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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Trustworthy: can a beneficiary disrupt a trust?

Explore the complexities of trust management and the potential havoc a beneficiary can cause. This article delves into real-life scenarios, legal rights, and the importance of clear trust deeds.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: how the Master’s Office is digitising trust registration in South Africa

The Master’s Office is modernising its services with the launch of the Trust Online Registration System, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing corruption in trust management. This article explores the system's features, implementation timeline, and the impact on service delivery.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Understanding the role of Trust and Company Service Providers in South Africa's FIC compliance

This article explores the recent changes to the FIC Act and the implications for Trust and Company Service Providers in South Africa, highlighting compliance requirements and the importance of registration.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: trustees must submit accurate trust tax returns by January 20 2025

Trustees must ensure accurate and honest submission of trust tax returns by 20 January 2025, as Sars intensifies scrutiny on compliance and beneficial ownership.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustees urged to submit beneficial ownership registers by 18 December 2024

Trustees are urged to comply with new beneficial ownership register requirements by 18 December 2024 to avoid penalties.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: essential trust management steps for South Africans in 2025

Discover the critical steps South African trustees must take to ensure compliance with updated trust regulations and avoid penalties in 2025.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Understanding the impact of South Africa's greylisting on trustees and service providers

Will the blame game between trustees, accountants, and service providers start soon? asks the writer.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: Master’s call to action to have South Africa removed from greylist

It is clear that the greylisting did, in fact, negatively affect the South African economy; the markets have just reacted earlier in anticipation of our greylisting.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Deadline approaches for South African trustees to submit Beneficial Ownership information

As South Africa races against the clock to exit the greylist, trustees must comply with new beneficial ownership regulations by November 15, 2024.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustees’ role in exiting the greylist

Sars plans to introduce punitive penalties for non-submission of trust tax returns by December 2024.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: Foreign trust beneficiaries – beware the tax considerations

Many believe that the recent greylisting measures introduced compliance requirements for trusts for the first time.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: the importance of valid trustee resolutions

Many believe that the recent greylisting measures introduced compliance requirements for trusts.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Should trustees consider voluntary disclosure of non-compliance to Sars?

In many instances trustees abdicate their responsibilities to their accountants or tax practitioners, leaving them to manage the trust’s tax affairs.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: The new trust IT3(t) to be submitted to Sars by September 30

Sars plans to use this information to pre-populate the beneficiaries’ tax returns with this information or re-open the already submitted/auto-assessed returns.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Solving the trustee conundrum in generational wealth transfer trusts

When a trust is registered, typically the patriarch or matriarch estate planner plays a role in the trust – that of the founder and/or trustee.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: Are you aware of possible double taxation as a result of trust distributions?

Many trustees are advised to distribute all trust income and capital gains to beneficiaries to escape the high tax rates in trusts.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Can someone ‘stand in’ for you as trustee?

Many trustees do not understand the unique nature of a trust and the outcomes of relevant court cases.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trust-worthy: Trustee insurance: what is covered?

Although no insurance products exist for family trustees, professional/independent trustees may access insurance for trust services they provide.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trust-worthy: Family trustees may be the ones left exposed

All trustees are the guardians of the trust assets and have a duty to manage these assets in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trust-worthy: The trust beneficiary can of worms

Setting up a trust and selecting beneficiaries requires a good understanding of trusts. Picture:

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trustworthy: Sars’ Trust and Tax Compliance webinar educates trustees

It is advised that trustees should be much more closely involved in the accounting and tax for the trust on an ongoing basis.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trust-worthy: What exactly is trust administration?

Only 30% of trusts are registered as taxpayers with Sars, trust tax returns are 7 years behind and only a fraction submit on time.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trust-worthy: Do trustees receive the service they require?

2023 has been a roller-coaster year, with a tremendous amount of changes introduced.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published

Trust-worthy: The years in review and ahead for trusts

Although many are of the view that South Africa introduced more stringent measures for trusts and companies in the past year, out of free will, the opposite is true.

Personal Finance Financial Planning
Phia van der Spuy|Published