Estate planning is the arrangement and management of an estate owner’s estate to the effect that the estate owner and his beneficiaries can enjoy maximum benefit from his worldly possessions during his lifetime and after his death. Unfortunately, for estate owners and their beneficiaries, a deceased estate has to pay an executor’s fee, estate duty and capital gains tax on the demise of the estate owner, which means the amount the estate owner intended his heirs to receive, might be substantially decreased. For decades trusts have been used for estate planning purposes. The decision of the estate owner to utilise a trust for estate planning purposes involves the disposal of growth assets from the estate owner’s estate to the trust. This ensures that the value of a growth asset is pegged in the estate owner’s estate and the asset continues to grow in the trust. The asset is disposed of by way of a loan account in favour of the estate owner and the parties agree that the outstanding amount is payable on demand. In his will, the estate owner then bequeaths the outstanding amount back to the trust. However, Paragraph 12(5) of the Eighth Schedule to the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 stated that capital gains tax will be levied in cases where a debt is reduced or discharged by a creditor for no consideration or for an amount which is less than the outstanding amount. In ABC Family Trust ITC 1793 the estate owner transfer assets to the trust on a loan account and in her will, bequeathed the exact outstanding amount back to the trust. It was argued on behalf of the trust that the bequest constituted a set-off and not a discharge of the debt. However, the court stated that the set-off took place because of the “operation of law” which is specifically included in the definition of a “disposal” for capital gains tax purposes. The court applied Paragraph 12(5) and found that the trust is liable to pay capital gains tax on the full outstanding amount. In XXX Trust ITC 1835 the estate owner also transferred asset to a trust, but in her will she bequeathed the residue of her estate, and not the exact outstanding amount, to the trust. In this case the court placed emphasise on the intention of the estate owner and not on the possible application of Paragraph 12(5). The court found that it was not the intention of the estate owner to discharge or reduce the debt for no consideration. Subsequently, it was found that the trust is not liable for capital gains tax. Since these two cases Paragraph 12(5) has been deleted and Paragraph 12A inserted in the Eight Schedule to the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962. The focus of this mini-dissertation is to determine which estate planning tools were available to estate owners to prevent a capital gains liability under Paragraph 12(5). The capital gains tax effect that Paragraph 12A might have on estate planning is also discussed. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Tax Administration Act (28 of 2011) (TA Act), which was promulgated on 4 July 2012 and came into effect on 1 October 2012, was enacted with the purpose of aligning all the administrative provisions dealt with under the various sections of the Income Tax Act (58 of 1962) (IT Act) and the Value-Added Tax Act (89 of 1991) (VAT Act) under one piece of legislation. The TA Act (28 of 2011) provides guidance on various matters of tax administration, including a very controversial penalty levying regime. Prior to the TA Act (28 of 2011), section 76 of the IT Act (58 of 1962) and section 60 the VAT Act (89 of 1991) (hereafter referred to as the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions) dealt with the levying of additional taxes in cases of understated tax returns. Sections 76 and 60 of the respective acts unfortunately did not provide proper guidelines on the assessment and calculation of these additional taxes or on how the levying of these additional taxes could conform to matters of administrative justice. These matters have been included under sections 221 to 223 of the TA Act (28 of 2011) (hereafter referred to as the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011)) and have been welcomed by most taxpayers. This research study focused on the critical evaluation of the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) as well as the provisions which were repealed and replaced by the TA Act (28 of 2011) and which were previously applied in terms of the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions. A comparison between the latter provisions, the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) and foreign legislation is made with the purpose of addressing how effective and fair the TA Act (28 of 2011) will prove to be. The study also includes brief advice on any possible improvements or practical approaches regarding the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011). It is also seen as necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the regulations promulgated in terms of sections 221 to 223 of the TA Act (28 of 2011), and to identify possible problems with the application and interpretation of the relevant understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) by the Commissioner. A literature review was used to critically analyse and compare various pieces of legislation and precedents, including South African and foreign laws and legislation, with possible practical illustrative examples. The objective with the literature review was to clarify issues such as the fairness of the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) and the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions. The findings of the research study revealed that the enactment of the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) on 1 October 2012 partially achieves the objective of providing taxpayers with a penalty levying system that is more reasonable and fair in comparison with the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions. Despite a more favourable outcome achieved by the TA Act (28 of 2011), the research concludes that proper guidance and measures for levying a penalty are still lacking and that the legislation is unfortunately still failing in this regard. Harsh penalty percentages based on certain behavioural criteria that are not defined create the need for obvious improvements. That said, the TA Act (28 of 2011) is still young and creates a basis on which further amendments and improvements can take place. / MCom (South African and