Annexure C Section 18A of the Income Tax Act, 1962

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Tax Exemption Guide for Public Benefit Organisations in South Africa (Issue 4) 52
Annexure C – Section 18A of the Income Tax Act, 1962
18A. Deduction of donations to certain organisations. —(1) Notwithstanding the provisions
of section 23, there shall be allowed to be deducted from the taxable income of any taxpayer so much
of the sum of any bona fide donations by that taxpayer in cash or of property made in kind, which was
actually paid or transferred during the year of assessment to—
(a ) any—
(i) public benef it organisation contemplated in paragraph (a )(i) of the definition of
“public benefit organisation” in section 30(1) approved by the Commissioner
under section 30; or
(ii) institution, board or body contemplated in section 10(1)(cA)(i),
which—
(aa) car ries on in the Republic any public benefit activity contemplated in Part II of
the Ninth Schedule, or any other activity determined from time to time by the
Minister by notice in the Gazette for the purposes of this section; and
(bb) complies with the requirements contemplated in subsection (1C), if applicable,
and any additional requirements prescribed by the Minister in terms of
subsection (1A);
(b ) any public benefit organisation contemplated in paragraph (a )(i) of the definition of
“public benefit organisation” in section 30(1) approved by the Commissioner under
section 30, which provides funds or assets to any public benefit organisation,
institution, board or body contemplated in paragraph (a ); or
(b A) any agency contemplated in the definition of “s pecialized agencies” in section 1 of the
Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, 1947, set
out in Schedule 4 to the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act, 2001 (Act No. 37 of
2001), which—
(i) carries on in the Republic any public benefit activity contemplated in Part II of the
Ninth Schedule, or any other activity determined from time to time by the Minister
by notice in the Gazette for the purposes of this section;
(ii) furnishes the Commissioner with a written undert aking that such agency will
comply with the provisions of this section; and
(iii) waives diplomatic immunity for the purposes of subsection (5)(i); or
(c ) any department of government of the Republic in the national, provincial or local
sphere as contemplated in section 10(1)(a) to be used for purpose of any activity
contemplated in Part II of the Ninth Schedule,
as does not exceed—
(A) where the taxpayer is a portfolio of a collective investment scheme, an amount determined
in accordance with the follow ing formula:
A = B × 0,005
in which formula:
(AA) “A” represents the amount to be determined;
(BB) “B” represents the average value of the aggregate of all of the participatory
interests held by investors in the portfolio for the year of assessment,
determined by using the aggregate value of all of the participatory interests in
the portfolio at the end of each day during that year; or
(B) in any other case, ten per cent of the taxable income (excluding any retirement fund lump
sum benefit, retirement fund lump sum withdrawal benefit and severance benefit) of the
taxpayer as calculated before allowing any deduction under this section: Provided that any
amount of a donation made as contemplated in this subsection and which has been
disallowed solely by r eason of the fact that it exceeds the amount of the deduction
allowable in respect of the year of assessment shall be carried forward and shall, for the
purposes of this section, be deemed to be a donation actually paid or transferred in the next
succeeding year of assessment.

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(1A) The Minister may, by regulation, prescribe additional requirements with which a public
benefit organisation, institution, board or body or the department carrying on any specific public
benefit activity identified by the Minister in the regulations, must comply before any donation made to
that public benefit organisation, institution, board or body or the department shall be allowed as a
deduction under subsection (1).
(1B) Any activity determined by the Minister in terms of subsection (1)(a) or any requirements
prescribed by the Minister in terms of subsection (1A), must be tabled in Parliament within a period of
12 months after the date of publication by the Minister of that activity or those requirements, as the
case may be, i n the Gazette, for incorporation into this Act.
(1C) The constitution or founding document of a public benefit organisation carrying on the
activity contemplated in paragraph 4(d) of Part II of the Ninth Schedule, must expressly provide that
the organisat ion—
(a ) may not issue any receipt contemplated in subsection (2) in respect of any donation
made by a person to that public benefit organisation, unless —
(i) that donation is made by that person on or after 1 August 2002; and
(ii) that person (in the c ase of a company, together with any other company in the
same group of companies as that company) has during the relevant year of
assessment of that person donated an amount of at least R1 million to that
organisation;
(b ) must ensure that every donation contemplated in paragraph (a ), in respect of which
such a receipt has been issued, will be matched by a donation to that organisation of
the same amount made by a person who is not a resident and which is made from
funds generated and held outside the Republic; and
(c ) must utilise the amount of —
(i) all donations contemplated in paragraph (a ), in respect of which such a receipt
has been issued, and all income derived therefrom, in the Republic in carrying on
that activity; and
(ii) all donations contemplated in paragraph ( b ), either in the Republic in carrying on
that activity, or in respect of a transfrontier conservation area of which the
Republic forms part.
(2) Any claim for a deduction in respect of any donation under subsection (1) shall not be
al lowed unless supported by —
(a ) a receipt issued by the public benefit organisation, institution, board, body or agency
or the department concerned, on which the following details are given, namely —
(i) the reference number of the public benefit organisat ion, institution, board, body or
agency issued by the Commissioner for the purposes of this section;
(ii) the date of the receipt of the donation;
(iii) the name of the public benefit organisation, institution, board, body or agency or
the department which received the donation, together with an address to which
enquiries may be directed in connection therewith;
(iv) the name and address of the donor;
(v) the amount of the donation or the nature of the donation (if not made in cash);
(vi) a certificati on to the effect that the receipt is issued for the purposes of
section 18A of the Income Tax Act, 1962, and that the donation has been or will
be used exclusively for the object of the public benefit organisation, institution,
board, body or agency concer ned or, in the case of a department in carrying on
the relevant public benefit activity ; or
(b ) an employees’ tax certificate as defined in the Fourth Schedule on which the amount
of donations contemplated in paragraph 2(4)( f) of that Schedule, for which the
employer has received a receipt contemplated in paragraph (a ), is given.

