Retirement funds - Get a zootier Zimmer
There was an outcry when the retirement fund tax (RFT) was first introduced at a rate of 17% 10 years ago. It was argued that it would prove to be a significant disincentive to saving, and even that it would strongly discourage retirement funds from investing in the bond market.
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By Invitation - Creative thinking is what we need
Though our retirement fund system is in many respects financially sound and well regulated, far too many people reach retirement age without sufficient savings.
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Personal taxes - Modest reward if you make a date with the taxman
Individual taxpayers get the lion's share of the R19,1bn in overall tax relief in the 2006/2007 budget. Finance minister Trevor Manuel may not have given Sipho Makola a tax deduction on dating expenditure. But he is rewarding the 3,7m individuals who filed returns, and the 2006/2007 entrants into the income tax net, with a range of concessions.
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By Invitation - Personal responsibility loses again
In his book Winning, Jack Welch describes the budgeting process in most companies as "the most ineffective practice in management". He goes on to say that "when companies win, in most cases it is despite their budgets, not because of them".
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Property - Key that will unlock housing stock
House sales could dry up for six weeks as buyers hold off to take advantage of the dramatic fall in transfer duty from April 1. Transfer duty on the average R720 000 house will drop from R38 200 today to R11 000 from April - a saving of R27 200.
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Sin taxes - Bad habits hit
The wages of sin are . . . higher taxes. Finance minister Trevor Manuel has yet again decided that smokers and drinkers will pay more for their pleasures. But will they?
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Travel allowance - On track with tighter rules
This time last year, car allowance users were enjoying a tax system that deemed only their first 14 000 km as private travel. The next 18 000 km were considered business and, therefore, open to tax benefits. From March 1, the numbers will be reversed.
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Synfuels - blue pump's bolt
Investigation? What investigation? Finance minister Trevor Manuel's budget announcement that government plans to appoint a task force to consider transferring Sasol and PetroSA (formerly Mossgas) profits to motorists, caught the synfuels industry by surprise.
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