How do I pay less tax?

PJ Botha • January 17, 2025

"The only things that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having to pay an income tax." Dewar, Thomas.

 

This quote is undoubtedly optimistic, but it also contains some truth. Tax payment is both a luxury and a hardship. Although you must pay taxes of some kind, there are ways to lessen your tax liability.

 

It's critical to distinguish between tax avoidance and tax evasion before we begin. It goes without saying that tax avoidance is against the law and unacceptable. Tax avoidance from an investing standpoint refers to avoiding paying needless taxes as a result of poor investment planning.

 

As February, the end of the financial year, is drawing near, now is the great time to assess your existing financial status and make the most of the tax benefits available to you.

 

 

There are the following choices:

 

Retirement Annuities

 

Retirement Annuities (RAs) are among the best options for tax planning. You can take advantage of the following noteworthy tax advantages: Your voluntary donations to a RA are tax deductible up to 27.5% of your taxable income, or R350 000. This is known as an individual's tax benefit. This implies that the money you save in a RA may be taken into account when calculating your income tax and subtracted from the amount of tax due to SARS.

 

For the duration of the investment, there are no applicable income, capital gains, or dividend taxes.

Depending on prior lump sum withdrawals, up to R550 000 of your lump sum payout may be tax-free upon retirement. The remaining amount is thereafter subject to taxation at the rates specified in the retirement lump sum tax table.

Neither a living annuity nor a RA are subject to estate duty.

Lump amounts received by beneficiaries upon the death of a RA investor are free from estate duty (with the exception of contributions that are prohibited).

 

Tax-free savings

 

Different to a RA, the contributions to a tax-free savings account are made from post-tax income and you don’t get the tax benefit on contributions.

 

However, you are free to take your money out whenever you choose. An excellent approach to supplement your retirement funds or save for a long-term objective, such as your children's university fees.

 

During the investment period, no income, capital gains, or dividend taxes are due, just like with a RA.

 

Remember that you have a lifetime contribution cap of R500 000 and an annual contribution cap of R36 000 (or R3 000 per month) for all of your tax-free savings accounts from all providers.

 

Additional tax tactics you may use include:

 

Tax loss harvesting: 

This tactic involves selling some financial assets at a loss to lower your tax obligation at the end of the year. You can use tax loss harvesting to offset capital gains that result from selling other investments or assets at a profit.

 

Utilise your exemptions: 

You are eligible for a R 40,000 annual capital gains exemption. Perhaps it's time to move across investment funds or take a profit on a well-executed investment.

You can also take advantage of an interest exemption for R 23 800 (R 34 500 for individuals over 65). Your investment plan may need to be reevaluated if your interest exceeds that amount.

 

Donations: You are exempt from donation tax if you donate R100,000 annually. To lower your estate for estate duty reasons, now is an excellent moment to give R 100,000 to a family trust or your kids.

You will also receive a deduction for your donation if it is made to a charity that has Section 18A approval.

 

The aforementioned can undoubtedly lessen the tax burden, but it won't eliminate it. Paying your fair amount of taxes is important, but you shouldn't pay more than is necessary.

Business Owners: Don’t forget about yourself.

