The Legal 500

The Tax Administration Bill 11 of 2011 may face constitutional challenges should it be promulgated in its current form.
Betsie Strydom, tax partner at corporate law firm Bowman Gilfillan, says that the Bill:

•  gives SARS much wider powers;

•  impacts on taxpayers’ rights; and

•  contains provisions that could affect taxpayers’ rights to hold a passport, to travel and to trade.

One of the questions frequently asked by foreigners who want to do business in South Africa is whether South Africa imposes withholding taxes on payments made to non-residents. The response to this is often that we only have a withholding tax on royalties. However, this is not correct and is becoming less true every year, as the South African legislator apparently realizes the benefits offered by the imposition of withholding taxes.

One of the questions frequently asked by foreigners who want to do business in South Africa is whether South Africa imposes withholding taxes on payments made to non-residents. The response to this is often that we only have a withholding tax on royalties. However, this is not correct and will be even less true from 1 September 2007.

This article deals with the extent to which the legal professional privilege protects confidential communication between a company and its internal legal adviser.

D-Day A lot of far-reaching provisions of the National Credit Act No. 34 of 2005 ("Act") will come into operation on 1 June 2007.

The Banks Amendment Bill, 2007 (‘the Bill”) has been introduced to provide statutory force to the international strategic drive to further strengthen the credibility and stability of the international banking system.