Thesis (MAcc) --Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study explores the question as to whether income taxpayers are in a more disadvantaged position due to the deletion of section 11(bA) and the replacement thereof with section 11A of the Income Tax Act No.58 of 1962 specifically regarding pre-production raising fees incurred during the expansion of an existing industry. It was found in CSARS v South African Custodial Services (Pty) Ltd that raising fees can be read in under the phrase interest and related finance cost as found in section 11 (bA) and therefore deductible under this provision. Section 11 (bA) was however recently deleted from the South African Income Tax Act and replaced with section 11A. In terms of judicial precedent, stare decisis, it was proved that raising fees will also be deductible in terms of section 24J (section 24J regulates and determines the amount of pre-production raising fees that may be deducted for income tax purposes in terms of section 11A). It was found that pre-production raising fees incurred will be ring-fenced in terms of section 11A until such a time that sufficient taxable income is generated from that specific industry that is being expanded. Section 11 (bA) contains no such ring-fencing restrictions and thus an assessed loss may be created and used against other taxable income of the taxpayer. It was also found that the income tax position of raising fees incurred by the taxpayer is determined by the exact time that the entity starts with the carrying on of a trade in terms of section 11 (bA) and section 11A. To answer the question satisfactorily, four scenarios were examined all with different stages where pre-production raising fees will be deductible in terms of section 11 (bA) and section 11A. The present value of the pre-production raising fees deduction calculated in terms of section 11(bA) and section 11A are compared against each other to ascertain whether or not the income taxpayer is in a more disadvantaged position due to the deletion of section 11(bA) and the replacement thereof with section 11A. It was found that the deletion of section 11 (bA) and the replacement thereof with section 11A is in most cases more detrimental to the taxpayer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is om die vraagstuk te ondersoek of belastingpligtiges in ʼn meer nadelige posisie is as gevolg van die skrapping van artikel 11(bA) en vervanging daarvan met artikel 11A van die Inkomstebelastingwet No.58 van 1962 spesifiek in verband met voorproduksie-leningskommissie aangegaan tydens die uitbreiding van ʼn bestaande bedryf. Daar word in CSARS v South African Custodial Services (Pty) Ltd bevind dat leningskommissie ingelees kan word onder die frase rente en verwante finansieringskoste soos gevind in artikel 11(bA) en dus aftrekbaar is in terme van hierdie bepaling. Artikel 11(bA) is egter onlangs uit die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstebelastingwetgewing geskrap en met artikel 11A vervang. In terme van regspresedent, stare decisis, is daar bewys dat leningskommissie ook aftrekbaar is in terme van artikel 24J (wat die aftrekkingsbedrag in terme van artikel 11A reguleer en dus ook aftrekbaar in terme van artikel 11A is). Daar is bevind dat voorproduksie-leningskommissie aangegaan omhein sal word in terme van artikel 11A tot en met die tydstip dat daar genoegsame belasbare inkomste is uit die spesifieke bedryf wat uitgebrei word waarteen hierdie uitgawes afgespeel kan word. Artikel 11(bA) bevat egter geen omheiningsbeperking nie en dus kan ʼn aangeslane verlies geskep en aangewend word teen die belasbare inkomste van die bedrywe wat deur die belastingpligtige verdien word. Daar is verder ook bevind dat die inkomstebelastingposisie van die leningskommissie deur die belastingpligtige aangegaan, bepaal word deur die tydstip waarop die bedryf in aanvang geneem word in terme van artikel 11(bA) en artikel 11A. Ten einde die vraagstuk bevredigend te beantwoord, word vier scenario’s ondersoek wat die aftrekking van voorproduksie-leningskommissie vir inkomstebelastingdoeleindes op verskillende tye ondersoek en vergelyk in terme van artikel 11(bA) en artikel 11A. Die huidige waarde van die voorproduksie-leningskommissie-aftrekking in terme van bogenoemde artikels word met mekaar vergelyk om tot ʼn slotsom te kom rakende of die belastingpligtige in ʼn meer nadelige posisie is as gevolg van die skrapping van artikel 11(bA) en vervanging daarvan met artikel 11A. Daar word bevind dat die skrapping van artikel 11(bA) en vervanging daarvan met artikel 11A in meeste gevalle meer nadelig vir die belastingpligtige is.