International Taxation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Tax Administration Act (28 of 2011) (TA Act), which was promulgated on 4 July 2012 and came into effect on 1 October 2012, was enacted with the purpose of aligning all the administrative provisions dealt with under the various sections of the Income Tax Act (58 of 1962) (IT Act) and the Value-Added Tax Act (89 of 1991) (VAT Act) under one piece of legislation. The TA Act (28 of 2011) provides guidance on various matters of tax administration, including a very controversial penalty levying regime. Prior to the TA Act (28 of 2011), section 76 of the IT Act (58 of 1962) and section 60 the VAT Act (89 of 1991) (hereafter referred to as the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions) dealt with the levying of additional taxes in cases of understated tax returns. Sections 76 and 60 of the respective acts unfortunately did not provide proper guidelines on the assessment and calculation of these additional taxes or on how the levying of these additional taxes could conform to matters of administrative justice. These matters have been included under sections 221 to 223 of the TA Act (28 of 2011) (hereafter referred to as the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011)) and have been welcomed by most taxpayers. This research study focused on the critical evaluation of the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) as well as the provisions which were repealed and replaced by the TA Act (28 of 2011) and which were previously applied in terms of the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions. A comparison between the latter provisions, the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) and foreign legislation is made with the purpose of addressing how effective and fair the TA Act (28 of 2011) will prove to be. The study also includes brief advice on any possible improvements or practical approaches regarding the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011). It is also seen as necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the regulations promulgated in terms of sections 221 to 223 of the TA Act (28 of 2011), and to identify possible problems with the application and interpretation of the relevant understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) by the Commissioner. A literature review was used to critically analyse and compare various pieces of legislation and precedents, including South African and foreign laws and legislation, with possible practical illustrative examples. The objective with the literature review was to clarify issues such as the fairness of the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) and the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions. The findings of the research study revealed that the enactment of the understatement penalty percentage provisions under the TA Act (28 of 2011) on 1 October 2012 partially achieves the objective of providing taxpayers with a penalty levying system that is more reasonable and fair in comparison with the pre-TA Act (28 of 2011) penalty provisions. Despite a more favourable outcome achieved by the TA Act (28 of 2011), the research concludes that proper guidance and measures for levying a penalty are still lacking and that the legislation is unfortunately still failing in this regard. Harsh penalty percentages based on certain behavioural criteria that are not defined create the need for obvious improvements. That said, the TA Act (28 of 2011) is still young and creates a basis on which further amendments and improvements can take place. / MCom (South African and International Taxation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Revenue losses due to tax non-compliance pose a substantial risk for all governments, including the South African government. As part of its risk management system, the South African Revenue Service has identified the small, medium and micro enterprise sector as one of the seven high-risk areas and indicated that non-compliance in this sector remains high. The first focus area of any tax compliance risk management system is to ensure registration for the relevant taxes payable. The objective of this study was to establish whether any demographic factors could be used to select small businesses to investigate whether they are meeting their registration compliance requirements for income tax, Value-Added tax as well as the employee related taxes. In order to achieve the research objectives of the study, two sequential research methods were applied. During the first phase of the research, a literature review was conducted to develop a heuristic model consisting of two levels. The first level described the factors that could influence the tax compliance behaviour of a small business. The second level of the heuristic model describes the different taxes a small business could be liable for and when it must register for each of those taxes. During the second phase, the variables influencing registration compliance were statistically analysed for each of the taxes to determine if they significantly influence the compliance status. The study found that several factors have an impact on the registration compliance of small businesses. The demographic factors were analysed separately for each of the three different tax groups used in the study. The results indicate that in the majority of cases all three tax groups share the same demographic factors that would either have a positive or negative impact on the compliance of the entity. Profiles for the most compliant business type (per tax type) and the least compliant business type (per tax type) were compiled. The results of the study can be used by the South African Revenue Service to target their compliance and information actions to help improve registration compliance by small businesses. / Taxation / M. Com. (Accounting)

