South Africa Increases Carbon Tax to Combat Climate Change
Profmark Team on 13/03/2025

South Africa Increases Carbon Tax to Combat Climate Change

In a significant move to bolster its climate change mitigation efforts, South Africa has announced an increase in its carbon tax. Effective from January 1, 2025, the carbon tax will rise from R190 to R236 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Additionally, from April 2, 2025, the carbon fuel levy will increase by 3c/litre to 14c/litre for petrol and 17c/litre for diesel, as mandated by the Carbon Tax Act of 2019.

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South Africa to Increase VAT Rate in 2025
Profmark Team on 13/03/2025

South Africa to Increase VAT Rate in 2025

In a significant move to boost revenue, the South African government has announced a two-phase increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate. The first increase of 0.5 percentage points will take effect on 1 May 2025, followed by another 0.5 percentage point increase on 1 April 2026. This decision comes after careful consideration of the potential contributions of various tax instruments, with VAT being identified as an efficient and broad-based source of revenue.

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Review of the 2025 Budget Speech
Profmark Team on 13/03/2025

Review of the 2025 Budget Speech

The 2025 Budget Speech addressed the economic stagnation of the past decade, with GDP growth averaging less than 2%. In 2024, the economy grew by only 0.6%, and medium-term projections estimate an average growth of 1.8%. The speech emphasized the need for faster, inclusive economic growth to meet developmental goals.

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SARS Reports Over 2 Million Tax Directive Applications for Savings Withdrawals
Profmark Team on 03/02/2025

SARS Reports Over 2 Million Tax Directive Applications for Savings Withdrawals

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced a significant milestone in the implementation of the two-pot system, with a total of 2,664,279 applications for tax directives received to date. Of these, 2,403,379 applications have been approved, resulting in a total gross lump sum payout of R 43.42 billion.

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How to Obtain a Tax Directive from SARS
Profmark Team on 02/12/2024

How to Obtain a Tax Directive from SARS

Obtaining a tax directive from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is a crucial step for employers, fund administrators, and insurers to ensure the correct deduction of employees' tax from lump sum payments. This process is essential for managing tax liabilities on retirement funds, severance packages, and other lump sum benefits.

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2024 Tax Filing Season Updates
Profmark Team on 02/09/2024

2024 Tax Filing Season Updates

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced key updates for the 2024 tax filing season, which commenced on July 1, 2024. This year, SARS will continue issuing auto-assessments for taxpayers with simpler tax affairs. Taxpayers are advised to check their auto-assessment status via eFiling or the SARS MobiApp, following an SMS or email notification.

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Tax Implications of Withdrawing from Two-Pot Retirement System
Profmark Team on 02/09/2024

Tax Implications of Withdrawing from Two-Pot Retirement System

Starting from 1 September 2024, individuals planning to withdraw from the savings pot of the Two-Pot Retirement System must be registered for tax. Unregistered individuals must complete their registration before applying to their relevant fund, as unregistered requests will be rejected by SARS.

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Tax incentives to boost renewable energy generation
Profmark Team on 01/08/2024

Tax incentives to boost renewable energy generation

SARS has introduced a comprehensive draft guide outlining tax incentives to boost renewable energy generation. ​ Taxpayers can benefit from accelerated deductions, enhanced deductions for new assets, and deductions for expenses related to infrastructure construction. ​ These incentives aim to encourage investment in renewable energy projects, support sustainable practices, and drive economic growth in the renewable energy sector. ​

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South African Revenue Service Issues Ruling on Taxable Income Set-Off against assessed losses for Companies
Profmark Team on 01/08/2024

South African Revenue Service Issues Ruling on Taxable Income Set-Off against assessed losses for Companies

In a recent development, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a Binding General Ruling (Income Tax) 73 on the 30th of July 2024, shedding light on the meaning of taxable income for the purpose of setting off the balance of an assessed loss by companies. ​ This ruling aims to provide clear guidance on the limitation of set-off for companies under section 20(1)(a)(i) as amended by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act 20 of 2021. ​

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National Treasury Welcomes Signing of Pension Funds Amendment Act
Profmark Team on 01/08/2024

