Individuals who are residents for the purpose of the Income Tax Act, 58 of 1962, are liable for CGT (capital gains tax) on the disposal of South African and foreign assets. In addition, non-residents who dispose of immovable property in South Africa are liable for CGT as well.
As a disposal is the event that can trigger a taxpayer’s liability for CGT, it is important to know what type of transactions SARS will view as a disposal. The following actions are considered to be a disposal for CGT purposes:
- Selling of an asset
- Donating an asset
- Destruction, scrapping or loss of an asset
- Abandonment of an asset
- Change in the use of an asset
Please note: The above actions are not a complete list of what constitutes a disposal. Please contact your tax adviser for more detailed information.
The rule of thumb is that if an asset is disposed of it will be subject to CGT, except if the capital gain/loss is specifically excluded. A capital gain/loss on any of the following disposals will not trigger CGT:
1. Disposal of a primary residence
The capital profit/loss on the disposal of a primary residence will not be taxable for CGT purposes if all the following requirements are met:
- The proceeds are not more than R2 000 000, and
- It is owned by a natural person (not by a company, close corporation or trust), and
- The owner or his/her spouse normally lives in the house as their main residence, and
- More than 50% of the house is used for private purposes.
It is also useful to know in which circumstances, upon disposal of a primary residence, a capital profit/loss, or a portion thereof, will be taxable for purposes of CGT. If any one of the following circumstances are present the capital profit/loss, or a pro rata portion thereof, will be taxable for CGT purposes:
- If the proceeds is more than R2 000 000, the amount of the capital profit/loss exceeding R2 000 000 will be taxable.
- When a property is bigger than 2 hectares, the portion of the capital gain/loss relating to more than the first 2 hectares, will be taxable.
- Where a person or his/her spouse did not live in a primary residence for any period after 1 October 2001, the primary residence exclusion will not be allowed for that time period.
- If any part of a primary residence was used for trade purposes (e.g. if you used your study to run a business from), the portion of the primary residence exclusion relating to the part of the primary residence used for business purposes will be taxable.
2. Disposal of personal use assets
The disposal of personal use assets which are owned by a natural person and not used for trade purposes, will not give rise to a liability for CGT. Some examples of personal use assets which are excluded for the purpose of calculating a potential CGT liability, are the following:
- Personal belongings used more than 50% for personal purposes, for example a car, a caravan, an art collection or household furniture.
- The capital gain/loss on the disposal of a boat up to a maximum length of ten metres and which was used for private/personal purposes.
- Aircraft with an empty weight of 450 kilograms or less.
Please note: The above-mentioned circumstances is not a complete list of exclusions on the disposal of personal use assets. Please contact your tax adviser for more detailed information.
3. Disposal of an interest in a small business
The exemption of the capital gain/loss is limited to R1 800 000 if:
- The gross asset value of the small business is less than R10 000 000, and
- The individual is:
- a sole proprietor or partner or has held 10% or more of the shares in the small business for five years or more, and
- is at least 55 years old, and
- suffers from ill-health or infirmity, or deceased.
4. Disposal of assets in a registered micro business, provided that the assets were used for business purposes
5. Receiving lump sum payments from certain approved retirement funds
6. Receiving the proceeds from certain endowment or life insurance policies
- Second-hand policies are not excluded unless they are pure risk policies with no investment/surrender value.
7. Compensation received for personal illness or injury
8. Winnings and prizes from certain games and competitions e.g. Lotto winnings
Although the above exclusions are very specific, it is still possible to plan a transaction in such a way that will minimise the taxpayer’s liability for CGT. If you need more information on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us for professional assistance and advice.
Reference List:
- www.sars.gov.za
- Sage Pastel Tax Guide 2013/2014
This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your legal adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE)