Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Section 74D of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962 (the Act) grants the power of search and seizure to the South African Revenue Service, the basic underlying principle being that the Commissioner has to obtain a warrant from a judge prior to a search and seizure operation. The previous section 74(3) of the Act provided that the Commissioner was allowed himself to authorise and conduct a search and seizure operation without the requirement of a warrant. Section 74D of the Act was recently reviewed and the Tax Administration Bill (the TAB) contains the new provisions on search and seizure that will replace section 74D of the Act. In this assignment, the concept of search and seizure was examined by considering the cases, academic writing and other material on the topic. The objectives were to analyse the development of search and seizure in South African income tax law, to provide a basic understanding of the warranted and warrantless search and seizure provisions of the Act and the TAB, to determine their constitutionality and to determine the remedies available to a taxpayer who has been subject to a search and seizure. It was found that search and seizure has developed from warrantless under the previous section 74(3) of the Act into the requirement of a warrant under section 74D of the Act into a combination of both under the TAB. The concept of an ex parte application was analysed, which was shown to be permissible in certain circumstances under section 74D of the Act, while it is now compulsory in terms of the TAB. It was shown that the TAB closed the lacuna in the Act relating to the validity period of a warrant before it has been executed. It was, however, concluded, regarding whether a warrant expires when exercised or whether the same warrant can be used again to conduct a second search and seizure, that the position is not quite certain in terms of the Act and the TAB. It was found that there is no defined meaning of the reasonable grounds criterion, which is often required to be met in terms of the Act and the TAB, but that anyone that has to comply with the criterion must be satisfied that the grounds in fact exist objectively. The new warrantless search and seizure provisions of the TAB were analysed. It was established that warrantless search and seizure provisions are not uncommon in other statutes, but that the content thereof often differs. The new warrantless provisions were compared to the warrantless search and seizure provisions of, inter alia, the Competition Act No 89 of 1998 (the Competition Act), and it was found that the warrantless TAB provisions are not in all respects as circumscribed as those of the Competition Act and recommendations for counterbalances were made. It was concluded that the warranted search and seizure provisions of the Act and the TAB should be constitutionally valid but that the constitutionality of the new warrantless provisions of the TAB is not beyond doubt. It was furthermore found that the remedies at the disposal of a taxpayer who has been subject to a search and seizure should indeed be sufficient, but that there are no remedies available to a taxpayer to prevent injustice or harm. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Artikel 74D van die Inkomstebelastingwet No 58 van 1962, (die Wet) verleen aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens die mag van deursoeking en beslaglegging, die grondliggende beginsel synde dat die Kommissaris ’n lasbrief van ’n regter moet verkry voor die deursoeking en beslaglegging kan plaasvind. Die vorige artikel 74(3) van die Wet het bepaal dat die Kommissaris self ’n deursoeking en beslaglegging kon magtig en uitvoer sonder die vereiste van ’n lasbrief. Artikel 74D van die Wet is onlangs hersien en die nuwe Belastingadministrasie-wetsontwerp (BAW) bevat die nuwe bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging wat artikel 74D van die Wet sal vervang. In hierdie werkstuk is die konsep van deursoeking en beslaglegging ondersoek deur oorweging van die hofsake, akademiese skrywe en ander materiaal oor die onderwerp. Die doelstellings was om die ontwikkeling van deursoeking en beslaglegging in die Suid-Afrikaanse inkomstebelastingreg te ontleed, om ’n basiese begrip van die bepalings in die Wet en die BAW oor deursoeking en beslaglegging met en sonder ’n lasbrief te verskaf, om die grondwetlikheid daarvan te bepaal en om die remedies te bepaal wat beskikbaar is vir ’n belastingpligtige wat onderworpe was aan deursoeking en beslaglegging. Daar is bevind dat deursoeking en beslaglegging ontwikkel het vanaf sonder ’n lasbrief ingevolge die vorige artikel 74(3) van die Wet tot die vereiste van ’n lasbrief ingevolge artikel 74D van die Wet tot die kombinasie van albei ingevolge die BAW. Die konsep van ’n ex parte-aansoek is ontleed, en dit blyk in sekere omstandighede ingevolge artikel 74D van die Wet toelaatbaar te wees, terwyl dit nou ingevolge die BAW verpligtend is. Daar is aangedui dat die BAW die lacuna in die Wet oor die geldigheidsperiode van ’n lasbrief voordat dit uitgevoer is, verwyder het. Daar is egter bevind, rakende die vraag of ’n lasbrief verval wanneer dit uitgevoer word en of dieselfde lasbrief weer gebruik kan word om ’n tweede deursoeking en beslaglegging uit te voer, dat daar nie sekerheid ingevolge die Wet of die BAW bestaan nie. Daar is bevind dat daar geen gedefinieerde betekenis vir die kriterium van redelike gronde is nie, waaraan