Gestruktureerde regsgefundeerde metodologie vir die inkomste-kapitaal riglyne en verwante subjektiwiteitsvraagstukke in die Suid-Afrikaanse inkomstebelastingreg
Date
2002-03
Authors
Swanepoel, Leon
Matthee, J.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vraagstuk wat in die studie ondersoek word, is of daar groter regsekerheid ten opsigte van die toepassing van die onderskeie inkomste-kapitaal riglyne by ontvangste in die Suid-Afrikaanse
inkomstebelastingreg verkry kan word deur:
i) die onderliggende gedagterigtings wat die formulering van die betrokke riglyne ten grondslag lê, te ondersoek en toe te pas;
ii) die geformuleerde riglyne meer noukeurig te omskryf;
iii) die toepassingsveld van die onderskeie riglyne te oorweeg: en
iv) 'n psigologiese onderskeid te tref tussen die verskillende tipes subjektiewe ingesteldhede wat 'n individu kan openbaar en die tipe wat vir die inkomste-kapitaalriglyne relevant is, te identifiseer. In die oplossing van bogemelde vraagstuk word aan die volgende aspekte aandag geskenk:
i) Die ontwikkeling en toepassing van die riglyne wat die howe in Australie, Nieu-Seeland
en Suid-Afrika geformuleer het om 'n onderskeid te tref tussen ontvangste van 'n inkomste- en kapitale aard. Die ontwikkeling van die relevante riglyne in die
Australiese en Nieu-Seelandse inkomstebelastingreg word oorweeg omdat:
(a) die grondslag van inkomstebelasting in die lande wesenlik ooreenstem met
Suid-Afrika;
(b) die howe daar na dieselfde brongesag verwys as uitgangspunt vir die ontwikkeling van die riglyne om 'n onderskeid te tref tussen ontvangste van 'n
inkomste- en kapitale aard;
(c) die howe in Nieu-Seeland na gesag in Suid-Afrika verwys het by die toepassing van sekere riglyne om tussen ontvangste van 'n inkomste- en kapitale aard te onderskei;
(d) die howe daar nuwe toepassings vir die bestaande riglyne ontwikkel het en die moontlikheid bestaan dat hierdie toepassings ook in Suid-Afrika aangewend kan word; en
(e) die howe in die Suid-Afrikaanse inkomstebelastingregspraak al hoe meer na Australiese regspraak verwys as gesag vir hulle
uitsprake.
ii) Die standpunt dat die premis wat die riglynformulering deur die howe ten opsigte van die onderskeid tussen ontvangste van inkomste- of kapitale aard ten grandslag lê,
inderdaad gebaseer is op 'n klassifikasie van die onderliggende transaksies wat die
ontvangste genereer.
iii) Die grondslag van voorgemelde riglyne, dit wil sê pas die howe die riglyne toe deur die subjektiewe ingesteldheid van die belastingpligtige in ag te neem, of word die riglyne bloot op objektief waarneembare feite gebaseer wat 'n aanduiding gee van
die aard van die ontvangste, of is dit subjektief sowel as objektief.
