collection
Manuel has tinkered with income tax, but we’ll have to wait for the Katz Commission report for a more holistic approach, reports Madeleine Wackernagel
ONE of these days, South Africans may enjoy a more equitable income tax system – but not yet. In its pre-Budget presentation, the South African Chamber of Business estimated that effective elimination of bracket creep would cost the exchequer R6,5-billion. In reality, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has set aside R2,8-billion.
While relief at the lower end of the tax scale is to be welcomed, Manuel has provided little leeway for the middle- income earner – even the old British Labour Party would baulk at a 45% marginal tax rate for earnings over a mere R100 000. But then again, this was never flagged as an income-tax adjusting Budget – the money has to come from somewhere.
Dramatic changes to the whole tax structure will take longer to put into effect, depending on when the Katz Commission submits its final recommendations. Gill Marcus, the deputy minister of finance, pointed out on Wednesday that some reports had already been filed, including one on capital transfer tax, which will now be put to public debate.
The Katz Commission is also looking at land tax, benefit funds and the tax treatment of medical aid schemes, as well as the issue of source versus residence, which takes on added importance in light of the new exchange control regulations.
Other changes announced on Wednesday include the equal tax treatment of public and private sector funds, which raised a few eyebrows among the unions, with the Federation of South African Labour Unions claiming it “should not be done without considering the overall remuneration packages of public servants … Insult will be added to injury by also taxing retirement benefits which were previously tax-free for public employees”.
But Anne Pappenheim, tax partner at Deloitte & Touche, believed the adjustment was fair and in line with recommendations of the Katz Commission, as well as the National Retirement Consultative Forum.
The 17% tax on retirement funds was left unchanged, but investments by funds in unit trust schemes with property shares will now be taxed at the same rate, thereby closing an obvious loophole, says Pappenheim.
The National Party was quick to react to the scrapping of the diesel refund system, saying it was “shocked”. However, according to the Budget Review, the system “has been open to abuse”, hence the move away from direct rebates. Derek Hannekom, the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, is in talks with the unions to seek other means to assist farmers, the principal benefactors of the old system.
There were few surprises on fringe benefits taxation, which, as Manuel quipped, affected him too. Private use of company cars is currently taxed at 1,2% a month of the cost of the vehicle; this will rise to 1,8% netting R150-million. Travel allowances are also hit, with the limit of 12 000kms raised to 14 000kms, where accurate records of private use are not kept.
In the main, then, the emphasis was on more efficient collection. With the South African Revenue Service set to gain administrative autonomy any day now, it will hold final responsibility for ensuring the finance minister’s revenue targets are met – along with the tax-paying public, naturally.