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Budget 2014 SAIT’s commentary OVERALL • Congratulate the Minister on a rational budget • Considering substantial challenges facing SA • Expenditure ceiling welcomed • Performance of the economy and economic growth are crucial to SA’s future success OVERVIEW OF COMMENTS Foreign Direct investment Innovation (FDI) (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Entrepeneurship (Small business) Economic Growth SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF • Foreign Direct investment • • Innovation (FDI) (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Entrepeneurship (Small business) • Economic Growth • Streamling SBC, TT, VCC regime welcomed However: SBC regime replacement – ? await further details of rebates before commenting Turnover tax – sufficient to get informal sector in tax net? Relax entrance & compliance requirements, improve marketing & enforcement Turnover Tax - Reduce compliance costs, then why take away 4 mthly VAT submission? SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF Foreign Direct investment (FDI) Entrepeneurship (Small business) Innovation (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Economic Growth • Grants tax exempt – welcomed, abuse to be monitored, s12P interaction? • VCC changes – welcomed but perhaps more needs to be done • CONCLUSION: • Good changes, but • Regular (yearly) monitoring of effectiveness of incentives SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF • • Foreign Direct investment (FDI) Innovation • (R&D) • Entrepeneurship (Small business) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Economic Growth • • • SEZ– Bad news = C/Y & P/Y grant & incentive allocations in DTI budget (R5.5m vs R5.4m) almost the same Good news = Next 2 years 12,8% p.a. increase Bad news = R550m decrease in incentives estimates (SEZ legislation still being finalized) No news = on 15% SEZ tax rate + 10 yr window period CONCLUSION: No new incentives for SMMEs (Enterprise Investment Pgm closed in Sept 2013 & no replacement announced) SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF • Foreign Direct investment (FDI) Entrepeneurship (Small business) Innovation • • (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) • Economic Growth • • • TRAVEL DEDUCTIONS– New tables to claim deduction for personal use result in punitive changes Car value = R160 000 Fixed cost reduction reduced by 11% Despite fuel & maintenance costs increasing, increases not in line with actual costs Car value = R313 000 Fixed cost reduction reduced by 7% Fuel & maintenance costs reduced by 7.5% and 23%.. SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF Foreign Direct investment (FDI) Entrepeneurship (Small business) Innovation (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Economic Growth • EMPLOYMENT TAX INCENTIVE • Meaningful to SMMEs • Congratulations on success of January take-up • Look forward to further updates on its effectiveness • OVERALL CONCLUSION • Need for a comprehensive co-ordinated SMME Plan • Davis Committee Report feedback guidance FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT • • Foreign Direct investment • Innovation (R&D) (FDI) • Entrepeneurship (Small business) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Economic Growth • • • • CORPORATE TAX RATE To be “gateway to Africa” HQC regime not enough Global trends suggest SA’s corporate tax rate (28%) is high VAT rate (14%) is low CONCLUSION Cut corporate tax rate; Increase VAT rate Formalise SA’s International Tax Strategy Create certainty (transfer pricing) & stabilility RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Foreign Direct investment Innovation (FDI) Entrepeneurship (Small business) (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Economic Growth • LIMITED SUPPORT • NDP = innovation hub of Sub-Sahara Africa…. • But support by government to private sector limited • Section 11D deduction= declined by 65% from 2010/11 to 2011/12 • Not a healthy situation RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT • R&D as a % of GDP in South Africa • Since R&D incentive introduced in 2006, R&D has steadily dropped • Reasons: • Numerous changes in legislation • Administration of regime • Concern: • Support Programme for Industrial Innovation reduced from R200m to R50m – SMMEs affected!! RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT • SOLUTION: • DST to alleviate backlog on approval process; • DST to promote participation in incentive • National Treasury must refrain from making more changes • Certainty is needed! SAVINGS & RETIREMENT REFORMS • Commend: Foreign Direct investment – Reinforcing need for individual savings – Increase in retirement tax free-lump sum Innovation (FDI) (R&D) Reduction in Indebtedness (Savings) Entrepeneurship (Small business) Economic Growth • Look forward to details of tax efficient savings vehicles OTHER ISSUES • • • • • • • • • • • Increase in rates needed: Estate duty abatement Donations tax exemption Donations tax deduction limitation percentage Further clarification: Social Security System Gambling Tax National Health Insurance Carbon Tax Taxation of trusts Restrictions on IP under exchange control regulations • • • Tax Design Process NT and SARS commended on workshops held to date Should be applied to all legislation to prevent implementation with a ‘catch all phase’ and then a narrowing down. WISH LIST: • Reduce wasteful expenditure • Link government spending to specific programs • Accountability for non-delivery • Prioritization of issues • Formalise clear and consistent economic plans for: – – – – Small businesses Foreign Direct Investment R&D Savings