A Taxman’s Casebook Trusts: Viable or not?

Trusts face one of the most complex tax regimes in South Africa, where income can either be taxed in the hands of the donor, the beneficiary, or the trust itself. Get it wrong, and the trust pays a punishing flat rate of 45%. SARS has also been tightening the screws, from the Thistle Trust ruling on capital gains to cracking down on trustees who vest income after year-end. So are trusts still worth it? Read on and find out.