags for every taxpayer. It’s got so…
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Beware the Taxman When Accessing Your Three-Pot Retirement Savings!

“The two-pot system is meant to support long-term retirement savings while offering flexibility to help fund members in financial distress.” (National Treasury) With two new pots added to what used to be the one-pot South African retirement system, fund members can now access a portion of their retirement savings before…
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Do You Qualify for These Tax Rebates? Let Us Check!

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” (Albert Einstein)  Tax rebates, deductions and incentives provide relief to taxpayers by reducing the amount of tax payable to SARS, resulting in welcome tax savings. But how do you figure out which rebates, deductions or incentives apply to…
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How to Breeze Through a SARS Audit

“The aim of a tax audit is to determine if the taxpayer has complied with the relevant legislation administered by SARS.” (SARS) During a tax audit, SARS examines financial statements, accounting records and supporting documents to check if you or your business correctly declared your tax position on a tax return.…
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Use This SARS Incentive to Bring Young People into Your Business

“The employment tax incentive is aimed at encouraging employers to hire young and less experienced work seekers.” (SARS Employers ETI Guide) With Youth Day celebrations around the corner, business owners have an opportunity not only to consider unlocking the benefits of having young workers in their teams, but also to…
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SARS Admin Penalties: What Taxpayers Can Do

“…imposing administrative non-compliance penalties is to ensure the widest possible compliance with the provisions of a Tax Act … they are imposed impartially, consistently and proportionately to the seriousness and duration of the non-compliance.” (SARS) The Tax Administration Act stipulates that SARS can issue administrative penalties for outstanding tax returns. In previous…
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Dispute with SARS? Here are the New Rules…

“The importance of the ability of taxpayers to challenge the legality of actions and decisions within the tax system is internationally recognised.” (Taxpayers’ Rights: Theory, Origin and Implementation) In South Africa, taxpayers have the right to dispute tax assessments, interest, late payment penalties, and administrative penalties for various taxes, including Personal…
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The Risky New Trust Landscape – What Trustees Need to do Now

“The common assumption is that trusts are some kind of tax panacea…Then, conversely, from a South African Revenue Service (SARS) perspective, trusts are viewed with a degree of suspicion and mistrust. [T]he truth lies somewhere between these positions.” (Broomberg on Tax Strategy) The legal and tax landscape in which South…
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