By Ruvan J Grobler • February 6, 2025
Business owners are wealthy, aren’t they? Most of them are in terms of equity in their own business, their main focus. But personal finance as a business owner goes much deeper and that’s where we’ve seen neglect. Here are two of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen business owners make with their personal finances: Neglect personal finances: Businesses need cash to expand. And all too often, the decision is made to invest all the cash back into the business instead of using a portion to expand personal portfolios. The thinking is always: “expanding the business will provide higher future income”. But this cycle only continues and compounds the personal finance neglect. We see business owners start planning for retirement after building the business their entire life. The retirement plan is to sell the business, but there is no buyer and no personal investment portfolio to fall back on. Insurance overcontribution: Life insurance will most definitely provide for loved ones on your passing and protect your finances against disability and illness. It’s a crucial part of financial planning and the first step towards moving toward financial certainty. But big insurance premiums will not bring you closer to financial freedom. I don’t blame you, there are many financial advisors who use business owners as an opportunity for large premium policies with large upfront commissions. Life insurance should be anchored in financial planning principles, only take out cover for the need identified through comprehensive analysis. Business owners understand risk, and to not diversify your own retirement income is a mistake you’ll come to realize when it’s too late. There can be a healthy mid-point between investing back into your business and investing in your personal finances. We often forget that financial planning provides solutions to problems around tax and estate planning, it’s not merely about insurance and investments. From operational effectiveness to successful distribution, business owners need to prioritize their time. Making it extremely important to have a trustworthy Wealth Manager who can effectively navigate the pitfalls and challenges of a successful business owner’s personal finances. What steps can you take with your Wealth Manager? Review your personal budget. Assess your level of risk and only cover what’s needed. Do a stock take of your investment portfolio. Set financial goals and allocate funds from your budget to reach them. Ruvan J Grobler RFP™ (PGDip Financial Planning)

FAKTORE WAT JOU WELVAART IN 2025 KAN BEïNVLOED

By Riaan Botha • January 17, 2025
Aan die begin van elke jaar is dit menslik dat ons wonder of ons welvaartsportefeulje reg gestruktureer is vir die jaar wat voorlê. Kom ons kyk in die kristalbal wat moontlik kan gebeur: Plaaslik: Inflasie in Suid Afrika is onder beheer en daarom kan ons verwag dat die plaaslike rentekoerse sal verlaag. Geskiedenis wys egter dat die rentekoers situasie in die VSA ’n bepalende rol speel in plaaslike rentekoers veranderinge. Die stimulasie van die Suid Afrikaanse ekonomie is ’n prioriteit van die Regering van Nasionale Eenheid (RNE) met die doel om werk te kan skep. Gevolglik sal samewerking tussen die privaat sektor en die regering veroorsaak dat JSE gelyste maatskappye groter wins sal maak en gevolglik kan pryse van die aandele van die betrokke maatskappye op die JSE styg. Ekonome verwag ’n 1,7% reële ekonomiese groei vir 2025 in Suid Afrika. Die prys/verdienste verhouding van aandele op die JSE wys dat die aandeelpryse in verhouding tot hulle verdienstes goedkoop is en daarom kan verwag word dat maatskappye met bo gemiddelde verdienste se pryse sal styg. Effekte/bonds se pryse het na die inwerkingstelling van die RNE aanvanklik bo- gemiddeld gestyg maar later weer sydelings beweeg. In ’n rentekoers dalende siklus styg effekte se pryse gewoonlik en daarom kan ons verwag dat in gunstige ekonomiese toestande die groei op beleggings in effekte sal styg. Internasionaal: Indien die verkiesingsbeloftes van Pres Tump om onder andere invoer tariewe in te stel, geimplimenteer word, sal dit finansiële markte internasionaal raak. Die onlangse arbeidsmark statistieke in die VSA toon dat die ekonomie steeds sterk groei. Inflasie vrese kan veroorsaak dat rentekoerse in die VSA langer hoog sal bly. Geo -politieke spanninge bring onsekerheid by beleggers omdat hulle gekonfronteer word met die vraag of hulle risiko moet neem of eerder kapitaal moet beskerm? Gaan die ekonomiese inisiatiewe van China om hul ekonomie te stimuleer, suksesvol wees en hoe gaan hul ekonomie reageer indien die VSA invoertariewe instel? Die antwoord op hierdie vraag sal ’n invloed uitoefen op aandelepryse in China . Gevestigde ekonomië se effekte/bonds se verdienste is laag in verhouding met die van die onwikkelende ekonomië. Indien die effekte in gevestigde ekonomië beter presteer agv dalende rentekoerse, kan hul vir beleggings oorweeg word.  Riaan Botha 15 Januarie 2025
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