M.Comm. / Due to uncertainties experienced while working for the South African Revenue Services and the fact that there are no specific sections in the Income Tax Act no. 58 of 1962 dealing with interest, foreign exchange and bad and doubtful debts of commercial banks there were a need to undertake a study. The study therefore undertakes an examination to determine if the existing sections of the Income Tax Act dealing with interest, foreign exchange and bad and doubtful debts are enough legislation to deal with the interest, foreign exchange and bad and doubtful debts of commercial banks. The study also try to clear all existing uncertainties experienced and mentioned in this study. The study can be divided into the following four parts: A literature study of the definition of "bank" and "banking operations", in terms of history and current legislation. A study of the definition of "interest" and "finance charges", in terms of sections of the Income Tax Act, Act no. 58 of 1962 and applicable court cases. The chapter also concentrates on the application of section 24J of the Income Tax Act on the interest-transactions of commercial banks as well as the identification of any short falls of the section. Before interest can be treated in terms of section 24J of the Income Tax Act, the source of the interest will have to be in South Africa. General sourse principles applicable to commercial banks as well as the deductability of interest expenses when expenced to generate exempt income will therefore also be covered in this chapter. A study of the application of section 241 of the Income Tax Act dealing with the foreign exchange of commercial banks. An examination of the way commercial banks should treat their bad and doubtful debts and the factors taken into account in court decisions relating thereto. The most important activities of a bank are identified in this study as the acceptance of deposits, the provision of credit, rendering of financial services and the trade in exchange and the utilisation of money and interest received. In terms of section 24J of the Income Tax Act, interest include finance charges, premiums or disconto's, all interests and the difference between all amounts payable or receivable in terms of a sale and leaseback agreement. It was found that all the interest of a commercial bank are included in the definition of interest and all the transactions of a commercial bank are treated in terms of section 24J of the Income Tax Act for income tax purposes. Section 241 of the Income Tax Act focuses on foreign exchange transactions and are found to be enough legislation for the foreign exchange transactions of commercial banks. Although bad and doubtful debts are not part of the activities of a commercial bank they are part of the uncertainties experienced while working for the South African Revenue Services. During the study it was found that doubtful debts can not be deducted in terms of section 11(a) of the Income Tax Act but only in terms of section 11(j) of the Income Tax Act. It is practice for the South African Revenue Services to only allows 25% of the full amount of doubtful debts, but as this discretion is subject to objection and appeal, the bank is entitled to claim a higher percentage as a deduction if they can provide proveto justify a higher deduction. It was also found that commercial banks can claim their bad debts in term of section 11(a) of the Income Tax Act.

In recent years, the possibility to deduct expenses for research and development (R&D) has been interpreted narrowly. As a response, the Income Tax Act chapter 16, section 9 (the R&D-rule) was amended to increase the possibility to deduct R&D of more general character. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the meaning of the R&D-rule to be able to decide if the amendment is an extension of the deductibility and whether this amendment can be considered adequate. According to the R&D-rule, the recipient of the grant needs to conduct R&D activity and there needs to be a sufficient connection between the R&D activity and the company to be allowed deduction. The difficulty in applying the R&D-rule is mainly when the research is conducted outside the company and the aim of the research is not to solve the company’s specific problem.The connection between the R&D-activity and the company needs to be reasonable. This means that only R&D-activity that falls completely outside the company’s activities should be excluded from deductibility. However, even R&D where some connection can be shown has been excluded from deductibility, which makes the application of the R&D-rule complex. The amendment of the R&D-rule means that deduction is now possible where a reasonable interest can be shown with either the principal business or the other business. The assessment if a reasonable interest can be shown between the R&D and the company’s activities, must now take into account all aspects of the company not only the principal activity. In conclusion, the amendment creates an extension of the deductibility. The purpose of the amendment of the R&D-rule was to extend the deductibilityof R&D. The amendment must therefore be considered adequate. The addition of the other business to the wording of the R&D-rule will lead to an actual extension of the deductibility of R&D. / De senaste åren har möjligheten till avdrag för FoU tolkats snävt vilket försvårat för företagen att få avdrag för FoU av allmän karaktär. Svaret på kritiken mot den snäva tolkningen förde med sig en lagändring av IL 16 kap 9 § (FoU-regeln). Uppsatsens syfte är att fastställa innebörden av FoU-regeln för att utreda om lagändringen är en utvidgning i förhållande till den tidigare lydelsen av lagregeln samt bedöma om lagändringen är ändamålsenlig.  Enligt FoU-regeln krävs det att mottagaren av bidraget utgör en FoU verksamhet samt att tillräckligt samband finns mellan FoU:n och företaget för att erhålla avdragsrätt. Svårigheten att bedöma sambandet är då FoU:n utförs av någon extern och syftet med forskningen inte är inriktad på att lösa företagets specifika problem utan forskningen är av mer allmän karaktär. Det måste finnas ett rimligt intresse mellan FoU-verksamheten och företaget, vilket innebä ratt bara sådan FoU som hamnar helt utanför företagets område ska uteslutas från avdragsrätt. I praxis har även dock FoU med visst samband uteslutits varför tillämpningen av FoU-regeln är komplex. Lagändringen av FoU-regeln innebär att avdrag får göras när det finns samband mellan FoU-verksamheten och den huvudsakliga verksamheten eller verksamheten i övrigt. Vid bedömningen ska hänsyn alltså tas till hela verksamheten. Det här innebär en utvidgning av avdragsrätten i förhållande till den tidigare lydelsen, då avdrag endast medgavs när samband fanns med kärnverksamheten. Det huvudsakliga ändamålet med lagändringen är en utvidgad avdragsrätt. Utifrån ordalydelse är det nu tydligt att avdrag får göras även då samband inte finns med den huvudsakliga verksamheten, men samband finns med den övriga verksamheten. Tillägget verksamheten i övrigt innebär således en faktisk utvidgning av avdragsrätten för FoU i förhållande till den tidigare lydelsen av FoUregeln.