Tax Exemption Guide for Public Benefit Organisations in South Af rica (Issue 4) 54
(2A) A public benefit organisation, institution, board, body or department may only issue a
receipt contemplated in subsection (2) in respect of any donation to the extent that —
( a) in the case of a public benefit organisation, institution, board or body contemplated in
subsection (1)( a) which carries on activities contemplated in Parts I and II of the Ninth
Schedule, that donation will be utilised solely in carrying on activities contemplated in
Part II of the Ninth Schedule;
( b) in the case of a public benefit organisation contemplated in subsection (1)( b)—
(ii) if that public benefit organisation provides funds to public benefit organisations,
institutions, boards or bodies that carry on public benefit activities contemplated in
Part II of the Ninth Schedule and to other entities, that donation will be utilised
solely to pr ovide funds to a public benefit organisation, institution, board or body
contemplated in subsection (1)( a), which will utilise those funds solely in carrying
on activities contemplated in Part II of the Ninth Schedule; or
( c) in the case of a department, that donation will be utilised solely in carrying on activities
contemplated in Part II of the Ninth Schedule.
(2B) A public benefit organisation, institution, board or body contemplated in subsection (2A),
must obtain and retain an audit certificate confirming that all donations received or accrued in that
year in respect of which receipts were issued in terms of subsection (2), were utilised in the manner
contemplated in subsection (2A).
(2C) The Accounting Authority contemplated in the Public Finance Management Act for the
department which issued any receipts in terms of subsection (2), must on an annual basis submit an
audit certificate to the Commissioner confirming that all donations received or accrued in the year in
respect of which receipts were so issued were utilised in the manner contemplated in subsection (2A).
(3) If any deduction is claimed by any taxpayer under the provisions of subsection (1) in
respect of any donation of property in kind, other than immovable property of a capital nature where
the lower of market value or municipal value exceeds cost, the amount of such deduction shall be
deemed to be an amount equal to —
( a) where such property constitutes —
(i) a financial instrument which is trading stock of the taxpayer, the lower of f air
market value of that financial instrument on the date of that donation or the
amount which has been taken into account for the purposes of section 22(8)(C);
or
(ii) any other trading stock of the taxpayer (including any livestock or produce in
respect of which the provisions of paragraph 11 of the First Schedule are
applicable), the amount which has been taken into account for the purposes of
section 22(8)(C) or, in the case of such livestock or produce, the said
paragraph 11, in relation to the donation of such property; or
( b) where such property (other than trading stock) constitutes an asset used by the
taxpayer for the purposes of his trade, the lower of —
(i) the fair market value of that property on the date of that donation; or
(ii) the cost to the taxpayer of such property less any allowance (other than any
investment allowance) allowed to be deducted from the income of the taxpayer
under the provisions of this Act in respect of that asset; or
( c) where such property does not constitute trading stock of the taxpayer or an asset used
by him for the purposes of his trade, the lower of —
(i) the fair market value of that property on the date of that donation; or
(i) that organisation will within 12 months after the end of the relevant year of
assessment distribute or incur the obli gation to distribute at least 75 per cent of all
funds received by way of donation during that year in respect of which receipts
were issued: Provided that the Commissioner may, upon good cause shown and
subject to such conditions as he or she may determine, either generally or in a
particular instance, waive, defer or reduce the obligation to distribute any funds,
having regard to the public interest and the purpose for which the relevant
organisation wishes to accumulate those funds; and

