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Newsletter
1/2005
04 March 2005
Dear members of the South African Fiscal Association (“SAFA”)
The purpose of the first newsletter for 2005 is to inform you about various matters relating to the activities of SAFA for 2005.
| Evening seminars | ||
| 1 | As was the case in 2004 SAFA’s main activity for 2005 will be evening seminars. We plan for a minimum of three seminars in Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively. The first series are planned for some time in April/ May. | |
| 2 | Once again, we welcome members’ suggestions for suitable topics and request them to inform us if they are aware of international tax experts visiting South Africa. SAFA’s focus is on international tax but as in the past we will also address relevant domestic tax matters. | |
| 3 | We are considering the following topics for the first seminars, once finalized, dates and venues will be communicated to all members: | |
| 3.1 | An address by SARS on the purpose, structure, approach, etc of the new Large Business Centre in Megawatt Park, Johannesburg. | |
| 3.2 | The meaning of “dividend” for tax, accounting and company law purposes with reference to sections 1, 64B, 64C and the Eighth Schedule to the Income Tax Act | |
| 3.3 | Selected issues on section 6quat of the Income Tax Act, including how to interpret the wording that such tax credits are only available on income from a source outside South Africa. | |
| Membership | ||
| 4 | Invoices for 2005 subscriptions have been sent out this week. Please settle your accounts as soon as possible as the IFA parent body requires their account to be settled by April 2005. Membership fees for 2005 will be R2,000.00 for corporate members and R1,000.00 for individual members. The subscriptions for 2005 have again not increased on the basis that we hope to grow the membership with the assistance of current members. We welcome eight new members for 2005, which is most encouraging. | |
| SAFA Annual General Meeting | ||
| 5 | It is planned to hold the Annual General Meeting on the same day as the first seminar in Cape Town. We will be rotating the AGM venues as mentioned in our first newsletter of 2004. | |
| Election of members of the executive committee | ||
| 6 | We urge members to offer their services to SAFA for 2005. Those who cannot attend the AGM may do so by proxy. We are particularly looking for persons who are willing to commit their time to the activities of SAFA’s Scientific Committee. These activities still need to be finalised but it could include reviving the tax thesis competition or assisting members with research projects on appropriate tax topics in order to enhance South Africa’s tax profile internationally. | |
| IFA research project on practical application of tax treaties | ||
| 7 | SAFA will also be involved on a joint OECD-IFA research project, to revisit and take forward the reports to the 1998 IFA Congress in London on Practical Issues in the Application of Double Tax Conventions. | |
| The 2004 IFA Congress | ||
| 8 | Last year saw a strong turnout of SAFA members at the IFA Congress in Vienna. This year the Congress will be in Buenos Aires. For more information visit the SAFA website under “Forthcoming Events”. | |
Charl Du Toit
President / SAFA
Annexure: IFA OECD Treaty Project (PDF Format)