dikwels ingevolge die Wet en die BAW voldoen moet word, maar dat enigiemand wat aan die kriterium moet voldoen tevrede moet wees dat die gronde inderwaarheid objektief bestaan. Die nuwe bepalings van die BAW oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief is ondersoek. Daar is vasgestel dat bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief nie ongewoon is in ander wette nie, maar dat die inhoud daarvan dikwels verskil. Die nuwe bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief is vergelyk met die bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief van, inter alia, die Mededingingswet No 89 van 1998 (die Mededingingswet), en daar is bevind dat die BAW-bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief nie in alle opsigte so afgebaken is soos dié van die Mededingingswet nie en voorstelle vir teenwigte is gemaak. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die bepalings oor deursoeking en beslaglegging met ’n lasbrief van die Wet en die BAW grondwetlik geldig behoort te wees, maar dat die grondwetlikheid van die nuwe bepalings van die BAW oor deursoeking en beslaglegging sonder ’n lasbrief nie onweerlegbaar is nie. Daar is verder bevind dat die remedies tot die beskikking van ’n belastingpligtige wat onderworpe was aan deursoeking en beslaglegging inderdaad genoegsaam behoort te wees, maar dat daar geen remedies aan ’n belastingpligtige beskikbaar is om ongeregtigheid of skade te voorkom nie.

Thesis (MAcc (Accountancy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The advent of the internet made it possible to conduct business in a different manner - electronically. Electronic commerce enables residents and vendors to transact with residents and vendors of any other country (jurisdiction) at any time, making the world indeed a smaller place. Electronic commerce has, however, raised many questions internationally. Determining the effect of such transactions on the tax take of a country is of great importance to a government. The South African Revenue Service adjusted the Income Tax Act in order to take globalisation into account in accordance with international direction. In contrast, no changes have been suggested for the indirect taxation, namely value added tax. Electronic commerce were not contemplated when the Value-Added Tax Act was introduced in 1991. The charging section (section 7 of the mentioned act) provides that a transaction will be taxed in South Africa on the supply of goods or services, on the import of goods and on the supply of an imported service. In traditional business the place of supply was easy to define because a pure consumption test could be applied: namely that the place of supply is where the goods or services have been consumed. Today this rule will put an enormous compliance burden on vendors since the physical place of consumption in electronic commerce is not that obvious (Masters, 2001). Not only must the precise place of supply be determined but the vendor also has to value the supply in multiple jurisdictions. This study highlights the applicable sections of the Value-Added Tax Act and applies it to electronic commerce in order to determine if the existing legislation should be modernised or if parts of it needs to be re-written. The following concepts will be considered: • Place of supply in order to determine the jurisdiction where tax must be charged. • Value of supply to determine the value on which tax must be charged. • Vendor to determine which entities, South African or otherwise, have to register for VAT in South Africa. • Goods. • Services to consider goods and services of digital content. The international initiatives regarding the application of consumption tax, under the leadership of the Fiscal Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, were taken into account in the study of any required amendments to sections of the Value-Added Tax Act. A group, “The Consumption Tax Technical Advisory Group”, was established in January 1999 by the OECD to consult with business and non-members on the implementation of consumption tax on electronic commerce transactions. The composition of the group is representative of the main trading nations in the world, but also includes smaller countries, non-members and private sector participants. It includes Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Commission. Considering the global composition of the group this study will focus on the initiatives of the OECD and it is not deemed necessary to investigate the initiatives of individual countries. The study will however consider the research and initiatives of South Africa’s biggest commercial partner, the European Union (OECD, 2004a: 285). The South African initiatives regarding electronic commerce include the Green Paper on Electronic Commerce released by the Department of Communication in November 2000 and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act promulgated on 26 June 2002. The legislation does not address the tax implication of electronic commerce but in chapter 4 of the mentioned green paper it was discussed by the legislators. There is growing international pressure to lower corporate income tax rates. As the tax base erodes in this area other sources, possibly consumer taxation, must be found to meet the shortfalls (Masters, 2001). It is the aim of this study to show that the present Value-Added Tax Act is in need of modernisation in order to take into account the wide range of electronic commerce transactions.

