A trust is a legal arrangement that allows assets to be held and managed by trustees for the benefit of beneficiaries. In South Africa, creating a valid trust requires meeting specific essential requirements and adhering to its structured framework.
A recent ruling by the Johannesburg Tax Court has sent a powerful warning to trustees, funders, and high-net-worth individuals: poor record-keeping and vague financial narratives will not shield you from SARS scrutiny.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially launched the 2025 tax season, introducing a streamlined filing process and reinforcing its commitment to compliance and digital transformation.
The recent implementation of a new fuel levy has sparked widespread discussion across the country. Designed to address pressing economic concerns and boost revenue for critical infrastructure projects, the levy has been met with mixed reactions from citizens and industry stakeholders alike.
Last month’s Budget 3.0 withdrew the contentious proposed VAT changes. This resulted in inflation-linked fuel levy increases of 16c for petrol and 15c for diesel, from 4 June.
In the life cycle of every small business or start-up, one early trap catches many founders off guard: failing to separate personal and business finances.
Youth Day on 16 June is a great time to consider the advantages of employing young people in your business – and to find out how SARS’ Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) can assist your company to do this at a reduced cost.
As a business owner, at some stage you will inevitably be asked to help an employee through a crisis in either their personal or professional life. How you respond to their bereavement, financial difficulties or workplace meltdown, will directly affect your other employees and your company culture.
There’s a thin line between tax avoidance, which is legal, and tax evasion, which is a tax crime. Every taxpayer, corporate or individual, has the right and duty to ensure they don’t pay any more tax than what is legally required – but tax evasion can result in hefty penalties and even jail time.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) recently released updated Tables of Interest Rates, providing crucial information for individuals and businesses regarding tax obligations and financial planning. These tables outline interest rates applicable to outstanding taxes and those payable on refunds, ensuring taxpayers are informed about potential financial implications.
Key Changes and Implications
A Brief Overview of the Democratic Alliance's Perspective
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Enoch Godongwana, has announced that the 2025 Budget Review will be re-tabled on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. This revised budget will include the Fiscal Framework, Appropriation Bill, Division of Revenue Bill, and amendments to revenue laws. The decision follows the reversal of a proposed 0.5% increase in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate, which will remain at 15%.
Today’s work environment is fast-paced, unpredictable and ever-changing. Between the gig economy, retrenchments and the transformations brought about by AI and other technologies, studies are now showing that the traditional 9-to-5 job is no longer viewed as being a stable way of life.
Workers’ Day acknowledges the contributions of workers and recognises the importance of upholding their rights. But celebrating workers is not just a government initiative. It’s a forward-thinking approach to labour relations that is increasingly embraced by progressive companies around the world.
Running a business requires leaders to make hundreds of decisions each year. Some of these are small and inconsequential. But others have the power to affect the company’s future, determine the happiness of its customers and impact the lives of all its employees.
Increased funding allocated in Budget 2025 will enable SARS to zoom in on an estimated R800 billion in unpaid taxes in South Africa, including a substantial so-called “tax gap” of uncollected taxes. For taxpayers, this means more scrutiny, enquiries, verifications, and audits – and more stringent debt collection measures.
25 April 2025 – The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr. Edward Kieswetter has noted the Finance Minister, Mr. Enoch Godongwana’s decision to reverse the planned 0.5% VAT rate increase, which was initially set to take effect on 1 May 2025. This decision has significant practical implications for VAT vendors and consumers. As the administrator of all national government tax measures, SARS will ensure that the necessary adjustments are made to accommodate this change.
In the history of business, little has been as effective in making or breaking sales as customer reviews. With Google now placing increasing relevance on tracking and promoting companies with genuine good reviews, this has never been truer than it is now.
“Protect Yourself – Use Only Registered Tax Practitioners” was among the first messages from SARS this year. The message also highlighted the risks of engaging the services of unregistered practitioners and provided an online look-up feature where a practitioner’s registration can be verified.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their operations, improve customer experiences, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. A recent study published in the Journal of Business Management highlights the key AI applications being adopted by SMEs and the challenges they face in implementation. The findings reveal that while only 28% of SMEs have integrated AI solutions, those that have are seeing significant benefits.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate, offering numerous opportunities to enhance efficiency, improve customer experiences, and stay competitive. Implementing AI in SMEs can seem daunting, but with a strategic approach, it can yield significant benefits.
The recent proposal by the Minister of Finance to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate by 0.5% on 1 May has sparked significant discussion. One of the key points of contention is the implementation of this increase without parliamentary approval, as outlined in Section 7.4 of the VAT Act.
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has recently unveiled a report that underscores the substantial financial burden imposed by Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) premiums on South Africa. The report, titled "Cut VAT & BEE," estimates that the legitimate cost of BEE premiums in public procurement is approximately R17 billion per annum. To put this into perspective, this amount is equivalent to the cost of constructing around 42,000 kilometers of new paved roads, enough to stretch from Cape Town to Beijing and back.
