South Africa updates
Corporate Tax
Contributed by Cliffe Dekker HofmeyrOne less issue when issuing tax invoices
- South Africa
- 15 February 2019
A recent Value Added Tax Act amendment has created certainty regarding suppliers' ability to correct tax invoices that have already been issued and provides a remedy to recipient vendors which previously had difficulty obtaining a corrected tax invoice from suppliers. However, it remains unclear whether suppliers will be allowed to issue manual tax invoices reflecting the correct details where their systems do not allow for the issued tax invoice's particulars to be amended.
Important judgment for taxpayers regarding trading stock valuation
- South Africa
- 18 January 2019
The Supreme Court of Appeal recently determined whether the net realisable value of taxpayers' trading stock should be accepted as representing the value of the trading stock held and not disposed of at the end of the respective assessment years. This judgment will undoubtedly have a far-reaching and profound impact on how taxpayers and the South African Revenue Service consider, interpret and apply Section 22(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act.
No tax on interest? Ruling pertaining to convention between South Africa and Brazil
- South Africa
- 04 January 2019
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) recently issued a binding private ruling dealing with relief from the double taxation of interest under the double tax agreement between South Africa and Brazil. SARS ruled that the agreement grants exclusive taxing rights to Brazil in respect of the interest that applicants receive on bonds issued by the Brazilian government, which means that the interest will not be taxable in South Africa.
New e-services regulations: widening invisible VAT net
- South Africa
- 21 December 2018
In response to the ever-increasing world of e-commerce and cross-border digital trade, South Africa introduced legislation with effect from 1 June 2014 which requires foreign suppliers of e-services to register as value added tax vendors. Following the revised draft regulations which were published on Budget Day 2018, the National Treasury published the final regulations, which will significantly broaden the definition of 'electronic services'.
Good news for lenders? Further proposed amendments to doubtful debt provisions
- South Africa
- 14 December 2018
The National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service recently appeared before Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance to provide it with a further update regarding some of the proposals contained in the draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill published earlier in 2018. These amendments will come into force once the bill has been passed by Parliament, signed by the president and published in the Government Gazette.
Environment & Climate Change
National Biodiversity Economy Strategy: opportunities for innovation and investment
- South Africa
- 11 February 2019
In October 2018 the draft National Biodiversity Framework (NBF) was published for public comment. Considering that South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in the world, the government, as custodian of the country's biodiversity, has implemented approximately 30 national strategies, frameworks and systems in the biodiversity sector. The NBF's purpose is to coordinate and align the efforts of the many organisations and persons involved in the complex interplay between these strategies.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Contributed by Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs IncMedical cannabis: growing pot-ential
- South Africa
- 05 December 2018
Cannabis has enjoyed heightened attention following a recent ruling decriminalising the private possession, consumption and cultivation of the plant for recreational purposes. While there have been several positive developments in the promotion of the medical cannabis market in South Africa, the overarching regulatory framework and authorities' current practice remain barriers to entry for prospective local players in the medical cannabis product manufacturing market.
Bioprospecting and biotrade requirements
- South Africa
- 03 October 2018
The Biodiversity Act regulates bioprospecting on and biotrade with indigenous biological resources and indigenous genetic resources and the use of traditional knowledge. Although the early years of regulation under the act were stormy and there was much confusion over who needed to apply for permits and what was required from applicants, there is now more certainty as to what is required.
Ownership of genetic information and tissue under National Health Act
- South Africa
- 08 August 2018
The legal and philosophical issues relating to the concept of ownership of various kinds of human biological material has been hotly debated. This is an emotive topic that requires balancing societal and commercial interests with individuals' rights, such as the constitutional right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right not to be subjected to medical research or scientific experiments without giving informed consent.
Focus on healthcare and life sciences legislation: Genetically Modified Organisms Act
- South Africa
- 06 June 2018
The Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act provides the requirements to ensure the responsible development, production, use and application of GMOs. Any entity or person planning to perform a regulated activity under the act must prepare an application to the registrar and pay the application fee. Regulated activities include activities involving genetic modification, the experimental or trial release of a GMO, the contained use of a GMO and the general release of or commodity clearance regarding a GMO.
Biopharming: new frontier for affordable medicines
- South Africa
- 11 April 2018
The South African government has focused on biopharming as a means of developing the bioeconomy for more than a decade. In addition, different government departments have already implemented legislation concerning plant-based protein production. Given this infrastructure and the highly active local biopharming research community, South Africa is considered a promising jurisdiction for the production of plant-based therapeutic proteins, with many possible opportunities for investment and collaboration.
Intellectual Property
Contributed by KISCH IPDon't file your cannabis trademarks… yet
- South Africa
- 14 January 2019
The Constitutional Court's recent judgment decriminalising the private use of cannabis has garnered significant attention in South Africa. As predicted, the judgment has encouraged a number of existing and potential companies to create a brand for their business in order to grow and distribute cannabis in South Africa. Unfortunately, most of these businesses must delay their plans for their brand's trademark application – although possibly not for long.
Compelling case for patenting
- South Africa
- 10 December 2018
South Africa is an attractive launch pad for many international companies when it comes to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property for their services or products that they wish to share with Africa. Even more attractive is South Africa's simple, quick and affordable patent system. There is no patent opposition in South Africa and the validity of a patent can be challenged only post-grant by way of the court system.
IP and the shape of things
- South Africa
- 03 December 2018
Proprietors that are interested in registering a shape or container mark should be aware of the kind of protection that a specific IP act affords them and ensure that they layer their rights in order to have the best protection as well as protection in perpetuity. The most important question for proprietors in this regard is whether they intend to use the shape for a short or prolonged period.
University life and intellectual property
- South Africa
- 26 November 2018
When a student is studying or planning to study at a university in South Africa, it is important that they understand their rights as an IP creator during that time. Many students, especially undergraduates, will argue that they do not participate in research and development in any manner and that intellectual property is merely a module for law students. However, all students may be IP creators without being aware of it.
#FillUp – why trademarks should be registered
- South Africa
- 12 November 2018
In order to build a brand, one of the most important steps is to register a trademark. The first step is to conduct a search of the Trademarks Register to ensure that the trademark does not infringe registered rights. Provided that the results of this clearance search are favourable, the next step is to file an application for registration. However, this is not the final step, as action can be taken for trademark infringement only once the trademark has been registered.
Real Estate
Clarification in SARS' latest issue of Interpretation Note 64
- South Africa
- 11 January 2019
The South African Revenue Service recently published the fourth issue of Interpretation Note 64, which seeks to provide guidance on the application and interpretation of Section 10(1)(e) of the Income Tax Act. With the rising prevalence of complex developments, security estates, shopping centres, wellness compounds and high-rise flats in South Africa, body corporates, homeowners' associations and share block companies are commonplace and clear guidelines as to the taxation of these entities is imperative.
Residential property developers face cash-flow crunch due to VAT on temporary letting of units
- South Africa
- 06 April 2018
Many residential property developers will begin 2018 with a major cash-flow challenge, as they may be faced with a substantial value added tax (VAT) liability in respect of the temporary letting of residential units which have been developed for resale. It is hoped that the South African Revenue Service and the National Treasury will urgently address the problems with regard to the VAT rules concerning the change-in-use adjustments for property developers.