iv) Die relevante tipe subjektiewe ingesteldheid wat deurslaggewend is indien die subjektiewe ingesteldheid van die belastingpligtige 'n belangrike rol speel by die toepassing van die riglyne. 'n Samehangende metodologie word formuleer wat die howe en belastingpraktisyns kan
aanwend om op 'n logiese en konsekwente wyse die relevante riglyn te identifiseer en toe te
pas om die inkomste- of kapitale aard van die betrokke ontvangste te bepaal. Die aanwending van hierdie metodologie sal tot groter regsekerheid in die inkomstebelastingreg bydra omdat die identifisering en toepassing van die relevante riglyn op die feitestel in oorweging op 'n gestruktureerde en gefundeerde grondslag sal plaasvind.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The problem that will be investigated in this thesis is whether greater legal certainty may be ascertained regarding the application of the various income-capital guidelines to receipts in the South African income tax law by: i) investigating and applying the underlying thought processes that form the basis of the formulation of the guidelines concerned; i) defining the formulated guidelines in more detail; iii) considering the field of application of the various guidelines; and iv) making a psychological distinction between the different types of state of mind of an individual and identifying the type that is relevant for the application of the incomecapital guidelines. In finding a solution for the above problem the following aspects are considered: i) The development and application of the guidelines that the courts have formulated in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa to make a distinction between receipts of an income and capital nature. The development of the guidelines in New Zealand and Australia is relevant because: (a) the basis of income tax in these countries concords primarily with South Africa; (b) the courts there referred to the same authority as a starting-point for the development of the guidelines in order to make a distinction between receipts of an income and capital nature; (c) the courts in New Zealand referred to South African authority to substantiate the application specific guidelines in order to make a distinction between receipts of an income and capital nature; (d) the courts there developed new applications for existing guidelines and the possibility exists that it may also be applied in South Africa; and (e) the courts in South Africa of late refer more and more to Australian case law as authority to support their judgements. il) The proposition that the premise that forms the basis of the guideline formulation by the courts to distinguish between receipts of an income and capital nature is indeed the classification of the underlying transactions that generate receipts. iii) The underlying principle of the various guidelines, that is to say do the courts apply the guidelines by taking cognisance of the subjective state of mind of the taxpayer, or are they merely based on objective surrounding circumstances that give an indication of the nature of the receipt, or is it both subjective and objective. IV) The specific state of mind of a taxpayer that is determinative if subjectivity is a crucial element in the application of particular guidelines. A coherent methodology is formulated that could be applied by courts and tax practitioners in order to identify and apply the relevant guidelines logically and consistently in the determination of the income or capital nature of the receipt under consideration. The application of this methodology will contribute towards greater legal certainty in the income tax law because the identification and application of the relevant guidelines will occur in a structured and systematic manner.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The problem that will be investigated in this thesis is whether greater legal certainty may be ascertained regarding the application of the various income-capital guidelines to receipts in the South African income tax law by: i) investigating and applying the underlying thought processes that form the basis of the formulation of the guidelines concerned; i) defining the formulated guidelines in more detail; iii) considering the field of application of the various guidelines; and iv) making a psychological distinction between the different types of state of mind of an individual and identifying the type that is relevant for the application of the incomecapital guidelines. In finding a solution for the above problem the following aspects are considered: i) The development and application of the guidelines that the courts have formulated in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa to make a distinction between receipts of an income and capital nature. The development of the guidelines in New Zealand and Australia is relevant because: (a) the basis of income tax in these countries concords primarily with South Africa; (b) the courts there referred to the same authority as a starting-point for the development of the guidelines in order to make a distinction between receipts of an income and capital nature; (c) the courts in New Zealand referred to South African authority to substantiate the application specific guidelines in order to make a distinction between receipts of an income and capital nature; (d) the courts there developed new applications for existing guidelines and the possibility exists that it may also be applied in South Africa; and (e) the courts in South Africa of late refer more and more to Australian case law as authority to support their judgements. il) The proposition that the premise that forms the basis of the guideline formulation by the courts to distinguish between receipts of an income and capital nature is indeed the classification of the underlying transactions that generate receipts. iii) The underlying principle of the various guidelines, that is to say do the courts apply the guidelines by taking cognisance of the subjective state of mind of the taxpayer, or are they merely based on objective surrounding circumstances that give an indication of the nature of the receipt, or is it both subjective and objective. IV) The specific state of mind of a taxpayer that is determinative if subjectivity is a crucial element in the application of particular guidelines. A coherent methodology is formulated that could be applied by courts and tax practitioners in order to identify and apply the relevant guidelines logically and consistently in the determination of the income or capital nature of the receipt under consideration. The application of this methodology will contribute towards greater legal certainty in the income tax law because the identification and application of the relevant guidelines will occur in a structured and systematic manner.
Description
Thesis (PhD (Accountancy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
Keywords
Theses -- Accountancy, Regsekerheid, Inkomstebelastingreg, Suid-Afrikaanse howe, Belastingpraktisyns, Dissertations -- Accountancy