Uppsatsens syfte är att utreda hur EU:s förändringar i moder/dotterbolagsdirektivet kommer att påverka svensk lagstiftning i form av IL och SFL. Förändringarna i direktivet har gjorts för att förhindra bolagens användande av s.k. hybridlån för att uppnå dubbel icke-beskattning i medlemsstater. Utöver den här förändringen har det även infogats gemensamma skatteflyktbestämmelser i direktivet, bestämmelser som samtliga medlemsstater måste följa. Sverige har sedan tidigare implementerat moder/dotterbolagsdirektivet i svensk lagstiftning och har även en lag mot skatteflykt. Skatteflykt är idag ett erkänt problem inom EU och de olika medlemsstaternas nationella lagstiftningar skiljer sig åt mellan varandra, därför har det ansetts nödvändigt att försöka skapa en gemenskap mellan medlemsstaternas lagstiftningar. För att uppfylla uppsatsens syfte har vi utrett de antagna förslagen från EU och gjort jämförelser med svensk lagstiftning, i syfte att se hur den svenska lagstiftningen kommer att påverkas av de ändrade reglerna i moder/dotterbolagsdirektivet. Tanken är inte att föreslå en lydelse av reglerna i svensk lagstiftning, utan enbart att utreda hur IL och SFL kommer att påverkas när direktivets ändringar implementeras innan slutet av år 2015. Slutsatsen enligt vår mening blir att Sverige troligtvis inte kommer behöva ändra den svenska generalklausulen då den redan täcker men även går längre än det som den gemensamma skatteflyktsklausulen vill uppnå. Vi anser att Sverige rimligen borde implementera reglerna som motverkar dubbel icke-beskattning och att detta rimligen bör införas i IL. Vi anser även att det är väldigt viktigt att den implementerade bestämmelsen är så tydlig som möjligt i sin lydelse. / The purpose of the thesis is to examine how EU’s changes in the Parent-Subsidiary Directive will affect Swedish legislation in the form of the Income Tax Act and the Tax Evasion Act. The changes in the directive have been made to prevent the companies from using so-called hybrid loans to achieve double non-taxation in the Member States. In addition to this change, a general anti-abuse rule has also been implemented into the Directive, a rule that all Member States must implement. Sweden has already implemented the Parent-Subsidiary Directive into Swedish law and has also a law against tax evasion. Tax evasion is a recognized problem within the EU and the different national legislations between the Member States differ from each other and therefor it has been considered necessary to try to create a connection between the Member States' legislation. To fulfill the purpose of the thesis, it has been necessary to examine the changes made by the EU and make a comparison with the Swedish legislation, in order to see how the Swedish legislation will be affected by the changed rules of the Parent-Subsidiary Directive. The idea is not to propose a complete amendment to the rules in the Swedish law, but only to investigate how the Income Tax Act and Tax Evasion Act will be affected when the changes in the directive are implemented. The conclusion, according to us, is that Sweden will probably not need to change the Swedish general tax evasion clause because it already covers and also goes further than what the general anti-abuse rule in the Directive wants to achieve. We believe that Sweden probably should implement the rules that prevent double non-taxation, and that this should be inserted in the Income Tax Act. We also believe that it is very important that the implemented provision is as clear as possible in its wording.

