Inheritance tax and inheritance law in South Africa

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The Global Property Guide looks at inheritance from two angles: taxation, and what inheritance laws apply to foreigners leaving property in South Africa: what restrictions there are and whether making a will is advisable.

INHERITANCE

How high are inheritance taxes in South Africa?


INHERITANCE

The estate of a nonresident pays estate duty on properties located in South Africa. The deceased person is deemed to have disposed all his properties at market value.

Estate Duty

Estate duty is levied at progressive rates on the dutiable amount of the estate. Dutiable amount is equal to the value of the estate less ZAR3,500,000 (US$250,000).

ESTATE DUTY 2018-2022

TAX BASE, ZAR (US$) TAX RATE
Up to 30,000,000 (US$2,142,857)   20%
Over 30,000,000 (US$2,142,857) 25%
Source: Global Property Guide

Estate Duty on 01 October 2001 to 2018

TAX BASE, ZAR (US$) TAX RATE
Flat Rate 20%
Source: Global Property Guide

Estate Duty on 01 October 2001

TAX BASE, ZAR (US$) TAX RATE
Flat Rate 25%
Source: Global Property Guide

 

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Capital gains tax is payable by the estate of the deceased. To compute the gain, acquisition costs, transfer costs, and property improvement costs are deducted from the selling price.

The estate of an individual is entitled to an exemption from inheritance tax. The deduction for the estate is deduction for the estate is ZAR300,000 (US$21,429).

RESIDENTS
Resident individuals are taxed on their worldwide source of income. The exception to this rule comes when imposing estate duty on properties owned by a resident.

Although a resident´s property is subject to estate duty wherever it is situated, properties located outside South Africa are not taxable if they were acquired prior to residency (first time) or were inherited and donated by a nonresident after the deceased became a permanent resident of the country. The computation of estate duty is the same for both residents and nonresidents.

DONATIONS TAX

Donations tax is payable by the resident donor on the transfer of property to another person, at a flat rate of 20% on the value of the property. Nonresidents are not subject to donations tax.

However, in case that the resident donor transfers his property to a nonresident (donee), and the resident donor fails to pay the tax, the nonresident and the resident will be jointly and liable for the tax. Properties with values not exceeding ZAR100,000 (US$7,243) are exempted from the tax, as well as donations between spouses.


INHERITANCE LAW

What inheritance laws apply in South Africa?


South Africa´s inheritance laws apply to everyone who owns property in South Africa.


The three main statutes governing inheritance in South Africa are:


  • The Administration of Estates Act, which regulates the disposal of the deceased´s estates in South Africa;
  • The Wills Act, which affects all testators with property in South Africa;
  • The Intestate Succession Act, which governs the devolution of estates for all deceased persons who have property in the Republic and die without a will.

All property located in South Africa is subject to these laws, and there are no separate laws for foreigners. Immoveable property is not treated any differently to other types of moveable asset for inheritance purposes.

Inheritance issues of foreigners and South African citizens are primarily dealt with by the Master of the High Court; however if a dispute arises, then the case can be heard in any High Court of South Africa.

Although the Administration of Estates Act provides for a limit of 6 months to complete inheritance proceedings, in practice this limit is rarely adhered to. The duration of the proceedings is ultimately dependent upon the circumstances of each case, and the complexity of the surrounding legal issues. In general, the disposal of the deceased´s estate usually takes from 6 months to 2 years to complete.

Testators generally have freedom to dispose of property as they wish.

A few limitations apply in regard to a persons´ right to dispose of property by means of a will. One such limitation is the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act. If the surviving spouse has not been provided for in a will, and is unable to maintain him/herself from personal means or earnings, then he/she can claim against the estate of the deceased for the provision of his/her maintenance. Such a claim is valid only until the death or remarriage of the surviving spouse.

