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Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule

Mini Dissertation (MCom (Taxation))--University of Pretoria, 2020.

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Other Authors: Du Preez, H.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Du Preez, H.
author_browse Du Preez, H.
author_facet Du Preez, H.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MCom (Taxation))--University of Pretoria, 2020.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:31.320Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/88301 Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule Du Preez, H. none Jooste, Theuns UCTD Contra fiscum Fairness Ambigious Case law Mini Dissertation (MCom (Taxation))--University of Pretoria, 2020. The contra fiscum rule is a presumption that statute law is not unjust, inequitable or unreasonable and applies to the interpretation of fiscal legislation. It seeks to prevent undue hardship on the part of a taxpayer where the provisions of a taxing statute are not clear. Courts have invoked the contra fiscum rule when there existed an ambiguity in a particular taxing provision and where there existed two reasonably possible interpretations. The consideration of ‘ambiguity’ vis-a-vis ‘two reasonably possible interpretations’ implies the use of two different tests when considering the contra fiscum rule. MAIN PURPOSE OF STUDY: The purpose of the study is to establish if there exists any support for the application of two different tests when invoking the contra fiscum rule by having regard to case law and academic works. Part of the purpose of this study is to establish whether the use of different tests might lead to different results and what the resulting impact might be on a taxpayer. METHOD: A systematised review of existing case law and academic papers on the topic of the contra fiscum rule was considered in seeking to ascertain whether courts have invoked both tests when dealing with taxation legislation specifically. The method of applying the two different tests were then specifically considered against the backdrop of the facts and judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service v Daikin Air Conditioning South Africa (Pty) Ltd, 2018 where the minority considered the test of ‘ambigiuty’, in order to establish whether a different judgment might have followed. FINDINGS: Authority in the form of case law and academic articles exists, which is premised on the use of the tests of both ‘ambiguous’ and ‘two reasonably possible interpretations’ when applying the contra fiscum rule. CONCLUSIONS: Having applied the latter test to the minority judgment in Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service v Daikin Air Conditioning South Africa (Pty) Ltd, 2018, it was concluded that a different result might have followed, being one that favoured the taxpayer. Taxation MCom (Taxation) Unrestricted 2022-11-16T06:57:55Z 2022-11-16T06:57:55Z 2022-04 2020 Mini Dissertation * A2022 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88301 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.19029833.v2 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Contra fiscum
Fairness
Ambigious
Case law
Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule
title Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule
title_full Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule
title_fullStr Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule
title_full_unstemmed Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule
title_short Tax fairness : the test applicable to the Contra Fiscum rule
title_sort tax fairness the test applicable to the contra fiscum rule
topic UCTD
Contra fiscum
Fairness
Ambigious
Case law
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88301
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.19029833.v2