Author: Scott Salusbury. On 2 June 2017, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published a draft public notice requiring the submission of country-by-country (CbC), master file and local file returns. This marks an important step towards the finalisation of South Africas transfer pricing documentation requirements. As a result of the work on the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Authorities now include recommendations for a three-tiered approach to transfer pricing documentation (ie CbC report, master file and local file), which South Africa is in the process of implementing.
Category: International Tax
The lawfulness of retrospective amendments in tax law
Author: Beric Croome. On 29 May 2017, Judge Fabricius delivered judgment in the Gauteng High Court in the case of Pienaar Brothers (Pty) Ltd vs Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service and the Minister of Finance, in a case dealing with the Taxation Laws Amendment Act, 2007 (the Amending Act) which inserted section 44(9A) into the Income Tax Act, 1962 (the Act). The taxpayer sought an order declaring that section 34(2) of the Amending Act is inconsistent with the Constitution, and invalid to the extent that it provides that section 44 (9A) of the Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on 21 February 2007 and to be applicable to any reduction or redemption of the share capital or share premium of a resultant in company, including the acquisition by that company of its shares in terms of section 85 of the Companies Act, on or after Read More …
BEPS Action 8 on Hard-to-Value Intangibles: is this the last piece of the puzzle required by SARS to issue its updated Transfer Pricing Practice Note?
Author: Lavina Daya. One of the main action items identified by South Africas National Treasury in its summary of the countrys position on the G20/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) action plan on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), is the requirement for the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to update the Transfer Pricing Practice Note in line with the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines to include new guidance on the arms length principle and an agreed approach to ensure appropriate pricing on intangibles that are difficult to value.
Africa Tax in Brief
Author: Celia Becker. GHANA: Customs duty on spare parts abolished On 14 June 2017, pursuant to the measures proposed in the 2017 Budget, Parliament passed the Customs Amendment Bill, 2017, which amends the Customs Act, 2015 by abolishing customs duties on the importation of vehicular (including motorcycles and bicycles) spare parts.
Foreign employment income exemption is this the end?
Author: Nandipha Mzizi (Candidate Attorney at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr). Currently, s10(1)(o)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, No 58 of 1962 (Act), states that if a South African resident works in a foreign country for more than 183 days a year, with more than 60 of those days being continuous, foreign employment income earned is exempt from tax, subject to certain conditions. This exemption is only available to employees from the private sector. Early this year in the 2017 Budget, it was proposed that the exemption be adjusted as it was excessively generous for those that still benefited from it, ie private sector employees. It was proposed that foreign employment income will only be exempt from tax if it was subject to tax in the foreign country.
The wait is over: This is what the Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme will offer
The Minister of Finance announced the Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme (SVDP) in the 2016 Budget Speech. The legislation governing the SVDP finally came into effect on 19 January 2017 when the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Act, No 13 of 2016 (Revenue Laws Act) and the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws (Administration) Act, No 14 of 2016 (Revenue Laws Administration Act) were published in the Government Gazette.
Empowerment: an interesting ruling regarding a BEE transaction
In 2016, the BEE regulatory landscape has seen a number of changes introduced. These include the final regulations that were issued under the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, No 53 of 2003 (BBBEE Act), the release of the Black Industrialists Policy and the publication of draft regulations to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, No 5 of 2000 (PPPFA). In light of these developments, it is fitting to discuss Binding Private Ruling 241 (Ruling) dealing with an award received for a BEE training initiative, which was issued by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on 13 June 2016 and with a number of aspects in the Income Tax Act, No 58 of 1962 (Act).
Don’t be taken by surprise: Exchange control rulings and manual replaced
This Circular effectively replaces the current exchange control rulings and exchange control manual, which have been in existence since 2005, with two currency and exchanges manuals and two currency and exchanges guideline documents. The exchange control rulings are replaced by: the currency and exchanges manual for authorised dealers; and the currency and exchanges manual for authorised dealers in foreign exchange with limited authority (Manuals).
Taxable benefits provided to expatriate employees seconded in South Africa
Author: Jerome Brink. The nature of the business of many multinational companies requires them to send their employees to other countries across the globe in order to, among other things, manage and assist with special projects, implement firm-wide systems and ensure a standard level of quality in operations. Such seconded employees are often subject to tax in their host country, yet remain tax residents in their home country.
Africa tax in brief
Author: Celia Becker. ANGOLA: Securities Code Regulations enacted The Securities Code Regulation (Regulation No. 6/16) (the “Regulation“) was approved by the Council of Administration of the Capital Market Commission and gazetted on 7 June 2016. The Regulation contains the organisation rules and administrative requirements for open companies and other issuers of securities admitted to trading in regulated markets. CAMEROON: Tax amnesty on property tax announced On 21 June 2016, Cameroon’s National Treasury published a notice on its website introducing tax amnesty on property tax. According to the notice, provided that payments of property tax are made before 31 December 2016, no penalties will be levied.