Uppsatsen syftar till att utreda två skatterättsliga frågor som uppkommit i samband med ett avvisat avgörande från Högsta förvaltningsdomstolen avseende terminsavtal i ett incitamentsprogram. Frågorna är om terminer och terminsavtal utgör värdepapper och om eventuella förfoganderättsinskränkningar i dessa avtal har betydelse för förmånsbeskattningen. Utgångspunkten i uppsatsen är beslutet från Högsta förvaltningsdomstolen som avvisades och det därtill hörande förhandsbeskedet från Skatterättsnämnden. Utifrån de diskussioner som förts i uppsatsen kan författaren konstatera att terminer och terminsavtal kan klassificeras som värdepapper. Begreppet värdepapper är inte definierat i lagtext men utifrån praxis och doktrin samt viss EU-lagstiftning kan det utläsas att terminsavtal uppfyller de krav som ställs på en klassificering som värdepapper. När det gäller beskattning av en förmån krävs det att den anställde förvärvar ett värdepapper, annars utgör rättigheten en personaloption. Författaren anser att då ett terminsavtal ingår i ett incitamentsprogram så representerar det ett ekonomiskt värde för den anställde som ska förmånsbeskattas. Inom incitamentsprogrammen kan det finnas villkor och förfoganderättsinskränkningar. Dock har Högsta förvaltningsdomstolen i ett flertal fall kommit fram till att sådana begränsningar i den rättighet som förvärvas inte påverkar värdepappersstatusen hos rättigheten. Enligt ett av förarbetena så syftar värdepappersregeln till att förmånsbeskattning ska ske oavsett hur villkoren är utformade. Det som har framkommit i framställningen medför att författaren anser att det är märkligt att Högsta förvaltningsdomstolen inte tog beslut i frågan om förmånsbeskattning av terminsavtal. En konsekvens är att det kan leda till framtida problem med tillämpningen av värdepappersregeln i samband med terminsavtal. / The aim of this thesis is to examine two taxation questions that arise from the judgement by the Supreme Administrative Court regarding futures contracts in employee incentive plans. The questions concerns whether futures are to be classified as securities and if any restraint in the right of disposition might have an impact on the fringe benefits taxation according to chapter 10 section 11 of the Swedish Income Tax Act. As a result of the discussions in the thesis the author comes to the conclusion that futures might be classified as securities. The terminology regarding securities is not defined in the Swedish Income Tax Act but case-law and literature and also directives from the European Union stipulate demands that futures fulfil. According to the Swedish legislation it is crucial that the employee acquire a security in order for the fringe benefits taxation to apply. The author is of the opinion that when futures are a part of an employee incentive plan then they represent an economic value, which should be taxed as a benefit. The employee incentives plan could be restrained in the right of disposition. However the Supreme Administrative Court has in multiple cases found that it does not affect the classification of a security. The preparatory work shows that the purpose of chapter 10 section 11 in the Swedish Income Tax Act is to tax all benefits regardless of the restraints connected to them.  Based on the findings in the thesis the author is of the opinion that the decision by the Supreme Administrative Court regarding the fringe benefits taxation of futures is strange. This is because the decision might cause problem in the future interpretation of chapter 10 section 11 in the Swedish Income Tax Act.

Controlled foreign company ('CFC') legislation was introduced in phases to co-incide with South Africa?s move from a source based system to a residence based system. Initially with the introduction of the legislation it was directed at those foreign entities earning passive income. However, over the years the legislation has been amended to include active income of entities and additional aspects to the section have been inserted to provide clarity for taxpayers. An increase in cross border transactions and offshore investment has necessitated the need to introduce CFC legislation into the revenue codes of many countries, South Africa being one of them. In most revenue codes where CFC or similar legislation has been introduced it is one of the most complex areas in a country's revenue code (Sandler, 1998:23). This mini-dissertation aims to interpret section 9D and also aims to provide guidance on its application in practice with the help of practical examples and reference to relevant international case law. The end result of this research is a proposed interpretation note on section 9D which is attached as Appendix 1. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tax))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Controlled foreign company ('CFC') legislation was introduced in phases to co-incide with South Africa?s move from a source based system to a residence based system. Initially with the introduction of the legislation it was directed at those foreign entities earning passive income. However, over the years the legislation has been amended to include active income of entities and additional aspects to the section have been inserted to provide clarity for taxpayers. An increase in cross border transactions and offshore investment has necessitated the need to introduce CFC legislation into the revenue codes of many countries, South Africa being one of them. In most revenue codes where CFC or similar legislation has been introduced it is one of the most complex areas in a country's revenue code (Sandler, 1998:23). This mini-dissertation aims to interpret section 9D and also aims to provide guidance on its application in practice with the help of practical examples and reference to relevant international case law. The end result of this research is a proposed interpretation note on section 9D which is attached as Appendix 1. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tax))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.