In the recent case of KEN CC v CSARS, VAT2218 (VAT) [2023] ZATC CPT, the Tax Court (Cape Town) was tasked with deciding the dispute that had arisen between KEN CC (the vendor) and SARS concerning the vendors supply of services to foreign tour operators (FTOs) incorporated outside of South Africa. The vendor argued that it provided a single supply of tourism package assembly services to its non-resident FTO customers and that such services were zero-rated under section 11(2)(l) of the Value Added Tax Act, 1991 (VAT Act). This was on the basis that the FTO customers were not residents of South Africa and were not located in South Africa when the package assembly services were rendered. As part of its package assembly services, the vendor was appointed on behalf of the FTOs to contract with local third-party service providers for inter alia accommodation, guides, and greeting services. These local Read More …
Category: Tax Administration
PAYE obligations for Foreign Employers
Following the 2023 National Budget on 21 February 2023, draft legislation was published on 28 July 2023 where it was proposed by National Treasury (NT) that all foreign employers would be required to register for Employees Tax (PAYE) and make the necessary payments to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in respect of remuneration paid to any employees located in South Africa (SA). Many commentators made submissions and engaged in the stakeholder meetings with NT advising that this would significantly increase the administrative burden on foreign employers and potentially increase unemployment levels in SA as foreign employers would look to employ personnel in other countries.
A game changer for taxpayer confidentiality: The Constitutional Court decides in a narrow 5-4 split decision
While public interest litigation is a common occurrence in South Africa, it seldom involves the area of tax law. However, pursuant to the Constitutional Courts judgment in Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd t/a Financial Mail and Others v South African Revenue Service and Others [2023] ZACC 13, handed down on 30 May 2023, this might become a more regular occurrence and something the taxpayer and tax advisory community may see more of in future.
Tempers continue to cool: Are uniform allowances (for nurses) taxable?
The inclusion of any part of an allowance paid or payable in an employees taxable income is governed by section 8(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (Act). At a glance It has recently been reported in the news that the Department of Health has agreed to pay a temporary allowance of R3,153 to nurses in the public sector to enable them to buy uniforms. From a tax perspective, this amount will potentially not be subject to tax. In terms of section 10(1)(nA) of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962, where an employee is, as a condition of their employment, required while on duty to wear a special uniform which is clearly distinguishable from ordinary clothing, the value of such uniform, or any allowance provided in lieu of any such uniform, given to the employee by his employer, will be exempt from normal tax and therefore not Read More …
Court Case – VAT agency and principals
The terms agent and agency are not defined in the Value Added Tax Act 89 of 1991 (VAT Act). The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has indicated in Interpretation Note 42 (IN 42) that it accepts that the common law relationship between the principal and the agent prescribes the value-added tax (VAT) consequences of this legal relationship. The general VAT rule is that where a person, acting as agent, supplies goods or services on behalf of a principal to a third party, the supply is deemed to be made by the principal and not the agent (section 54(1) of the VAT Act). Conversely, where a third-party supplier makes a supply to an agent acting on behalf of a principal, that supply is deemed to be made to the principal (section 54(2) of the VAT Act). In these instances, the principal and not the agent must account for VAT on the Read More …
New tax dispute resolution rules come into effect immediately
New tax dispute resolution rules provide for, amongst others, 80 days to submit an objection and more independence of an ADR facilitator. On 10 March 2023, the Minister of Finance published new dispute resolution rules in the Government Gazette in terms of the Tax Administration Act (TAA). These rules describe the procedures for objections and appeals, for the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism and for the conduct and hearing of appeals before a Tax Board or Tax Court.
Foreign employers will be required to register with SARS
National Treasury proposed in the February 2023 Budget that it intends to align the obligations on South African and foreign employers, which creates certain practical issues The global trend of remote working, which has surged since the Covid-19 lockdowns, allows employers at one end of the world to employ South Africans (SA) whom they may never have met face-to-face. These arrangements benefit both employers (because they may be able to employ highly skilled workers more cheaply than in their own countries) and employees (who may broaden their opportunities to earn income).
Skirting the Tax Court is not a quick-fix solution to a tax dispute
The road to finalising a dispute against an additional assessment or a SARS decision can be a “protracted slog” to the Tax Court. Recent case law suggests that relief in the High Court is only available in exceptional circumstances. The TAA process Chapter 9 of the Tax Administration Act (TAA) and the dispute resolution rules (Rules) provide for aggrieved taxpayers to dispute assessments and SARS decisions using the objection and appeal procedures.
SARS additional disclosure requirements for tax clearance in respect of transferring funds abroad
SARS has introduced an enhanced compliance system change in relation to the current tax clearance status (TCS) required for the transfer of funds by a taxpayer intending to make use of their foreign investment allowance (FIA) of up to R10 million per calendar year. It has been noted the effective date of this change is24 April 2023. The enhanced changes to the TCS system require additional information on the approval of an International Transfer (AIT) Application, to aid SARS in ensuring that all required tax payable has been duly reported by the taxpayer. It is further noted that this would only apply for amounts in excess of R1 million. No TCS is required for transfers up to R1million per calendar year.
What to do if you receive income from two sources?
Taxpayers who receive income from more than one source of employment are reminded that the employees tax (PAYE) deducted by the respective employers may not be enough to cover their final tax liability on assessment. The reason for this is the manner in which a taxpayers tax liability is calculated on assessment. The South African tax system is based on the principle of adding together all sources of income of a taxpayer into a single sum, and applying a progressive tax rate table to determine the final tax liability of the taxpayer on assessment. A progressive tax rate system means that the more income is earned, the higher is the marginal tax rate and more tax is paid on assessment.