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study is to provide a critical evaluation of the correctness of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in the case of Commissioner: South African Revenue Services v Brummeria Renaissance (Pty) Ltd [2007] SCA 99 (RSA). The primary question investigated in this study, is whether the court had indeed decided correctly when it concluded that: “…the right to retain and use the borrowed funds without paying interest had a money value, and accordingly that the value of such a right must be included in the companies‟ gross income for the years in which such rights accrued to the companies.” The question will be investigated by: i. evaluating the relevance of the doctrine plus valet quod agitur quod quam simulate concipitur (the “plus valet-doctrine”) and the in fraudem legis-doctrine, in relation to the facts of the Brummeria-case; ii. consideration of certain basic principles regarding „rights‟ (real rights, corporeal rights as well as rights of recovery and performances), „property‟, interpretation of contracts as it manifests in South African Law, and the common law principles regarding mutuum and considering the relevance thereof in the Brummeria-case; iii. considering the principles of pactum antichreseos and the relevance thereof to the facts of the Brummeria-case; iv. considering further legal tax technical aspects with a view to consider whether the “accruals” of the Brummeria-case have indeed constituted an „amount‟ for purposes of the „gross income‟-definition in section 1 of the Act; and v. considering the exact moment (or year of assessment) when an amount (based on the assumption that an „amount‟ has accrued to the taxpayer) had to be included in the taxpayer‟s gross income. The relevance of United States tax rules (regarding the income tax implications of interest-free loans) on interest-free loans in Life Rights Agreements will also be considered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oorkoepelende doelstelling van hierdie studie is om ‘n kritiese evaluering van die korrektheid van die Hoogste Hof van Appèl se uitspraak in die saak van Kommissaris: Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens v Brummeria Renaissance (Edms) Bpk [2007] SCA 99 (RSA) te verskaf. Die oorkoepelende vraagstuk wat in hierdie studie ondersoek word, is of die Hof inderdaad gelyk gehad het ten opsigte van die beslissing dat: “…the right to retain and use the borrowed funds without paying interest had a money value, and accordingly that the value of such a right must be included in the companies’ gross income for the years in which such rights accrued to the companies.” Hierdie vraagstuk sal ondersoek word deur: i. die toepaslikheid van die leerstelling plus valet quod agitur quod quam simulate concipitur (die “plus valet-leerstelling”) en die in fraudem legis-leerstelling op die Brummeria-feitestel te oorweeg; ii. sekere basiese beginsels rakende ‘regte’ (saaklike regte en sake sowel as vorderingsregte en prestasies), ‘eiendom’, uitleg van kontrakte soos dit in die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg manifesteer, en die gemeenregtelike beginsels rakende mutuum te ondersoek en die toepaslikheid daarvan in die Brummeria-saak te oorweeg; iii. die beginsels van pactum antichreseos en die toepaslikheid daarvan in die Brummeria-feitestel te oorweeg; iv. verdere regstegniese aspekte vanuit ‘n belastingoogpunt te ondersoek ten einde te oorweeg of die “toevallings” van die Brummeria-saak inderdaad ‘n ‘bedrag’ vir doeleindes van die ‘bruto inkomste’-definisie in artikel 1 van die Wet daarstel; en v. oorweging te skenk aan die juiste tydstip (oftewel jaar van aanslag) waarop ‘n bedrag (gebaseer op die aanname dat ‘n ‘bedrag’ die belastingpligtige wel toegeval het) by die belastingpligtige se bruto inkomste ingesluit moet word. Voorts sal die toepaslikheid van Amerikaanse belastingreëls (betreffende die inkomstebelastingimplikasies van rentevrye lenings) op die rentevrye lenings in die Lewensregooreenkomste ook oorweeg word.

