The South African capital gains tax (CGT) regime does not provide for indexation: it does not take into account the effect that inflation may have on capital profits over time.
Consider the following example: A company bought an asset on 1 January 2002 for R1 000. The company sold the asset on 1 January 2013. The inflation rate during that period was, for example, 6% compounded annually. The company realised a return of, for example, 10% compounded annually, that is, a return of 4% above inflation compounded annually. Accordingly, the company sold the asset for an amount of R2 853. The company realised a nominal profit of