Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
School of Financial Sciences
Department of Taxation
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
This empirically-based, exploratory study outlines the framework of chartered accountant tax education and training in South Africa and focuses on training officers’ perceptions of the existing tax knowledge of trainee accountants when entering into a training contract after completing their university qualification. The study identified the respondents’ satisfaction with the performance by ‘entry-level’ trainee accountants. The results indicated that although their educational background was for the most part adequate, trainee accountants were not sufficiently able to perform their duties when entering into training. Opinions of the tax topics which should be included in the educational background of trainees prior to entering the training environment varied between the members in public practice and those in commerce and industry. The implication is that the syllabus setters and educators should review the practicality and appropriateness of the current tax syllabi’s content for the education and training of aspirant chartered accountants in South Africa.
Contact person: Prof R Oberholzer.
This empirically-based, exploratory study outlines the framework of chartered accountant tax education and training in South Africa and focuses on training officers’ perceptions of the existing tax knowledge of trainee accountants when entering into a training contract after completing their university qualification. The study identified the respondents’ satisfaction with the performance by ‘entry-level’ trainee accountants. The results indicated that although their educational background was for the most part adequate, trainee accountants were not sufficiently able to perform their duties when entering into training. Opinions of the tax topics which should be included in the educational background of trainees prior to entering the training environment varied between the members in public practice and those in commerce and industry. The implication is that the syllabus setters and educators should review the practicality and appropriateness of the current tax syllabi’s content for the education and training of aspirant chartered accountants in South Africa.
Contact person: Mev ESM Coetzee.
This survey was performed at the request of the National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service and measures the time and cost burdens for small businesses in South Africa in paying four main taxes, including registration for taxes, tax return preparation and filing, queries and objections, inspections and audits. South Africa’s smallest businesses face the heaviest tax burden when it comes to the time and cost of filing tax returns. It costs the average small business R1 478 to register, one reason why about 60% of them decide to stay informal. On top of the R1 478 in registration costs, the average small business pays R7 030 in annual fees to a tax practitioner for preparing, completing and submitting the four key taxes. The survey also contains feedback from tax practitioners regarding several of the service standards recently set as goals by SARS. While tax practitioners gave SARS good marks for time taken to process tax returns and respond to objections, their reported experiences in most other areas, indicated that SARS is not yet meeting their proposed service standards.
Contact person: Ms SA Smulders.
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