Thesis (MComm) -- Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The September 2007 decision of the SCA in C: SARS v Brummeria Renaissance (Pty) Ltd and Others has proven to be one of the most contentious tax cases ever decided by a court in our jurisdiction. Questions surrounding the interpretation of the judgment and the likely scope of its application are some of the most widely debated matters in South African tax circles ever since the judgment was delivered. In this research paper a study is undertaken into the income tax treatment of an interest-free loan receipt. The position as it stood prior to the SCA decision is first analysed with particular reference to the legal nature of a contract for the loan of money and the tax court decision in ITC 1791. The discourse continues with a critical discussion of the Brummeria judgment in order to extract the ratio decidendi thereof. The ambit of application of the extracted binding principles to selected interest-free loans (encountered most often in practice) is considered, drawing on views expressed by numerous South African tax experts as well as the Revenue Authority’s own stance in this regard, as enunciated in their Draft Interpretation Note dealing with the right to use loan capital interest-free. As a final application a study is undertaken into the possible arguments available to tax subjects to refute an assessment for income tax raised on them by SARS on the basis of the binding principles enunciated by the SCA in Brummeria. It is concluded that initial fears regarding the potential wide-ranging impact of the decision, though justified, may have been over-anticipated as strong grounds exist to argue that the scope of the judgment’s application is not likely to extend wider than the type of legal construction found in the case itself, namely where an interest-free loan is received in consideration or as a quid pro quo for some or other revenue supply. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beslissing van die Hoogste Hof van Appèl (“HHA”) in C: SARS v Brummeria Renaissance (Pty) Ltd and Others gedurende September 2007 blyk een van die mees omstrede belastingsake te wees wat tot nog toe in ons jurisdiksie beslis is. Kwelvrae rondom die interpretasie van die uitspraak sowel as die waarskynlike omvang van die toepassing daarvan is van die aangeleenthede wat die wydste gedebateer is in Suid-Afrikaanse belastingkringe in die onlangse verlede. In die studie word die inkomstebelasting hantering van die ontvangs van 'n rentevrye lening ondersoek. Die regsposisie voor die beslissing van die HHA word eers ontleed met spesifieke verwysing na die regsaard van 'n kontrak vir die leen van geld en die beslissing van die spesiale inkomstebelasting hof in ITC 1791. Die verhandeling gaan voort met 'n kritiese bespreking van die Brummeria uitspraak ten einde die ratio decidendi daarvan te ekstraheer. Die bestek van die toepassing van die saak se bindende beginsels op uitgesoekte rentevrye lenings (wat die meeste in die praktyk teёgekom word) word oorweeg. In dié verband word verwys na die menings van verskeie Suid-Afrikaanse belasting-deskundiges, sowel as die Ontvanger van Inkomste se eie seining in hierdie verband, soos uiteengesit in hul Konsep Interpretasienota met betrekking tot die reg om leningskapitaal rentevry te gebruik. In die laaste instansie word „n ondersoek geloods na die moontlike argumente wat belastingpligtiges sou kon aanvoer om 'n inkomstebelasting-aanslag gegrond op die bindende beginsels neergelê deur die HHA in Brummeria, te weerlê. Dit word bevind dat aanvanklike vrese aangaande die trefwydte van die beslissing, alhoewel geregverdig, moontlik oorversigtig was, aangesien daar sterk gronde is om te argumenteer dat die omvang van die uitspraak se toepassing waarskynlik beperk is tot die soort regskontruksie wat in die saak self aangetref word, naamlik waar 'n rentevrye lening ontvang word in ruil vir of as quid pro quo (teenprestasie) vir een of ander lewering van 'n inkomste aard.