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The requirements of section 11(a) and section 24J(2) were considered in this research assignment, from both a money-lender’s and an investment holding company’s perspective, to determine whether interest, losses on irrecoverable loans and raising fees were tax deductible. It was determined, that if the trade requirement is satisfied by the money-lender, then the above-mentioned expenses are fully tax deductible. However, if the trade requirement is satisfied by the investment holding company then only the interest is fully tax deductible. It is further submitted however in this research assignment that it cannot be said that the money-lender alternative is better than the investment holding company alternative – both alternatives are of equal value in the current tax system. What is important though is that taxpayers who will fit the mould of an investment holding company will now be able to use the principles set out in this research assignment to prove that it is in fact carrying on a trade for tax purposes, something that taxpayers are generally reluctant to pursue. If this is pursued, taxpayers may have the added tax benefit of tax deductible interest expenditure (in full) in cases where this was not previously the norm (and an investment holding company will not have to satisfy any of the guidelines of the “money-lender test” when it seeks to deduct its interest expense in full). However, if an investment holding company seeks to deduct losses on irrecoverable loans and raising fees for tax purposes, it will not have to satisfy all the guidelines of the “money-lender test”, but it will have to satisfy one guideline, that being the “system or plan” and “frequent turnover of capital” guideline. It will be very difficult for an investment holding company to prove this on the facts of the case – it will arguably take a special set of facts to accomplish this mean feat. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vereistes van artikel 11(a) en artikel 24J (2) is in hierdie navorsingsopdrag vanuit ʼn geldskieter en 'n beleggingshouermaatskappy se perspektief oorweeg, om die belastingaftrekbaarheid van rente, verliese op oninvorderbare lenings en diensfooie te bepaal. Daar is vasgestel dat indien die bedryfsvereiste deur ʼn geldskieter nagekom word, bogenoemde uitgawes ten volle vir belastingdoeleindes aftrekbaar is. Indien die bedryfsvereiste egter nagekom word deur ʼn beleggingshouermaatskappy sal slegs die rente ten volle aftrekbaar wees vir belastingdoeleindes. Verder word dit in die navorsingsopdrag aan die hand gedoen dat daar nie gesê kan word dat die geldskieter-alternatief beter is as die beleggingshouermaatskappy-alternatief nie – beide alternatiewe is van gelyke waarde in die huidige belastingbestel. Die onderskeid is egter belangrik, aangesien die belastingbetalers wat aan die vereistes van ʼn beleggingshouermaatskappy voldoen, nou in staat sal wees om die beginsels wat in hierdie navorsingsopdrag uiteengesit word, te gebruik om te bewys dat die beleggingshouermaatskappy in werklikheid ʼn bedryf vir belastingdoeleindes beoefen. Belastingbetalers is oor die algemeen huiwerig om dit te poog. Indien wel, kan belastingbetalers ʼn belastingaftrekking ten opsigte van rente uitgawes kry, wat voorheen nie die norm was nie (ʼn beleggingshouermaatskappy sal nie enige van die “geldskietertoets” riglyne hoef na te kom wanneer dit poog om ʼn belastingafrekking vir die rente uitgawe te kry nie). Indien ʼn beleggingshouermaatskappy verliese op oninvorderbare lenings en diensfooie vir belastingdoeleindes wil aftrek, sal die belastingbetaler nie al die “geldskietertoets” riglyne hoef na te kom nie, maar sal egter moet voldoen aan die “stelsel of plan” en “gereelde omset van kapitaal” riglyne. Dit sal baie moeilik wees vir 'n beleggingshouermaatskappy om dit te bewys op grond van die feite van die saak – dit sal waarskynlik ʼn spesiale stel feite verg om dit te bereik.

