Budget Overview

Personal income tax and tax of special trusts

Government is implementing a new top personal income tax bracket of 45% for taxable incomes above R1.5 million per year. The primary, secondary and tertiary rebates, and the levels of all the taxable income brackets, will be increased by 1% from 1 March 2017 and the tax-free threshold will increase from R75 000 to R75 750. (See Annexures for tables.)

Trusts other than special trusts

The rate of income tax on trusts is raised from 41% to 45% from 1 March 2017.

Medical tax credits

From 1 March 2017 the medical tax credit for monthly contributions to medical schemes is increased for the first two beneficiaries from R286 to R303 per month, and for the remaining beneficiaries from R192 to R204 per month.

Tax-free savings accounts

The annual allowance for tax-free savings accounts has increased from R30 000 to R33 000.

Capital Gains Tax

The maximum effective rate for Capital Gains Tax for individuals and special trusts increases from 16.4% to 18% from 1 March 2017.

Transfer duty

The duty-free threshold on purchases of residential property is raised from R750 000 to R900 000, effective 1 March 2017.

Estate duty

Estate duty remains at 20% on property of residents and South African property of non-residents. The abatement also remains unchanged at R3.5 million.

Tax Implications

Tax-exempt status of pre-March 1998 fund build-up in public sector funds

Currently, these benefits retain their tax-exempt status upon transfer to a private sector fund. Government proposes that this tax-exempt status be retained on subsequent transfers to funds.

Time limit to join an employer umbrella fund

Currently, existing employees who do not join a newly established employer umbrella fund have 12 months within which to join the fund, after which they are unable to join. It is proposed that the 12-month limit be removed and that employees be allowed to join without time restriction, subject to the rules of the fund.

Application of the cap on deductible retirement fund contributions

It is currently not clear how the overall annual cap of R350 000 on contributions to pension, provident and retirement annuity funds should be applied when determining monthly employees’ tax. It is proposed that the amount of R350 000 be spread over the tax year, which is a more prudent approach.

Donations tax

Donations tax remains unchanged at 20%, with the first R100 000 being tax-free. Donations between spouses remain exempt.

Dividend withholding tax

Dividend income paid to shareholders is taxed at a rate of 15%. After accounting for company tax, which is paid before a distribution of dividends, the combined statutory tax rate on dividends is 38.8%, which is lower than the averages in Europe.

To reduce the difference between the combined statutory tax rate on dividends and the top marginal personal income tax rate, government is increasing the dividend withholding tax rate to 20%, effective 22 February 2017.

The exemption and rates for inbound foreign dividends will also be adjusted in line with the new rate, effective for years of assessment commencing on or after 1 March 2017.

Withholding tax on immovable property sales

To align with the increased effective capital gains tax rate, government proposes to increase the withholding tax on immovable property sales by non-residents. Rates will be increased from 5% to 7.5% for individuals, 7.5% to 10% for companies and 10% to 15% for trusts.

Interaction between the “in duplum” rule and the statutory tax legislation

The in duplum rule aims to protect debtors by limiting the amount of the total interest a creditor can charge. The effect of the rule is that interest on a debt ceases to accrue where the total amount of the interest equals the outstanding principal debt. Various anti-avoidance provisions in the Income Tax Act may be undermined should the in duplum rule apply.

Some taxpayers may be relying on this rule to distort the quantification of the tax benefit derived from low-interest or interest-free loans. These taxpayers aim to avoid income tax determined on the difference between the amount of interest actually incurred and the amount of interest that would have been incurred at the official rate.

It is proposed that the tax rules dealing with low-interest or interest-free loans be amended to explicitly exclude the application of the in duplum rule to ensure their efficacy.

Addressing the abuse of disguised sale of shares using share buybacks

Intermediaries are familiar with the so-called buy and sell agreement between shareholders, but sometimes a company enters into a share buyback (agreement) where there is no buy and sell agreement.

In the 2016 Budget Review, tax avoidance schemes involving share buybacks were highlighted for review. Such schemes involve a company buying back shares from its current shareholders to avoid the tax consequences of share disposals. The seller receives payment in the form of a dividend that may be exempt from normal tax and dividends tax, instead of paying tax on the sale of shares.

Following the announcement in 2016, no specific countermeasures were introduced. It is therefore proposed that specific countermeasures be introduced to curb the use of share buyback schemes.

Assisting micro businesses growing into small and medium-sized enterprises

Qualifying micro businesses (with turnover up to R1 million a year) and small business corporations (with turnover less than R20 million a year) are eligible for preferential corporate income tax rates. The former are taxed on turnover, while the latter are taxed on taxable income.

There are no transitional measures for micro businesses that grow sufficiently to migrate into the small business corporation tax regime. This can result in unforeseen tax liabilities and administrative penalties. Government proposes to reduce associated administrative penalties so that businesses can transition smoothly.

¹‘elect’ refers to delaying to receive the retirement income/lump sum, not that the member can choose the age at which s/he retires