Search results

South African companies have, in the past, not recognised an asset for unused Secondary Tax on Companies (“STC”) credits. AC 501, Accounting for “Secondary Tax on Companies (STC)”, which is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2004, now requires South African companies to recognise a deferred tax asset for unused STC credits, to the extent that it is probable that an entity will declare dividends of its own, against which the unused STC credits can be utilised. In terms of AC 501 and IAS 12 (AC 102), Income Taxes (the local and international accounting standard on income taxes), the recognition of a liability to pay STC has to be postponed until the declaration of a dividend. Some accounting commentators have indicated that they find it anomalous to recognise a deferred tax asset in respect of unused STC credits, while no liability is recognised for the STC that would be payable on the future distribution of retained earnings. The objective of the study is to consider whether it is conceptually anomalous to recognise a deferred tax asset for unused STC credits while no liability is raised for the STC that would become payable on future dividend declarations on profits already recognised in the financial statements. The study concludes that it is conceptually anomalous to recognise a deferred tax asset for unused STC credits when no corresponding liability is raised.

According to AC 501, Accounting for ‘Secondary Tax on Companies (STC)’, a deferred tax asset for unused STC credits is recognised if it is probable that an entity will declare dividends against which unused STC credits can be used. This study examined the dividend declaration profile of companies recognising a deferred tax asset for unused STC credits to satisfy AC 501. In a literature review, the term ‘probable’ was analysed, showing that future dividend declarations are only regarded as ‘probable’ if their likelihood is 64% to 79%. A survey revealed that 45% of the surveyed companies with unused STC credits recognised a deferred tax asset for unused STC credits in their 2004 financial statements, and therefore believed they had satisfied the probability recognition criterion in AC 501. The survey also showed that companies that recognised a deferred tax asset have a dividend policy shareholders are familiar with, and most declare dividends annually. These two indicators can help assess the probability of future dividend declarations.

This paper presents the results of a survey designed to determine what tax topics are important in the educational background of a trainee accountant entering the training environment in South Africa. These topics were then compared to the 2008 tax syllabus prescribed by SAICA and taught at accredited universities in respect of the 2009 Qualifying Examination. The results indicated that the 2008 syllabus is largely meeting the expectations of respondents both in and outside public practice, although there are a number of topics that the syllabus setters and educators should reconsider when next reviewing and updating the 2008 syllabus and as part of the considerations for the new competency framework.

This chapter aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the turnover tax system in South Africa. The objective of the study was to identify companies from the SARS-NT Panel that may qualify for turnover tax in order to calculate and compare turnover tax liabilities to alternative forms of taxation within the South African context. The results showed that turnover tax is not necessarily beneficial for most small businesses and the possible reasons are also highlighted.

In his 2006 State of the Nation Address, President Thabo Mbeki indicated that the regulatory environment for small businesses would be improved, as this sector plays an important role in the national strategy for accelerated and shared growth. The aim of this study is to determine whether the size of an enterprise and the sector in which the enterprise operates has an impact on how the enterprise’s tax responsibilities are administered and managed. A survey was conducted amongst small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing, retail and business services sectors in Gauteng. The study focused on Gauteng because the majority of small, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs) are located in this province. The study found that most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the business services sector outsource their tax responsibilities because they lack the time needed to manage these functions. It was also found that the size and type of organisation affects the role taxation inputs play in business decisions. The SMEs included in the survey preferred a reduction in interest and penalties charged as a taxation relief measure.

In his 2006 State of the Nation Address, President Thabo Mbeki indicated that the regulatory environment for small businesses would be improved, as this sector plays an important role in the national strategy for accelerated and shared growth. The aim of this study is to determine whether the size of an enterprise and the sector in which the enterprise operates has an impact on how the enterprise’s tax responsibilities are administered and managed. A survey was conducted amongst small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing, retail and business services sectors in Gauteng. The study focused on Gauteng because the majority of small, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs) are located in this province. The study found that most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the business services sector outsource their tax responsibilities because they lack the time needed to manage these functions. It was also found that the size and type of organisation affects the role taxation inputs play in business decisions. The SMEs included in the survey preferred a reduction in interest and penalties charged as a taxation relief measure.

It is internationally acknowledged that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in enhancing a country’s economic growth and in creating jobs. It is therefore in the public interest and in the interests of all governments to support SMEs. A study concentrating on the tax function in small and medium manufacturing concerns operating in the Gauteng Province in South Africa was recently undertaken. In this article, which is based on the study, the authors identify the main problem areas that manufacturing SMEs in the Gauteng Province have to cope with in administering government taxes. The article discusses the administration process only, and not the taxes themselves. The authors have identified tax compliance requirements in South Africa as a stumbling block for SMEs. They suggest that the government seriously consider reducing the number of taxes SMEs have to administer, reduce the compliance requirements and make additional tools available to SMEs to assist them in administering taxes.

It is generally accepted that the payment of dividends is the most important and most widely used instrument for the distribution of value to shareholders. Shareholders also prefer to receive regular dividends rather than irregular cash payments. A well‐known model that attempts to explain dividend policy is that of Lintner (1956). This study investigates whether Lintner’s model can be used to explain South African dividend payments and compares this model with another, less sophisticated, model, namely the “percentage model”. Lintner’s model does not have a very good fit, probably as a result of the small sample used. Nearly half of the 200 largest companies that are listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange were excluded from the study as they were not listed for a sufficiently long period. Other companies were excluded on the grounds of having maintained their dividends on the same level for at least two consecutive years.

In this article, modifications are suggested for the current format of the cash flow statement, which is prescribed by AC 118, in order to address ambiguities and improve comparability. This redefinition of activities, together with the alteration of the layout, leads to a better explanation of the cash‐generating function of an enterprise. The authors argue that the separation of the cash flow for the maintenance of the existing resource base and the cash flow for the expansion thereof, is essential information in a model for the prediction of the future cash flow generation of a company. The resultant increase in the accessibility, reliability and utility of cash flow reporting should enhance users’ economic decision making and liberalise financial information. The modifications proposed in the article can therefore assist standard setters to improve financial reporting.

Scrip dividend schemes provide shareholders with the option to choose shares instead of a cash dividend. Scrip dividends became popular in South Africa after the introduction of Secondary Tax on Companies (STC) in 1993. Thus far, no guidance on the recognition, measurement or disclosure of scrip dividends has been issued by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). This article proposes disclosure regarding scrip dividend schemes that will provide relevant information to the users of financial statements. The proposed disclosure is based on the assumption that entities recognise and measure scrip dividends in accordance with the re‐investment method, as opposed to the capitalisation issue method.