With the fast approaching 2019 tax season, taxpayers who have realised a capital gain in a foreign currency should take note of the special rules that apply to the translation of those gains to Rand. Generally, there are two ways
IFRS vs IFRS for SMEs
The majority of financial statements in South Africa are arguably compiled by implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) as a financial reporting framework. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published IFRS for
Taxpayers’ right to have disputes resolved
In a recent Tax Court decision[1], the Tax Court confirmed that taxpayers have a right to have their disputes resolved in a court of law as enunciated in section 34 of the Constitution. However, they cannot rely on this right
SARS scams
Education and awareness around identity theft, phishing and other frauds have become part of life globally. If nothing else, scamsters are innovative and keep trying new avenues of defrauding businesses and individuals. In South Africa, this is no exception, and
Fixed and reimbursive travel allowances
When determining the best remuneration package for travelling employees, South African employers and employees are continuously considering the benefits between a travel allowance, a reimbursive travel allowance or both. For this purpose, the employees’ tax (“PAYE’’) and income tax consequences
The timing of business financing
Sufficient cash flows to enable a business to function at optimal levels during a financial cycle is paramount. Whether you have a seasonal business, are anticipating higher sale volumes during holidays or when you need just a little bit of
Management’s responsibility
Throughout the audit of a set of financial statements, the phrase “management/director’s responsibility” appears. It is included in the engagement letter, the financial statements and the auditor’s report. But what does it mean? Management is responsible for the management of
Changing banking details with SARS
In order to prevent fraud, the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) requires confirmation of new or any changes to existing banking details and will only process any refunds due once these new details have been verified. (This often leads to
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency and blockchain has been the hot topic in the media the past year. It is a concept that few truly understand, and could change the future for everyone in a major way. But what is cryptocurrency and blockchain? Per
Budget 2018: It’s a numbers game
South Africa’s budget paints a very interesting picture when one drills down into the numbers involved. The annual national budget presented in Parliament on 21 February 2018 by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba presented South Africa’s biggest budget yet, providing for