Proposed changes to the taxation of preference shares

The National Treasury published the draft tax law amendment bills for comment on 16 August 2025. A significant proposal relates to section 8E, which deals with hybrid equity instruments. It affects, amongst others, preference shares. In this episode of my podcast, Tax Break, I discuss the proposed changes and share my initial thoughts about it.

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What is your South African tax residence status?

Sep 7, 2021 | Individuals and wealth planning

Many South Africans leave the country. Some do so permanently, while others temporarily work and gain experience abroad. These persons often grapple with the question whether they are still considered to be South African tax residents. SARS recently added guidance on...

Documentation to support a zero-rating: Interpretation Note 31 (Issue 5)

Aug 5, 2026 | Value Added Tax

SARS has issued a new version of Interpretation Note 31. Issue 5 replaces Issue 4, which was issued in 2016. The note sets out the documentation SARS accepts as proof that a zero-rating applies. This article discusses some critical aspects of zero-rating and changes...

The taxation of crypto assets

Jul 22, 2026 | General tax matters

SARS published a draft guide on the taxation of crypto assets in early July. Although it is not binding, even once finalised, it shows SARS’s position on the tax treatment of crypto assets. In this article, I consider some of SARS’ views in the draft guide. Capital or...

What is section 42 not?

Jul 16, 2026 | Corporate and business tax, Individuals and wealth planning

Section 42 of the Income Tax Act often features in restructuring discussions or proposals. When considering transactions or restructurings involving section 42 of the Income Tax, it is important to understand the provision's boundaries. In other words, when it may not...

What is section 42?

Jul 7, 2026 | Corporate and business tax, General tax matters

Taxpayers and their advisors employ section 42 of the Income Tax Act in various types of transactions. When encountering this provision, it is important to understand its mechanics but also its broader context. In this article, I discuss the some of the background to...

To charge interest or not?

Jun 22, 2026 | Corporate and business tax, General tax matters, Individuals and wealth planning

The question often arises whether the tax law obliges certain lenders to charge interest on loans to connected parties. This includes loans between natural persons and a family trust or a company and its shareholders. The answer is arguably that the tax law never...

The timing of tax deductions matters

Jun 9, 2026 | Corporate and business tax, General tax matters

One often encounters arguments that the year in which something is taxed or deducted does not really matter: as long as SARS taxes the amount or a deduction is claimed only once, the fiscus suffers no real loss. This position is, of course, not correct. A recent...

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