Thesis (MAcc)-- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Section 12 of the Value-Added Tax Act No. 89 of 1991 (hereafter referred to as the VAT Act) determines that the supply of certain goods and/or services are exempt from value-added tax (hereafter referred to as VAT) levied by section 7(1)(a). One such exempt supply is the supply of educational services by certain institutions (listed in section 12(h)(i)(aa)-(cc)). Section 12(h)(i)(bb) determines that the supply of educational services by an higher institution are specifically exempt from VAT. The term “educational services” is not defined in the VAT Act. Uncertainty exists in practice about what exactly educational services comprise and what the scope of it is. Since the supply of educational services is an exempt supply in terms of section 12(h)(i)(bb), a clear and irrefutable definition of “educational services” should exist. Two of the main purposes of an university is to deliver education of exceptional quality and good research outputs. The primary question that originates is whether the research performed by an university qualifies as an exempt supply with the result that the performance of research is an exempt supply. The term “research” was investigated in several sources and it was found that research can be generically be defined as the systematic investigation of existing knowledge and the creation of, amongst others, new knowledge and inventions. Furthermore, it was found that research can be divided into two categories, namely research performed at no consideration and research performed at consideration. Research performed at consideration is further divided into two subcategories, namely commercial research (where the purpose is to generate income) and non-commercial research (where the purpose is research). The definition of “educational” and other bent forms of the term “educate”, amongst others, “education” and “educator” were investigated in relevant South African legislation, case law and international legislation and case law. Commercial research is considered to be a supply of a business activity of a university with the main objective of generating income and is considered as a taxable supply in the case law of the United Kingdom and Canada. Non-commercial research is considered as supplies in the course or furtherance of an enterprise, but the main purpose of the enterprise is not to generate income. Non-commercial research is considered as an “educational service” since it meets the requirements of systematic instruction of education and learning. This type of research is exempt from VAT levied. The input tax of any costs incurred with regards to this type of research will not be claimable. It is suggested that the principles highlighted in this study might clear up the confusion surrounding whether research performed by an university qualifies as an exempt supply or not. SARS could possibly establish guidelines to determine when research is considered exempt or taxable. This information could be useful for role players in the South African tax environment if the matter arises. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Artikel 12 van die Wet op Belasting op Toegevoegde Waarde No. 89 van 1991 (hierna verwys as die BTW-wet) bepaal dat die lewering van sekere goed en/of dienste van die heffing van belasting op toegevoegde waarde (hierna verwys as BTW) wat deur artikel 7(1)(a) opgelê is, vrygestel is. Een sodanige vrygestelde lewering is die lewering van opvoedkundige dienste deur sekere instellings (gelys in artikel 12(h)(i)(aa)-(cc)). Artikel 12(h)(i)(bb) bepaal dat die lewering van opvoedkundige dienste deur ’n inrigting wat hoër onderwys verskaf, spesifiek van BTW vrygestel is. Die term “opvoedkundige dienste” word egter nêrens in die BTW-wet gedefinieer nie. Daar bestaan dus onsekerheid in die praktyk oor wat presies opvoedkundige dienste behels en wat die omvang daarvan is. Aangesien die lewering van ’n opvoedkundige diens ’n vrygestelde lewering ingevolge artikel 12(h)(i)(bb) is, moet daar dus ’n duidelike en onweerlegbare omskrywing van “opvoedkundige dienste” bestaan. Om onderrig van uitmuntende gehalte en goeie navorsinguitsette te lewer is twee van ’n universiteit se hoofdoelwitte. Die primêre vraag wat gevolglik ontstaan is of die uitvoer van spesifiek navorsing, deur ’n universiteit kwalifiseer as die lewering van opvoedkundige dienste met die gevolg dat die uitvoer van navorsing ’n vrygestelde lewering is. Die term “navorsing” is in verskeie bronne ondersoek en daar is bevind dat navorsing generies gedefinieer kan word as die sistematiese ondersoek van reedsbestaande kennis en die skep van, onder andere, nuwe kennis en uitvindings. Daar is ook verder bevind dat navorsing in twee kategorieë verdeel kan word, naamlik navorsing uitgevoer teen geen vergoeding en navorsing uitgevoer teen vergoeding. Navorsing uitgevoer teen vergoeding word verder in twee subkategorieë onderverdeel in kommersiële navorsing (waar die generering van inkomste die hoofdoel is) en nie-kommersiële navorsing (waar navorsing die hoofdoel is). Die definisie van “opvoedkundige” en ander verbuigde vorme van die term “opvoed”, onder andere, “opvoeding” en “opvoeder”, is ook in relevante Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing, regspraak en internasionale wetgewing en regspraak ondersoek. Kommersiële navorsing word as deel van die besigheidsaktiwiteite van ’n universiteit met die hoofdoel as generering van inkomste en dus as ’n belasbare lewering in die regspraak van die Verenigde Koninkryk en Kanada beskou. Nie-kommersiële navorsing word ook beskou as lewerings wat in die loop of ter bevordering van die onderneming gelewer word, maar die hoofdoel van hierdie onderneming is nie die generering van inkomste nie. Nie-kommersiële navorsing word dus beskou as ’n “opvoedkundige diens”, aangesien dit voldoen aan die vereiste van sistematiese instruksie van onderrig en leer. Hierdie tipe navorsing is dus vrygestel van die heffing van BTW. Enige onkoste aangegaan met betrekking tot hierdie tipe navorsing se insetbelasting sal dus ook nie eisbaar wees nie. Dit word aan die hand gedoen dat hierdie studie beginsels uitlig wat die verwarring rondom of navorsing gelewer deur ’n universiteit ’n vrygestelde lewering is of nie, moontlik kan opklaar. Die SAID kan moontlike riglyne daarstel van wanneer navorsing beskou word as vrygestel of belasbaar. Hierdie inligting kan moontlik van nut wees vir rolspelers in die Suid-Afrikaanse belastingomgewing indien die kwessie na vore tree.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the Fifth Interim Report of the Katz Commission recommendations were made on a number of fundamental tax issues, including the distinction between the source and residence principle. The Commission decided that the source principle should remain but that a distinction between "active" and "passive" income should be made. "Active" income should then be taxed on the source principle and "passive" income on the residence principle. With effect from 1 July 1997 exchange controls for South African residents were softened, which meant that South Africans could thereafter invest in foreign countries to a limited extent. To protect the South African tax base, sections 9C and 90 were incorporated in the Income Tax Act with effect from 1 July 1997. Section 9C regulates the taxation of investment income earned in foreign countries. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the taxation of foreign investment income in South Africa. For this purpose a critical analysis of section 9C was done within the context of the recommendations made by the Katz Commission in their Fifth Report. The focus of the study was aimed at the requirements for the exclusion of so-called active investment income according to section 9C(3)(a). In the analysis of section 9C it was necessary to determine where the terms used in the section were derived from. The terms which are not new in the South African tax context were analysed based on the opinions of tax specialists and national case law. The terms which are new in the South African tax context were mostly derived from international models of tax conventions and foreign tax codes. These were analysed according to the use thereof mainly in the Model Tax Convention on Income and on capital