SARS has recently issued a draft binding general ruling on the two-tier donations tax regime (see the Monthly Listing).
Dual rate of donations tax
An amendment came into operation on 1 March 2018, to the effect that a
20% rate applies to the aggregate value of property donated as does not
exceed R30 million, and a rate of 25% of that value for any excess over
R30 million.
Issues arising
The following issues arise in relation to the R30 million threshold,
which impact on the question whether a donations tax rate of 20% or 25%
applies, being first, aggregation, and, secondly, exempt donations.
Aggregation
Over what period must the sum of all donations preceding the current
donation be determined? Does one aggregate all donations ever made by a
donor, even donations made before the effective date of the amendment
introducing the dual rates, 1 March 2018? To do so would be to give
retrospective effect to the amendment.
There
is a general presumption against statutes having retrospective
operation, unless there are clear indications in the statute concerned,
express or by necessary implication, that retrospectivity was intended.
On
that basis, SARS agrees that donations made before 1 March 2018 should
not be taken into consideration in the calculation of the aggregate R30
million threshold.