What is it?
Most countries impose tax on the worldwide income earned by a resident of that country and on income earned by
non-residents on locally earned income. Therefore someone can be double taxed because they can be taxed in the country of residence as well as in the country of source where the income was earned.
Certain countries have agreements to avoid double taxation. Normally these agreements provide that income of a certain nature will be taxed only in one of the two countries or may be taxed in both countries and the country of residence will allow a credit for the tax which has been imposed by source country. South Africa has agreements with a number of countries to prevent double taxation of income.
Who is it for?
A non-resident, who is not a tax residentof South Africa andreceives income from a source in South Africa needs to apply for a directive for the relief from South African tax on pension and annuity income (excluding lump sums) or who wants a refund of tax that was withheld in terms of the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 (the Act).
The request should be in terms of the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) that is in place between SA and the
non-residents country of residence.