OECD Backs South African Carbon Tax Plans

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has recommended that South Africa speed the implementation of a carbon tax to leverage fiscal space to enhance the tax regime. It has recommended that an environmental levy could provide a significant new revenue stream that would allow authorities to cut taxes on corporate profits and improve job creation and employment incentives to foster stronger economic growth.

South African tax case considers application of capital gains treaty exemption to deemed disposition

A recent decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa considered the application of the capital gains article in a double tax convention based on the OECD model to a deemed disposition of property occurring as a result of an “exit tax” imposed on an emigrating corporation. As the Court’s decision concerns capital gains exemption language that is similar to that used in most double tax treaties based on the OECD Model, it provides a helpful glimpse into how such provisions may be interpreted in other jurisdictions, including Canada.