WHO IS REGARDED A NON-RESIDENT FOR PURPOSE OF SECTION 35A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT 58 OF 1962?

TO ALL ESTEEMED BUSINESS PARTNERS

Number

08/2017
Under South African Law there are different types of residents, for example a resident defined by the Income Tax Act, 1962 in terms of the so called physical presence test and an ordinary resident defined in terms of South African common law.

Any individual, who is ordinary resident (common law concept) in South Africa during the year of assessment or, failing which, meets all three requirements of the physical presence test, will be regarded as a resident for tax purposes.

An individual will be considered to be ordinary resident in South Africa, if South Africa is the country to which that individual will naturally and as matter of course return after his or her wanderings. It could be described as that individual’s usual or principal residence, or his or her real home. If an individual is not ordinarily resident in South Africa, he or she may still meet the requirements of the physical presence test and will be deemed to be a resident for tax purposes.

To meet the requirements of the physical presence test that individual must be physically present in South Africa for periods exceeding-
  • 91 days in total during the year of assessment under consideration;
  • 91 days in total during each of the five years of assessment preceding the year of assessment under consideration; and
  • 915 days in total during those five preceding years of assessment.
An individual who fails to meet any one of these three requirements will not satisfy the physical presence test.

If the individual is neither ordinary resident, nor meets the requirements of the physical presence test, that individual will be regarded as a non-resident for tax purposes. This means that individual will be subject to tax only on income that has its source in South Africa. A non-resident will, however, be subject to the withholding of tax on the sale of immovable property, as provided for in Section 35A of the Income Tax Act 1962.

For any queries please contact our property law division at the details below:

Allen West

Tel: 012 425 3549

Daleen Loubser

Tel: 012 425 3489
dloubser@macrobert.co.za
Disclaimer: This newsflash is for general information only and should not be used as legal or professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions, nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance and any information therein