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- A surprising rise in taxes from mines and a faster-than-expected recovery in VAT revenue prevented tax increases this year, as Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s 2021 budget shows.
- In fact, individual taxpayers are paying less this year.
- But smokers and drinkers are hit hard.
- More articles can be found at www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
A sharp increase in tax payments from mines (thanks to booming raw material prices) and a faster-than-expected recovery in VAT have helped to spare South African taxpayers in the 2021 state budget announced by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on Wednesday.
As the pandemic devastated the government’s finances, the Treasury Department announced plans in October to increase taxes by R40 billion over the next three years.
These plans have now been abandoned after the state earned almost R 100 billion more in taxes than expected. This was due to an “increase” in taxes by miners as well as a recovery in consumer spending and wages in recent months, the Treasury Department said.
Monthly domestic VAT collections since August have been higher than before the 2019 pandemic.
Demand for tax deferrals and other tax relief measures offered to companies during the pandemic was also lower than expected. In the end, a tax break of only R 40 billion was granted – compared to a budgeted amount of R 70 billion.
The SA Revenue Service’s renewed crackdown on tax avoidance also brought in billions; The company received almost Rl 3 billion from 117 investigations and used new freight scanners in its customs and excise operations, with the help of which illegal imports worth Rl 1.5 billion could be confiscated.
While SA’s tax revenue last year will still be 11% lower than 2019 – due in part to revenue from “sin taxes” halved due to alcohol and cigarette sales bans during lockdown – the new tax proposals for 2021 are less severe than previously feared.
So taxes will change according to the 2021 budget.
Income tax
The government increases the income tax brackets by an average of 5%, which is above inflation. This means that all individual taxpayers will pay less income tax in this tax year than in the previous year. Proportionally low wage earners receive more relief.
For example, someone with a taxable income of R 100,000 per year will pay R 756 (or 25%) less in the next year.
Those who earn R 750,000 pay R 4,500 (or around 2%) less than in the previous year. This equates to R375 per month.
Those with an income of R2 million pay R8,300 (or 1%) less. This equates to R690 per month.
This adjustment will cut tax revenue by R2.2 billion, the Treasury Department said.
Here are the old and new brackets:
Here’s how the Treasury Department calculates changes that affect different groups of taxpayers:
Tax audit for the rich
In this upcoming fiscal year, SARS will set up its own unit to improve compliance by individuals with assets and complex financial arrangements, Mboweni said.
This first group of taxpayers has been identified – and is due to “receive a notice in April 2021”.
Corporate tax
The Treasury Department reaffirmed its intention to lower the South African corporate tax rate, which is 28% high compared to a global average of 23.6%.
In this year’s budget it has now committed to lowering this tax rate “in the medium term”, noting that “high tax rates reduce competitiveness and create an incentive to shift profits to lower tax areas”.
The corporate income tax rate will be reduced to 27 percent for companies with years of assessment starting on or after April 1, 2022.
VAT
The VAT remains unchanged at 15%.
“Super fine” cornmeal has been added to the VAT zero-zero list.
Fuel taxes
The general fuel tax will be increased by 15 cents per liter from April 7th (it was increased by 16 cents per liter in 2020). This year’s hike is smaller than expected by some analysts.
However, the 11ca liter increase in the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy (only increased by 9c last year) was more than forecast.
All taxes now account for 39.7% of the total price of a liter of 93 gasoline and 44% diesel. However, this is a smaller proportion than last year when it was 42% and 46% respectively.
No taxes
Excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco will rise by an average of 8% – twice the rate of inflation.
Here are some tax increases:
The tax on beer will be increased from 181c on a 340ml can to 196c
The wine increases from R4.39 per liter to R4.74 per liter
Fortified wine increases from R7.34 to R7.92 per liter
The sparkling wine increases from 14.36 R to 15.51 R per liter
Apple cider and alcoholic fruit drinks increase from 181c to 196c for a 340 ml can
The spirits increase from R68.73 to R74.23 per bottle
The traditional African beer remains unchanged at 7.82 cca.
The cigarette tax increases from R 17.40 for a pack of 20 to R 18.79.
The Treasury notes that the World Health Organization believes that at least 70% of cigarette prices should be used for state taxes. In South Africa the tax rate is still only 40% of the retail price. A WHO estimate from 2019 was also cited that SA’s cigarettes were cheaper in 2018 than they were in 2008.
For vaping and other heated tobacco products, the excise tax rate (75% of the tax rate for a pack of cigarettes) remains unchanged.
Section 12J tax breaks were killed
Under Section 12J of the Income Tax Act, South Africans receive a tax break when their investments are made through an approved venture capital company. The idea behind it was to encourage investment in small businesses and riskier businesses that can help create jobs and economic growth.
But the Treasury Department says this has not happened as often as it wanted, and the program will end in June.
New tax on “green” plastic bags
So far, bio-based plastic bags – for example made from sugar cane and food – have not been taxed.
But the government has now introduced a levy of 12.5 cents per bag, which states that while they “emit less greenhouse gases, they still contribute to litter and marine pollution”. Plastic bags are currently taxed at 25 cents per bag.
The services for travel and work-from-home (WFH) are currently being examined
SARS has decided to review the tax rules for traveling and working from home.
“Given the large-scale migration to work from home last year, the Treasury Department will review the current travel and home office allowances to examine their effectiveness, equality of application, ease of use, safety for taxpayers and compatibility with environmental goals .
The consultations will start next year.