of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Commentaries thereon. The critical analysis of section 9C also included the applicability of the section on other sections in the Income Tax Act, a brief commentary on section 90 and the relief provided to taxpayers where the section leads to double taxation. The ability of the South African Revenue Service to collect the tax, the effect of the tax on immigrants and the effect of the electronic future on the tax were also investigated. The conclusion arrived at in this study is that most of the terms in section 9C are based on internationally used terms and could be analysed according to international tax conventions and case law. The South African Revenue Service will have to provide guidelines for the uncertainties and provide measures to rectify the irregularities and inconsistencies found in the section. In the light of further examinations to be done by the South African Revenue Service, based on the recommendations of the Katz Commission in their Fifth Report, section 9C provides a set of internationally accepted principles as a solid base for future regulation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Katz-kommissie het in die Vyfde Interim Verslag aanbevelings aangaande 'n aantal fundamentele belastingkwessies, insluitend die onderskeid tussen die bron- en verblyf-grondslag, gemaak. Die Kommissie het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die bron-grondslag behou moet word, maar dat daar 'n onderskeid tussen "aktiewe" en "passiewe" inkomste gemaak moet word. "Aktiewe" inkomste moet dan op die bron-grondslag belas word en "passiewe" inkomste op die verblyf-grondslag. Met ingang 1 Julie 1997 is die valutabeheermaatreels vir Suid-Afrikaanse inwoners verslap wat beteken het dat Suid-Afrikaners voortaan tot 'n beperkte mate in die buiteland beleggings kan maak. Om die Suid-Afrikaanse belastingbasis in die tussentyd te beskerm is artikels 9C en 9D met ingang 1 Julie 1997 tot die Wet gevoeg. Artikel 9C reguleer die belasting van beleggingsinkomste uit buitelandse bronne. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die belasting van beleggingsinkomste uit buitelandse bronne in Suid-Afrika te ondersoek. 'n Kritiese analise van artikel 9C is gedoen binne die konteks van die voorstelle gemaak deur die Katz-kommissie in die Vyfde Verslag. Die klem van die studie het op die vereistes vir die uitsluiting van sogenaamde aktiewe beleggingsinkomste in artikel 9C(3)(a) geval. Tydens die ontleding van artikel 9C was dit noodsaaklik om vas te stel waar die terme wat in die artikel gebruik is, ontstaan het. Die terme wat nie vir die eerste maal in die Suid-Afrikaanse belastingkonteks gebruik is nie, is ontleed na aanleiding van die menings van Suid-Afrikaanse belastingspesialiste en nasionale regspraak. Die nuwe terme kom meesal in internasionale modelle van belastingkonvensies en buitelandse belastingkodes voor. Die terme is hoofsaaklik ontleed na aanleiding van die gebruik daarvan in die Model Tax Convention on Income and on capital of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Die kritiese ontleding van artikel 9C het die toepaslikheid van die artikel op ander afdelings in die lnkomstebelstingwet, 'n kortlikse verwysing na artikel 9D en die verligting beskikbaar aan belastingpligtiges ten opsigte van dubbele belasting, ingesluit. Die invorderbaarheid van die belasting, die effek van die belasting op immigrante en die effek van die elektroniese toekoms op die belasting is ook ondersoek. Die slotsom waartoe die skrywer in hierdie studie gekom het, is dat meeste van die begrippe in artikel 9C internasionaal verstaanbaar is en ontleed kon word, wat die Wet wereldwyd meer aanvaarbaar en verstaanbaar behoort te maak. Die Suid-Afrikaanse lnkomstediens sal egter riglyne ten opsigte van die onduidelike begrippe moet verskaf en die nodige ongelykhede en inkonsekwenthede in die Wet moet regstel. In die lig van verdere ondersoeke deur die Suid-Afrikaanse lnkomstediens, na aanleiding van die voorstelle deur die Katz-kommissie in die Vyfde Verslag, verskaf artikel 9C 'n stel internasionaal aanvaarde beginsels waarop toekomstige regulasies gebaseer sal kan word.

