VAT hike halted – but legal uncertainty keeps SA on fiscal edge
Tax specialist Louis Botha answers pressing questions about the suspended VAT increase and its broader implications for budget-making power and taxpayer rights.
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Budget 3.0 coming after court-backed VAT suspension and new Rates Bill
SARS tells vendors there is now no legal basis for them to charge consumers VAT of 15.5% from 1 May.
Godongwana given 30 days to revise Budget after VAT reversal
The ANC and the DA present South Africans with different versions of what led to the decision to halt the increase.
How SARS arrives at R800bn in uncollected tax
Commissioner Edward Kieswetter explains to Parliament why ‘between R700bn and R800bn is not an unreasonable amount’.
South Africa already has wealth taxes, says Kieswetter
Almost half the revenue from personal taxes is derived from people who earn more than R1 million.
SARS’s tax collection powers strengthened – will enforcement get tougher?
Taxpayers may struggle to challenge SARS’s authority to repatriate foreign assets after a High Court ruling upheld its powers, potentially paving the way for more assertive tax enforcement.
SARS ramps up scrutiny as trust and provisional tax filings surge
With more tax returns submitted, SARS is intensifying efforts to ensure full compliance, particularly among trusts, using AI and data-driven enforcement.
SARS anticipates up to R12bn from two-pot withdrawals
This is double the initial estimate of between R5bn and R6bn.
Gross two-pot withdrawals top R43 billion
SARS highlights common errors that can lead to application rejections and warns against attempts to evade tax.
R35bn withdrawn as SARS reports unprecedented two-pot system activity
Some 20% of applications for tax directives were rejected.
SARS will tighten the compliance screws to hit R1.84 trillion tax target
The MTBPS shows tax revenue will be below the Budget estimates, but SARS is adamant it will do everything in its power to collect as much money as it can.
Two-pot withdrawals: taxpayers who understate their income face penalties
SARS has processed more than 1.2 million tax directives for savings component withdrawals, paying out R21.4 billion to fund members.
R4.1 billion in withdrawals: surge in two-pot claims highlights financial planning challenges
The introduction of the two-pot retirement system has triggered a wave of withdrawal applications, prompting concerns over tax liabilities and the need for improved financial education.
Massive interest in two-pot withdrawals puts administrators to the test
As the two-pot system rolls out, fund administrators are receiving a wave of withdrawal claims, highlighting the financial squeeze many are feeling.
‘Severe consequences’ for employees involved in hacking taxpayer profiles
The Tax Ombud is investigating SARS for potential service failures in addressing eFiling hijacking, with a review under way to uncover systemic issues.
SARS pays back R10bn, but some taxpayers’ refunds are being withheld
Taxpayers should inform SARS if they have been unemployed for a full year or longer, to avoid being flagged as non-compliant.
Tax collection in 2023/24 comes in at R10bn more than expected
SARS rakes in more from personal income and VAT, but corporate tax slumps by almost 9%.