Tax Exemption Guide for Public Benefit Organisations in South Africa (Issue 4) 55
(ii) the cost to the taxpayer of such asset, less, in the case of a movable asset which
has deteriorated in condition by reason of use or other causes, a depreciation
allowance calculated in the manner contemplated in section 8(5)(bB)(i); or
(d ) where such property is purchased, manufactured, erected, assembled, installed or
constructed by or on behalf of the taxpayer in order to form the subject of the said
donation, the lower of —
(i) the fair market value of that property on the date of that donation; or
(ii) the cost to the taxpayer of such property.
(3A) If any deduction is claimed by any taxpayer under the provisions of subsection (1) in
respect of any donation of immovable property of a capital nature where the lower of market value or
municipal value exceeds cost, the amount of such deduction shall be determined in accordance wit h
the formula:
A = B + (C × D)
in which formula:
(a ) “A” represents the amount deductible in respect of subsection (1);
(b ) “B” represents the cost of the immovable property being donated;
(c ) “C” represents the amount of a capital gain (if any), that w ould have been determined
in terms of the Eighth Schedule had it been disposed of for an amount equal to the
lower of market value or municipal value on the day the donation is made; and
(d ) “D” represents 66,6 per cent in the case of a natural person or special trust or 33,3 per
cent in any other case.
(3B) No deduction shall be allowed under this section in respect of the donation of any
property in kind which constitutes, or is subject to any fiduciary right, usufruct or other similar right, or
which c onstitutes an intangible asset or financial instrument, unless that financial instrument is —
(a ) a share in a listed company; or
(b ) issued by a financial institution as defined in section 1 of the Financial Services Board
Act, 1990 (Act No. 97 of 1990).
(4) The provisions of subsections (9) and (10) of section 30 shall apply mutatis mutandis in
respect of any institution, board or body contemplated in subsection (1)(a ).
(5) If the Commissioner has reasonable grounds for believing that any person who is in a
fiduciary capacity responsible for the management or control of the income or assets of any public
benefit organisation, institution, board, body or agency (other than an institution, board or body in
respect of which subsection (5B) applies) has—
(a ) in any material way failed to ensure that the objects for which the public benefit
organisation, institution, board, body or agency was established are carried out or has
expended moneys belonging to the public benefit organisation, institution, board, body
or agency for purposes not covered by such objects;
(b ) issued or allowed a receipt to be issued to any taxpayer for the purposes of this
section in respect of any fees or other emoluments payable to that organisation,
institution, board, body or agency by that taxpayer; or
(c ) issued or allowed a receipt to be issued in contravention of subsection (2A) or utilised
a donation in respect of which a receipt was issued for any purpose other than the
purpose contemplated in that subsection,
the Commissioner may by notice in writing addressed to that person direct that —
(i) any donation in respect of which a receipt was issued by that public benefit
organisation, institution, board, body or agency during any year of assessment
specified in that notice, wi ll be deemed to be taxable income of that public benefit
organisation, institution, board, body or agency in that year; and
(ii) if corrective steps are not taken by that public benefit organisation, institution, board,
body or agency within a period stat ed by the Commissioner in that notice, any receipt
issued by that public benefit organisation, institution, board, body or agency in respect
of any donation made on or after the date specified in that notice shall not qualify as a
valid receipt for purposes of subsection (2).

Tax Exemption Guide for Public Benefit Organisations in South Africa (Issue 4) 56
(5A) If the Commissioner has reasonable grounds for believing that any regulating or co-
ordinating body of a group of public benefit organisations, institutions, boards or bodies contemplated
in section 30(3A) or subsection (6) fails to —
(a ) take any steps contemplated in section 30(3A) or subsection (6), to exercise control
over any public benefit organisation, institution, board or body in that group; or
(b ) notify the Commissioner where it becomes aware of any material failure by any public
benefit organisation, institution, board or body over which it exercises control to
comply with any provision of this section,
the Commissioner may by notice in writing addressed to that regulating or co- ordinating body direct
that if corrective steps are not taken by that regulating or co- ordinating body within a period stated by
the Commissioner in that notice, any receipt issued by public benefit organisations, institutions,
boards or bodies in that group in respect of any donation made on or after the date specified in that
notice shall not qualify as a valid receipt for purposes of subsection (2).
(5B) If the Commissioner has reasonable grounds for believing that any accounting officer or
accounting authority contemplated in the Public Finance Management Act or an accounting officer
contemplated in the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of
2003), as the case may be, for any institution in respect of which that Act applies, has issued or
allowed a receipt to b e issued in contravention of subsection (2A) or utilised a donation in respect of
which a receipt was issued for any purpose other than the purpose contemplated in that subsection,
the Commissioner—
(a ) must notify the National Treasury and the Provincial Treasury (if applicable) of the
contravention; and
(b ) may by notice in writing addressed to that accounting officer or accounting authority
direct that, if corrective steps are not taken by that accounting officer or accounting
authority within a period stated by the Commissioner in that notice, any receipt issued
by that institution in respect of any donation made on or after the date specified in that
notice shall not qualify as a valid receipt for purposes of subsection (2).
(6) The Commissioner may, for the purposes of this section, approve a group of institutions,
boards or bodies contemplated in subsection (1)(a)(ii), sharing a common purpose which carry on any
public benefit activity under the direction or supervision of a regulating or co- ordinating body, where
that body takes such steps, as prescribed by the Commissioner, to exercise control over those
institutions, boards or bodies in order to ensure that they comply with the provisions of this section.
(7) Any person who is —
(i) in a fiduciar y capacity responsible for the management or control of the income and
assets of any public benefit organisation, institution, board or body contemplated in
this section; or
(ii) the accounting officer or accounting authority contemplated in the Public Fi nance
Management Act or the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003
(Act No. 56 of 2003), as the case may be, for any institution in respect of which that
Act applies,
who intentionally fails to comply with any provisions of this section, or a provision of the constitution,
will or other written instrument under which such organisation is established to the extent that it
relates to the provisions of this section, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine
or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 24 months.