If you don’t agree with an assessment from SARS, swift action and careful management of the dispute process will maximise your chances of a favourable outcome. This is because various deadlines must be met, a payment suspension must be requested, and a solid objection must be presented and managed to final resolution. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

It’s been a year since 24 May 2023 when company directors and members of close corporations became obliged to lodge a Beneficial Ownership Register plus supporting documents with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) - which also needs to be maintained, updated timeously and confirmed annually. Since all entities should have lodged this register by 24 May 2024 - a year later - it has now become mandatory to file beneficial ownership information before the annual returns can be submitted. Non-compliance with the beneficial ownership requirements has consequences, as does failing to submit the annual return timeously.

In this article, we look at why trusts are used by business owners, how trusts are taxed, how the tax return for a trust must be completed and submitted, and why assistance from an accounting and tax practitioner is essential to avoid the many potential pitfalls, as well as the penalties and interest that will be levied for late returns, late payments, and non-compliance.