‘Restrictive’ draft tax Bill slammed

‘A constitutional challenge is likely if the Draft Regulation of Tax Practitioners Bill is implemented in its present form,’ says Ernie Lai King, head of Deneys Reitz Tax Services, in a Business Day report. ‘Several provisions of the Bill are totally impractical and unreasonable for tax practitioners in providing reasonable advice to taxpayers.’ Notwithstanding the extensive powers afforded to SARS under the income tax laws and the recent introduction of extensive anti-avoidance rules in the tax system, the Bill seems to be a further attempt to restrict the legal and constitutional right of taxpayers to legitimately plan their affairs, This was done under the ‘guise’ of regulating the profession, said Lai King. Full Business Day report Draft Regulation of Tax Practitioners Bill