Tax implications for 2017
Using a mobile device? Click on the image to view in its entirety: Content sourced from PSG: https://www.psg.co.za/news/Budget-Speech-2017
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Budget 2017: What you need to know
Significant announcements New 45% tax rate for those earning more than R1.5 million per annum (around 100 000 taxpayers are affected) Dividend withholding tax increased from 15% to 20% No increases in VAT or Capital Gains Tax No new allocation for nuclear Budget deficit to decline from 3.4% in 2016/17 to 3.1% in 2017/18. For the first time since 2010, tax revenue growth did not match economic growth Tax changes Government will raise an additional R28 billion during the new tax year New 45% marginal tax rate for those earning more than R1.5 million per annum Other taxpayers will not receive full relief from fiscal drag – the impact of inflation on tax brackets Tax on dividends increase from 15% to 20% Taxes on fuel to rise by 39c a litre. (Fuel levy
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Let SARS help you pay for retirement
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) wants to help you pay for your retirement. The way in which they do this is by offering generous tax deductions when you make contributions to your retirement annuity (RA), pension or provident fund. On 1 March 2016, the tax deductions for retirement savings increased from 15% to 27.5% - which means you can now save more for retirement and get back more from SARS. What else has changed? You are now able to deduct your contributions to all retirement funds, with the maximum tax deduction you may make in a tax year limited to the greater of 27.5% of taxable income or remuneration (see Definitions), subject to an annual ceiling of R350 000. Contributions above this limit made directly by your employer are also now taxable as a fringe benefit
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Retirement Annuities VS Tax-Free Investments
Access to your cash Your investments in an RA cannot be accessed before the age of 55, except in very specific circumstances. You can access your TFI at any time. However, withdrawing from a TFI account impacts negatively on your lifetime investment limit of R500 000 – you cannot replace money that you have withdrawn. Tax savings The main difference between the two products is when you get the tax benefit. An RA offers tax savings now, i.e. you pay less tax now because you make contributions with earnings on which you have not paid tax, but you will pay tax later, i.e. you defer paying tax. Apart from deferring tax in an RA, a further tax saving may come from paying a lower average tax rate on the benefits withdrawn from the RA at and after retirement, v
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How to maximise tax benefits before the end of the tax year
Every year at around this time – ahead of the end of the tax year in February – we remind investors to think about taking advantage of some of the incentives the government has put in place to encourage us to save. Pretty much getting a discount of up to 27.5% on your taxes. The government offers incentives to save for your retirement in an official retirement saving product, such as a retirement annuity (RA). In return for putting your money away for the long term, you can invest in an RA and deduct the amount from your taxable income. In addition, while you are invested in an RA growth is free of dividends tax, income tax on interest and capital gains tax. In March 2016, the amount you can contribute to your retirement funds tax-free was increased to 27.5% of taxable income o
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Gap Cover has become a non-negotiable
Increasingly we are experiencing gaps between what doctors charge and what medical aids are prepared to pay, with some doctors charging up to 600% (or 6x) the medical aid rates. The last thing you need is to get caught off guard with a bill your medical aid is not prepared to pay in full. Fortunately Gap Cover offers a solution to this problem, regardless of the medical aid you belong to. The product does exactly what the name implies: it covers the gap between the doctor's fees and medical aid rates. Gap Cover only comes into play when you go for a planned procedure (elective operation). In an emergency, you should be fully covered by your medical aid. After a planned procedure, you will receive three bills. The first bill will be approximately 60%-70% of the total amount and wil
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Avoid expensive medical aid premiums
The sooner you join a medical aid, the better. Here's why: The number of years you have been/not been on a registered medical aid in South Africa can have a big impact on your premium. Any medical aid you consider joining can load your premium according to the Medical Schemes Act. Years count in your favour The medical aid will take your age and deduct it from age 35, which will give the number of years you need to prove you have been on a registered medical aid in South Africa. There will be no loading if you have proof of being on medical aid for all those years. If there is no proof, you can expect the following: • 1 to 4 years = 5% loading • 5 to 14 years = 25% loading • 15 to 24 years = 50% loading • 25+ years = 75% loading Pre-existing condi
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How important is medical aid?
Can you afford it? Medical aids have changed over the years. Traditional schemes used to cost an arm and a leg and covered everything, but today you can select the cover you need or can afford. You can choose from hospital cover for planned procedures and emergencies to hospital cover with a small savings facility towards day-to-day costs. In my experience of helping clients select the right plan for their needs, I have seen far too much focus on day-to-day expenses and an ignorance of emergency costs. Worst case scenario your dentist bill will be a few thousand rand (and 90% of the time you can make a payment arrangement). However, the cost incurred in an emergency could set you back millions. In 2013, Discovery Health's biggest medical claim was over 6 million rand. On average, the
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Gap Cover a non-negotiable today
The event of experiencing gaps between what doctors charge and what medical aids pay is becoming more and more of a reality for us in todays times. I am sure that you, or at least somebody close to you, has been victim to this “GAP” and we know now that some doctors can charge up to 600% (or 6x) of medical aid rates. The last thing most of us can afford is to get caught off guard with a bill that is thousands of rands and possibly more than what your medical aid is prepared to pay. BUT DON’T WORRY THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IF YOUR MEDICAL AID ONLY COVERS YOU AT MEDICAL AID RATES! So let’s talk about the solution to this problem (no matter what medical aid you belong to)! The solution to the problem is called Gap Cover and it does exactly what the name of the product i
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