Subsection 3(a) of section 46

(3)

(a)     If a shareholder acquires equity shares (hereinafter referred to as ‘unbundled shares’) in terms of an unbundling transaction –

(i)      that shareholder must –

(aa)   allocate a portion of the expenditure and any market value attributable to the equity shares held in the unbundling company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘unbundling shares’) to the unbundled shares in accordance with subparagraph (v); and

(bb)   reduce the expenditure and market value attributable to the unbundling shares by the amount so allocated to the unbundled shares;

(ii)     the unbundled shares must, other than for purposes of determining whether a share has been held for at least three years for the purposes of section 9C(2), be deemed to have been acquired on the same date as the unbundling shares;

[Subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 57 of Act 35 of 2007 and section 54 of Act 17 of 2017 effective on 1 January 2016]

(iii)    the unbundled shares must be deemed to have been acquired as –

(aa)    trading stock, if the unbundling shares were held as trading stock;

(bb)   capital assets, if the unbundling shares were held as capital assets;

(iv)    any expenditure allocated to the unbundled shares must be deemed to have been incurred on the date on which the expenditure was incurred in respect of the unbundling shares; and

(v)     the proportionate amount of the expenditure and market value to be allocated to the unbundled shares in terms of subparagraph (i)(aa) must be determined in accordance with the ratio that the market value of the unbundled shares, as at the end of the day after that distribution, bears to the sum of the market value, as at the end of that day, of the unbundling shares and of the unbundled shares: Provided that a shareholder that acquires unbundled shares in terms of an unbundling transaction shall, in addition to any expenditure allocated to unbundled shares in accordance with this subparagraph, be treated as having incurred an amount equal to any amount of tax payable by the unbundling company arising in respect of all equity shares to which this section does not apply as contemplated in subsection (7) the same ratio as the number of equity shares held by that shareholder in that unbundled company bears to the number of all the issued equity shares in that unbundled company immediately after that unbundling transaction.

[Subparagraph (v) amended by section 37(1)(b) of Act 17 of 2023 with effect from 1 January, 2024 and applicable in respect of the allocation of expenditure to unbundled shares acquired on or after that date]

Subsection 2 of section 46

(2)     Subject to subsection (7), where an unbundling company distributes shares in terms of an unbundling transaction, that unbundling company must disregard that distribution for purposes of determining its taxable income or assessed loss, or its net income as contemplated in section 9D.

[Subsection (2) substituted by section 54(1)(b) of Act 45 of 2003, by section 42(1)(d) of Act 31 of 2005 and by section 29(1) of Act 3 of 2008 and by section 34(1)(a) of Act 23 of 2020 deemed effective on 28 October, 2020 and applicable to unbundling transactions entered into on or after that date]

“Unbundling transaction” definition of section 46 of ITA

(1)     For the purposes of this section, ‘unbundling transaction’ means any transaction-

(a)

(i)      in terms of which the equity shares in a company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘unbundled company’), which is a resident that are held by a company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘unbundling company’) , which is a resident, are all distributed by that unbundling company to any shareholder of that unbundling company in accordance with the effective interest of the shareholders in the shares of that unbundling company, and if-

(aa)   all of the equity shares of the unbundled company are listed shares or will become listed shares within 12 months after that distribution;

(bb)   that shareholder to which that distribution is made by that unbundling company forms part of the same group of companies as that unbundling company; or

(cc)   that distribution is made pursuant to an order in terms of the Competition Act, 1998 (Act No. 89 of 1998), made by the Competition Tribunal or the Competition Appeal Court;

(ii)     if the equity shares distributed as contemplated in subparagraph (i) constitute-

(aa)   where that unbundled company is a listed company immediately before that distribution-

(A)    and no shareholder of the unbundled company other than the unbundling company holds the same number of equity shares as or more equity shares than the unbundling company of that unbundled company, more than 25 per cent of the equity shares of the unbundled company; or

(B)    and any shareholder of the unbundled company other than the unbundling company holds the same number of equity shares as or more equity shares than the unbundling company of that unbundled company, at least 35 per cent of the equity shares of that unbundled company; or

(bb)   where that unbundled company is an unlisted company immediately before that distribution, more than 50 per cent of the equity shares of that unbundled company; or

(b)

(i)      in terms of which all the equity shares in an unbundled company which is a foreign company that are held by an unbundling company which is a resident or a controlled foreign company are all distributed by that unbundling company to any shareholder of that unbundling company in accordance with the effective interest of that shareholder in the shares of that unbundling company –

(aa)   if that shareholder is a resident and that shareholder forms part of the same group of companies (as defined in section 1); or

(bb)   if that shareholder is not a resident and that shareholder is a controlled foreign company in relation to any resident that forms part of the same group of companies (as defined in section 1),

as that unbundling company; and

[Subparagraph (i) substituted by section 95(1)(b) of Act 31 of 2013 and amended by section 37(1)(a) of Act 17 of 2023]

(ii)     if, immediately before the distribution of the equity shares of an unbundled company by an unbundling company to any shareholder of that unbundling company as contemplated in subparagraph (i)-

(aa)   the unbundling company holds more than 50 per cent of the equity shares of the unbundled company; and

(bb)   each of those equity shares of that unbundled company are held by the unbundling company as a capital asset.