LL.M. (Tax Law) / Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) was introduced with effect from 1 October 2001 by the insertion of section 26A and an Eighth Schedule into the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962, by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act 5 of 2001. Paragraph 40(1) of the Eight Schedule provides that a deceased person must, with certain exceptions, be treated as having disposed of his assets to his estate for proceeds equal to the market value of those assets as at the date of death. Paragraph 40(1A) of the Eight Schedule provides that if an asset of a deceased person is treated as having been disposed of under paragraph 40(1) and is transferred directly to the estate of the deceased person, the estate must be treated as having acquired the asset at a cost equal to its market value as at the date of death for base-cost purposes, and if the asset is transferred directly to an heir or legatee, the heir or legatee must be treated as having acquired the asset at a cost equal to its market value as at the date of death for base-cost purposes. The capital gain will be the difference between the market value of a taxable asset of the deceased on the date of his death and its base cost to him, which is included in his final income tax assessment and which will have to be settled out of the estate‟s assets. There are many arguments in favour of the discontinuance of the levying of CGT at the death of a taxpayer in South Africa, which arguments become evident when comparing the South African CGT provisions regarding the levying of CGT at death with tax jurisdictions such as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Botswana and Nigeria. Canada for example abolished their inheritance tax in 1972 which in that particular situation justifies the levying of CGT at death. If CGT will continue to be levied at the death of a taxpayer it is suggested that a carry-over approach in terms of which the heir inherits the asset at its acquisition cost and the CGT liability is deferred until the heir actually disposes of the asset should be followed. This approach is currently followed in Australia, Botswana and Nigeria. The holder of an inherited bare dominium will suffer at the hands of a CGT anomaly where the deceased created a limited interest, for example a usufruct over a fixed property bequeathed by him to the bare dominium holder. The anomaly that transpires is that the limited interest created by the deceased will result in an artificial drop in the base cost of the fixed property so bequeathed and there will be no adjustment to the base cost when the bare dominium holder succeeds to full ownership of the fixed property, for example when the usufructuary passes away, meaning that the same capital gain will be taxed twice. It is submitted that legislative amendments are required to provide for an increase in the base cost applicable to the bare dominium holder when the usufructuary eventually passes away. Alternatively the SARS‟s current practice in this respect should be altered to avoid the unbearable situation where a capital gain may be taxed at 2 separate instances. At least two anomalies exist when dealing with capital losses in the deceased‟s final period of assessment and in the winding up of the deceased‟s estate. Firstly a capital loss may not be carried forward from the deceased‟s final assessment to his deceased estate to be set off against capital gains that may be realised in the winding up of the estate. Secondly a capital loss incurred on the sale of a capital asset during the winding up of a deceased estate cannot be carried over from the deceased estate to the heirs of the deceased and will thus remain unutilised. It is suggested that the method followed in Canada in respect of capital losses that occurred in the year of a taxpayer‟s death should be followed in South Africa, ie that such capital loss may be carried back three years in order to reduce any taxable capital gains that occurred in those years or that the capital losses may be utilised to reduce other income of the taxpayer in his final return. It is further suggested that this method should also be followed in respect of unutilised capital losses that occurred in the winding up of the estate, alternatively the capital losses so realised must be carried over to the heirs of the deceased.