National Treasury Welcomes Signing of Pension Funds Amendment Act

National Treasury expressed its satisfaction as the President signed the Pension Funds Amendment Act (31 of 2024) into law, marking the final step in implementing the two-pot system set to begin on 1 September 2024. ​ This act introduces crucial changes to various pension-related laws, including the Pension Funds Act of 1956 and the Government Employees Pension Law of 1996, essential for retirement funds, including public sector funds, to adopt the two-pot reform. ​

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Tax Chronology of South Africa: 1979–2024 
Profmark Team on 08/04/2024

Tax Chronology of South Africa: 1979–2024 

The Tax Chronology of South Africa: 1979–2024 provides a comprehensive overview of the current and historical rates for various taxes, duties, and levies collected by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This publication covers the period from 1979 to 2024 and includes details on tax rates, duties, and levies.

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Employer Annual Declarations (EMP501): 1 April to 31 May 2024
Profmark Team on 08/04/2024

Employer Annual Declarations (EMP501): 1 April to 31 May 2024

As an employer, it’s essential to stay informed about your tax obligations. The Employer Annual Declaration period is a crucial time when you need to submit accurate information to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Let’s dive into the details:

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2024/25 Budget Review
Profmark Team on 21/02/2024

2024/25 Budget Review

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Enoch Godongwana, tabled his budget review on 21st February 2024. While tax revenue performed well in 2021/22 and 2022/23 due to high commodity prices, revenue for 2023/24 is now expected to fall short by R56.1 billion. Government has proposed tax increases totalling R15 billion in 2024/25 to alleviate immediate fiscal pressures, while limiting the impact on economic growth. The following were the key tax proposals:

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Trust Income Tax Returns
Profmark Team on 15/01/2024

Trust Income Tax Returns

SARS’ aim is to record all beneficial owners of registered Trusts in order to comply with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements. In this regard, certain information must be submitted via e-Filing. These documents may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

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Budget 2024/2025 Scheduled for 28th February 2024
Profmark Team on 15/01/2024

Budget 2024/2025 Scheduled for 28th February 2024

The minister of finance will table his budget proposals on February 28th, 2024.Some of the key predictions on the back of an election year are as follows:

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VAT enhancements for estimated assessments
Profmark Team on 12/12/2023

VAT enhancements for estimated assessments

VAT enhancements for estimated assessments are changes to the VAT Act and the Tax Administration Act that affect how SARS can issue estimated assessments for VAT vendors who do not submit their returns or supporting documents on time. These changes aim to improve compliance and reduce tax evasion.

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Beneficial Ownership
Profmark Team on 12/12/2023

Beneficial Ownership

CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) is an agency that regulates the registration and compliance of companies and intellectual property. One of its functions is to keep a register of beneficial ownership (BO) for companies and close corporations.

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Solar Tax Breaks
Profmark Team on 07/11/2023

Solar Tax Breaks

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has stated that his department is advocating for the tax incentive for solar PV to be extended to batteries and inverters¹. The government wants more businesses and households to opt for rooftop solar, and efforts are under way to push for a tax incentive to be extended to inverters and batteries part of solar PV systems.

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Reforms to deliver growth over the medium term
Profmark Team on 07/11/2023

Reforms to deliver growth over the medium term

The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) presented by Minister Enoch Godongwana on 1 November 2023 outlined several key reforms aimed at delivering growth over the medium term:

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Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) Review
Profmark Team on 07/11/2023

Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) Review

The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) for 2023 was unveiled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on 1 November 2023. The MTBPS, also referred to as the "mini-budget", allows government departments to apply for adjustments to their budgets, apply for rollovers, and request additional funds for unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditures. It sets government policy goals and priorities, forecasts the macroeconomic trajectory, and projects the fiscal framework over the next three years by outlining spending and revenue estimates.

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Draft National State Enterprises Bill
Profmark Team on 10/10/2023

Draft National State Enterprises Bill

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul the governance and management of state-owned companies, which he said have been plagued by corruption, inefficiency and poor performance. The plan, which was announced in his medium-term budget policy statement on Wednesday, aims to restore the financial viability and strategic relevance of the entities, which collectively have more than R1 trillion in assets and employ over 300 000 people.

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