Moonstone

1 month ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

The 2025 budgetary process has raised questions about the robustness of South Africa’s policy framework. The focus has been on politics rather than economics. In their analysis of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s third attempt at getting his Budget to stick, financial specialists believe economic policies do not match the country’s realities. KPMG chief economist Frank Blackmore says most of the Budget is spent on paying public servants and servicing debt.

1 month ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has drawn a clear line in the sand on the vexing issue of pre- and post-commencement debt when it comes to the tax liability of companies in business rescue. The court found that the “re-quantification” of a tax debt in an additional assessment (post-commencement of business rescue) does not create a new (post-commencement) liability. The date on which the debt becomes payable is irrelevant.

1 month ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

The constitutionality of the delegation of law-making power to the Minister of Finance to introduce taxes and raise or reduce tax rates by way of an announcement in the annual Budget Review remains untested. The value-added tax fiasco in Parliament was settled via an agreement between the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters and the minister before the matter could be tackled in court.

2 months ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

Value-added tax keeps making the news. If it’s not a rate hike that gets people irate, it’s the disallowance of their legitimate input tax claims that forces them into litigation with the South African Revenue Service. A recent case before the Western Cape Tax Court shows that it helps if taxpayers stand up for their rights. The court ordered SARS to set aside additional VAT assessments of close to R158 million.

2 months ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service are ready for a value-added tax increase of half-a-percentage point in May and another half-a-percentage point in April next year. Treasury held a workshop on Friday where it appears that the rate and tax increases announced in the second round of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech will go ahead.