The federal income tax system in the United States depends upon a high degree of voluntary compliance. The IRS estimates that the voluntary compliance level is declining and that this tax compliance gap cost the government an estimated $90.5 billion in 1981. Between 1979 and 1982, Congress made several changes in the tax laws designed to improve tax compliance. Extensive data was collected by the IRS for 1979 and 1982 through the random sample audits of approximately 50,000 taxpayers on the Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program (TCMP), which is conducted every three years. During the period 1979 through 1982, Congress lowered the marginal tax rates, added some fairly severe penalties, for both taxpayers and paid return preparers, and increased information reporting requirements for certain types of income. In this research, it was hypothesized that voluntary compliance should increase in response to lower marginal rates, a higher risk of detection due to additional reporting requirements, and increased penalties. Multiple regression analysis was employed to test these hypotheses, using 1979 and 1982 TCMP data. Because of the requirements for taxpayer confidentiality, it was necessary for the IRS to run the data and provide the aggregate data results for the research. The results provided insight into the effectiveness of tax compliance legislation. While the overall voluntary compliance level (VCL) increased from 1979 to 1982 by 1.53 per cent, the VCL increase for taxpayers in high marginal rates was much smaller (.42 percent) than the overall increase. This is very inconsistent with the notion that high marginal rates are driving noncompliance, and suggests that marginal rates may not be strong determinants of compliance. Probably other factors, such as opportunity for evasion, may be more important. There was little change from 1979 to 1982 of the compliance of returns done by paid return preparers. Because of the timing of many TEFRA provisions (effective in 1983), further research for years after 1982 is needed.

The Comparison of the Tax Systems in the Czech Republic and Greece (the Hellenic Republic) Abstract This thesis is primarily trying to compare tax systems between Greece and the Czech Republic as two small and open economies with cca the same level of population that are members of the EU and the most significant international organizations at the same time. Just the membership in the EU very strongly influences the national form of taxes and their structure, too. Its secondary goal concerns the author's opinion of substantial legal enactment of taxes of both states. First it defines, with certain terminology problems across three languages, the term of tax as an obligatory payment, in legal forms strictly stated as a tax, and explains its several theoretical aspects in term of demanded features and structural elements and then it specifies the term of tax system (framework) and focuses on it and a variety of effects on its formation. Probably the only non-legal part including the appendix 2 relates to an economic confrontation of the Czech and Greek tax system. In the practical part it gradually describes a comparison of tax law sources, constitutional fundamentals of taxes, their fiscal assignment and a tax international dimension of both countries, too. A very short historical context i salso mentioned...

The thesis deals with legal regulations of income taxation of business companies in the Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. The main objective of the thesis is to analyze relevant Czech and German legal provisions and to compare the law through the structure of the thesis and a brief summary. The thesis is divided into an introduction, a conclusion and six chapters. The first chapter is concerned with an income tax in the Czech Republic, the second one with an international double taxation and the next three chapters with an income taxation of business companies in Germany. The last one summarizes some of the differences between the legal regulations and offers a tax calculation according to German law. The systems of income taxation of business companies in the Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany show both differences and similarities. The most significant differences rest in greater tax burden of business companies in Germany and the existence of so called solidarity surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag) and the business tax (Gewerbesteuer). Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This thesis deals with the electronic registration of sales that has recently been introduced to Czech law in order to increase the revenues of public budgets, reduce the shadow economy and to safeguard a fair competitive environment for all businesses. This thesis is divided into two essential parts. The first part hereof deals with general issues of registration of sales whereas the second part analyses particular aspects of the new legislation. In the first chapter, general matters of the registration of sales are discussed. The main objectives of the registration of sales as well as possible means of such registration are introduced. Moreover, one part of this chapter is dedicated to the recordkeeping obligation as it is to be found in Czech law. The second chapter deals with the Act No. 112/2016 Coll., on Registration of Sales. Firstly, the Act is introduced in general terms and its place in the Czech legal order as well as the legislative process is discussed. Secondly, it analyses some provisions of the Act, in particular those relating to the entities that have the obligation to register their sales under the Act and those covering the subject-matter, i.e. the registered sale as such. The aim of the said analysis is to answer the question whether the new legislation may theoretically cause...