In the absence of a will, the estate is distributed according to the rules of Intestate Succession.
According to the Intestate Succession Act, the estate must be divided between the deceased´s spouse and dependants. In the absence of a will, the surviving spouse inherits the greater of R125,000 or a child´s share. A child´s share is determined by dividing the total value of the estate by the number of the children and the surviving spouse.

If the spouses were married in community of property, one half of the estate goes to the surviving spouse, and the other half devolves according to the rules of intestate succession. Children of the deceased inherit the balance of the estate, which may be held in trust, until they are old enough to become legal owners.

If there is no surviving spouse or dependants, the estate is divided between the parents and/or siblings. In the absence of parents or siblings, the estate is divided between the nearest blood relatives. A deceased´s estate must be claimed within 30 years. If not so claimed, the estate must be forfeited to the State.

It is normal practice in South Africa to make a will.

A foreigner can make a will in South Africa in respect of his/her South African assets, provided that the will complies with South African Law. Wills made outside South Africa in respect of immovable property situated within the Republic are valid so long as they comply with South African Law. The Wills Act does not require wills made by foreigners outside South Africa to be validated by South African authorities before they can be implemented in South Africa.


Nevertheless, it is advisable for non-residents to draft South African wills in respect of their South African assets to avoid complications associated with the distribution of assets upon their death. To avoid possible conflicts between foreign and South African Law, it is advisable to draft more than one will, one relating to foreign assets, and another relating to assets in South Africa.

The Wills Act regulates the formalities required for the execution, interpretation, and validity of wills, and also the competency of persons involved. These include the following:

  • The will must be signed at the foot of each page by the testator, or by some other person in the presence and under the direction of the testator.
  • The will must be signed in the presence of two or more competent witnesses present at the same time.
  • The witnesses must be above the age of 16, and must attest and sign the will in the presence of the testator.
  • The witnesses may not be executors or beneficiaries.
  • If the testator signs the will by making a mark, the will must be commissioned by a commissioner of oaths to verify the testator´s identity.

Donations of property during the lifetime of the owner are subject to tax.

The donation of property is subject to tax, which is currently 20% of its value, payable by the donor; however, donations up to R100,000 and gifts between spouses are exempt.

Donations can be freely given during the lifetime of the owner, and cannot generally be challenged. However, following the death of the donor, a spouse can claim against a donation to acquire maintenance, following the rules of the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act. This Act does not provide the surviving spouse with a right of recourse against any person by whom money or property has been inherited following the terms of the Administration of Estates Act.

Spouses are normally married in community of property and are considered as joint owners.

Both spouses normally have equal rights of ownership and administration over their moveable and immoveable property. If one spouse purchases or inherits immovable property, then they are both automatically registered as joint owners. However, if they choose to be married outside the community of property, then the ownership rights can be registered by only one spouse.

The registration of property rights is regulated by the Deeds Registries Act.

There are no restrictions on the legal ownership of property in South Africa by non-residents. Foreigners can partially or wholly own property in the Republic, in their own names, or through an interest in other forms of legal entity, such as a Company, Corporation, or Trust.

South Africa has an efficient system of land and real property registration, based on the registration of title in the name of the owner. Although this system has been criticized on the grounds that it does not necessarily guarantee security of title, disputes relating to the validity of title are few.

Foreigners who acquire immovable property in South Africa through purchase or inheritance must register their transfer of ownership by registering a deed of transfer with the Registrar of Deeds in whose area the property is situated. The process of registering a deed of transfer is carried out by a conveyancer, or specialised lawyer, who acts upon a power of attorney granted by the owner of the property. Conveyancers are responsible for preparing the required transfer documentation, which must be lodged with the Registrar of Deeds. It is therefore important to obtain the services of a conveyancer in South Africa to ensure that registration of transfer is carried out correctly. Obtaining the services of an attorney in South Africa for inheritance and property transfer issues is also important in order to avoid the inconvenience of authenticating documents signed outside South Africa.

Foreigners should ensure their title deeds are endorsed ´non-resident´ so that, if they eventually sell the property, they have no difficulty repatriating the proceeds.