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the recent credit crisis in 2008, innovative lending products have emerged to address the need for enterprises to maintain and improve their cash flows. One such product is the merchant cash advance (MCA). This form of finance is related to debt factoring and is essentially the business equivalent of a payday loan. In its most common form, a lump sum payment is made to a business in exchange for an agreed upon percentage of future credit and/or debit card receivables. A percentage of the merchant’s daily credit or debit card receivables is retained, either directly from the processor that clears and settles the credit or debit card payment or via a debit order from the merchant’s bank account, until the obligation has been met. The future receivables are purchased at a discount and a processing fee is also charged. Many merchant cash advance service providers (MCASP) structure their business in such a way that it resembles traditional debt factoring. In this manner, MCASPs endeavour to distinguish their product offering from traditional loans, in an effort to elude legislation that would affect loans, for example the limiting of interest rates charged. There is however currently a lack of definitive guidance on the taxation consequences from the perspective of the merchant utilising the product and the MCASP providing it. The purpose of this research is to investigate the taxation consequences of MCA transactions in South Africa in an attempt to provide such guidance. The key issue for consideration affecting the taxation consequences of MCAs is the classification of these transactions as either a form of debt factoring or as loans. The research considers and suggests the appropriate classification of these transactions. The taxation treatment is then considered based on this classification from the perspective the merchant utilising the product and the MCASP providing the product. Taxation issues investigated, include the income tax treatment of the discounting cost as “interest”, the availability of deductions allowed by the Income Tax Act and the Value-Added Tax consequences. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die onlangse kredietkrisis in 2008 het innoverende leningsprodukte na vore gekom om te voorsien in die vraag van ondernemings om hul kontantvloei te handhaaf en verbeter. Een van hierdie produkte is die handelaarskontantvoorskot (HKV). Hierdie vorm van finansiering is verwant aan skuldfaktorering en is basies die besigheidsekwivalent van ‘n betaaldaglening. In die mees algemene vorm, word ‘n enkelbdragbetaling aan ‘n besigheid gemaak in ruil vir ‘n voorafbepaalde persentasie van die toekomstige krediet- en/of debietkaartdebiteure. ’n Persentasie van die handelaar se daagliske krediet- of debietkaart debiteure word teruggehou totdat die skuld afgelos is. Invordering vind plaas direk vanaf die verwerker wat die krediet- of debietkaartbetaling goedkeur en betaal, of deur middel van ‘n debietorder direk vanaf die handelaar se bankrekening. Die toekomstige debiteure word teen ‘n diskonto aangekoop en ‘n verwerkingsfooi kan ook gehef word. Baie handelaarskontantvoorskot-diensverskaffers (HKVD) struktureer hul besighede op so ‘n wyse dat dit soos tradisionele skuldfaktorering voorkom. Op hierdie manier beoog HKVD’s om hul produk van tradisionele lenings te onderskei, met die doel om wetgewing vry te spring wat lenings sou beïnvloed, byvoorbeeld beperkings op rentekoerse gehef. Daar is egter tans ‘n tekort aan beslissende leiding, wat die belastinggevolge betref, uit die perspektief van die handelaar wat die produk benut en die HKVD wat dit verskaf. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om te ondersoek wat die belastinggevolge van HKV’e in Suid-Afrika is in ‘n poging om hierdie leiding te verskaf. Die kernaangeleentheid vir oorweging wat die belastinghantering affekteer, is die klassifisering van HKV-transaksies as ‘n vorm van skuldfaktorering of as lenings. Hierdie navorsing skenk oorweging aan hierdie transaksies en stel ‘n toepaslike klassifikasie voor. Die belastinghantering word dan oorweeg, gebaseer op hierdie klassifikasie uit die perskeptief van die handelaar wat die produk benut en die HKVD wat die produk verskaf. Belastingaangeleenthede wat ondersoek word, sluit die inkomstebelastinghantering van die diskonto gehef as “rente” in, die beskikbaarheid van aftrekkings toegelaat kragtens die Inkomstebelastingwet en die gevolge vir Belasting op Toegevoegde Waarde.