A key objective of many governments is to improve tax revenue mobilization. One way to achieve this is by improving tax compliance. This requires accurate knowledge of the tax gap, i.e. the difference between what should be paid and what is actually paid. Until now, tax gaps have been primarily estimated in developed countries, and very little is known about tax gaps in developing countries. Information about these gaps can help policy makers make appropriate revenue mobilization strategies. This paper uses a top-down approach to estimate the tax gap in corporate income tax in South Africa. It uses national accounts statistics and tax administrative data to estimate the gap in the non-financial corporate sector, i.e. the difference between potential and actual corporate income tax under current tax legislation. The overall gap is estimated at approximately 11 per cent of the potential tax base or 2 per cent of GDP over the period 2015 to 2017.
This Technical Assistance Report discusses the results of applying the value-added tax (VAT) gap estimation methodology of the Revenue Administration Gap Analysis Program (RA-GAP) to South Africa for the period 2007–12. It is found that the compliance gap is estimated to be between 5 percent and 10 percent of potential VAT revenues during the period 2007–12, and peaking in 2008 and 2009. The estimated compliance gap for VAT in South Africa between 2007 and 2012 is hump-shaped. The results also reveal that the level of the VAT policy gap in South Africa is low by international standards, owing to its simple VAT policy structure.
Tax administrations around the world have introduced e-filing of tax returns due to its potential to improve tax return filing compliance. The introduction of this service for businesses in South Africa has not yielded the expected results. Drawing on tax administrative data on tax return filing and population census data, the study aims at determining whether internet access in the country, could have contributed to the less impact of the introduced administrative intervention. Accounting for specific characteristics of the areas in the country, and geoclassication (urban or rural area), we find that an increase in the fraction of household areas with internet access by 10 percentage points, raises the fraction of businesses that do submit a tax return by 1.86 percentage points. The results of the analysis highlights that the impact of the introduction of e-filing services for tax returns submission, is dependent on the internet coverage of the area.
In South Africa, there is a significant gap between the amount of tax that is theoretically collectable from economically active persons and that which is actually collected (commonly known as the tax gap). Non-compliance by taxpayers is one of the main causes of the tax gap. It has been established that one of the main factors leading to non-compliance, is the attitudes and perceptions of people. Although the perceptions of previously disadvantaged groups in South Africa regarding taxation have been researched, this study extends prior research by investigating and comparing taxpayers' perceptions amongst the four major South African population groups (that is, Black/African, Indian, Coloured and White). This is the main objective of this thesis. This study specifically aimed to determine South African taxpayers' perceptions regarding general tax-related, tax evasion and tax compliance issues. A number of demographic, economic or other factors that might influence respondents' perceptions regarding these issues were also investigated. The significance of this study is emphasised, in that it builds upon previous research, utilizing insights from several disciplines and various theoretical perspectives. The data for this study was collected from a sample of 260 South African taxpayers by meansof face-to-face interviews, based on a questionnaire, compiled from an extensive literature review. The scope of the study was limited as it focused only on natural taxpayers within the Tshwane metropolitan area (which includes Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa) in Gauteng, as the purpose was not to generalise conclusions to the entire South African population. A further limitation of the study was that it focused on natural persons only: corporate taxpayers were excluded. Future research could extend this study by verifying the findings in other areas, amongst other population groups and corporate taxpayers. This research concluded that tax compliance may depend upon several factors, other than deterrence, and that the perceptions of South African taxpayers are likely to be influenced by these factors. One of the main recommendations of the study is the need for comprehensive, widely based communication and education of taxpayers and potential taxpayers by the South African Revenue Services. Copyright.
This Technical Assistance Report discusses the results of applying the value-added tax (VAT) gap estimation methodology of the Revenue Administration Gap Analysis Program (RA-GAP) to South Africa for the period 2007-12. It is found that the compliance gap is estimated to be between 5 percent and 10 percent of potential VAT revenues during the period 2007-12, and peaking in 2008 and 2009. The estimated compliance gap for VAT in South Africa between 2007 and 2012 is hump-shaped. The results also reveal that the level of the VAT policy gap in South Africa is low by international standards, owing
This book, marking the 2014 centenary of income tax in South Africa, presents historical research covering a range of topics. The authors begin with the international origins of income tax law and the transformation of old Dutch taxes into colonial income tax, and the role of General Smuts in the introduction of income tax in 1914. The struggle to find an appropriate means of taxing corporate profits of shareholders is shown to have continued for decades, and mining and fanning as main industry players in the South African economy receive special attention. The demise of cooperatives, the history of international tax treaties and the colonial influence also form part of the historical journey of this publication. An examination of the special qualities of leading judges of the time and their jurisprudence provides much food for thought. Policy debates such as whether South Africa should follow the source or the residence system of taxation, or introduce a land tax, rage today as they did in 1914. The impact of transformation since 1994, the need to entrench taxpayers' rights and to remove gender inequality, and the remarkable modernisation of SARS, all played an important part in the development of the South African tax system. A book about one hundred years of income tax would not be complete without some biographical notes on key personalities such as CJ Ingram KC, Aubrey Silke and David Meyerowitz SC. In recognising the conference held at the University of Cape Town to mark one hundred years of income tax in South Africa, the rise of the teaching of tax at UCT is presented in the form of an extract from the memoirs of Prof Leon Kritzinger.
This edition provides a thorough understanding of international income tax from a South African perspective. It deals in detail with: Controlled foreign companies; foreign dividends; double taxation agreements; exchange control restrictions; tax havens.