Subsections 2, 3, 3A, 4, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6 of section 45 of ITA

(2)     Where a transferor company disposes of-

(a)     a capital asset in terms of an intra-group transaction to a transferee company which acquires it as a capital asset –

(i)      the transferor company must be deemed to have disposed of that asset for an amount equal to the base cost of that asset on the date of that disposal; and

(ii)     that transferor company and that transferee company must, for purposes of determining any capital gain or capital loss in respect of a disposal of that asset by that transferee company, be deemed to be one and the same person with respect to-

(aa)   the date of acquisition of that asset by that transferor company and the amount and date of incurral by that transferor company of any expenditure in respect of that asset allowable in terms of paragraph 20 of the Eighth Schedule; and

(bb)   any valuation of that asset effected by that transferor company as contemplated in paragraph 29(4) of the Eighth Schedule;

: Provided that in the case of an intra-group transaction contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘intra-group transaction’, this paragraph does not apply to any asset that constitutes an equity share disposed of by a transferor company to a transferee company in terms of that intra-group transaction if-

(A)    that transferor company is a controlled foreign company in relation to any resident;

(B)     that transferee company is a resident; and

(C)     the base cost of that equity share exceeds the market value of that equity share at the time of that disposal;

(b)     an asset held by it as trading stock in terms of an intra-group transaction contemplated in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘intra-group transaction’ to a transferee company which acquires it as trading stock-

(i)      that transferor company must be deemed to have disposed of that asset for an amount equal to the amount taken into account by that transferor company in respect of that asset in terms of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2); and

(ii)     that transferor company and that transferee company must, for purposes of determining any taxable income derived by that transferee company from a trade carried on by it, be deemed to be one and the same person with respect to the date of acquisition of that asset by that transferor company and the amount and date of incurral by that transferor company of any cost or expenditure incurred in respect of that asset as contemplated in section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2).

(3)     Where a transferor company transfers-

(a)     an asset that constitutes an allowance asset for that transferor company to a transferee company in terms of an intra-group transaction contemplated in paragraph (a) of the definition of intra-group transaction’ and that transferee company acquires that asset as an allowance asset or that transferee company is a REIT or a controlled company, as defined in section 25BB(1), that acquires that asset as a capital asset or an allowance asset-

[Words preceding subparagraph (i) substituted by section 77 of Act 22 of 2012 and section 57 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 18 December 2017]

(i)      no allowance allowed to that transferor company in respect of that asset must be recovered or recouped by that transferor company or included in that transferor company’s income for the year of that transfer; and

(ii)     that transferor company and that transferee company must be deemed to be one and the same person for purposes of determining the amount of any allowance or deduction –

(aa)   to which that transferee company may be entitled in respect of that asset; or

(bb)   that is to be recovered or recouped by or included in the income of that transferee company in respect of that asset;

[Item (bb) substituted by section 53 of Act 17 of 2017 and section 57 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 18 December 2017]

(b)     a contract to a transferee company as part of a disposal of a business as a going concern in terms of an intra-group transaction contemplated in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘intra-group transaction’ and an allowance in terms of section 24, 24C or 24P was allowable to that transferor company in respect of that contract for the year preceding that in which that contract is transferred or would have been allowable to that transferor company for the year of that transfer had that contract not been so transferred-

[Words preceding subparagraph (i) substituted by section 53 of Act 17 of 2017 effective on 18 December 2017]

(i)      no allowance allowed to that transferor company under those sections must be included in that transferor company’s income for the year of that transfer; and

(ii)     that transferor company and that transferee company must be deemed to be one and the same person for purposes of determining the amount of any allowance-

(aa)   to which that transferee company may be entitled under those sections; or

(bb)   that is to be included in the income of that transferee company under those sections.

[Paragraph (b) substituted by section 64 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on 1 January 2016]

(3A)

(a)     This subsection applies where an asset is acquired by a transferee company from a transferor company in terms of an intra-group transaction and-

(i)      any amount incurred by that transferee company as consideration for the acquisition of that asset from that transferor company is funded directly or indirectly by the issue of any debt or share other than an equity share; and

[Subparagraph (i) substituted by section 77(1)(g) of Act 22 of 2012 with effect from 1 January, 2013]

(ii)     that debt or share-

(aa)   is issued by a company that forms part of the same group of companies as the transferee company or the transferor company; and

(bb)   is issued or used for the purposes of directly or indirectly facilitating or funding that intra-group transaction.

[Subparagraph (ii) amended by section 77(1)(h) of Act 22 of 2012 with effect from 1 January, 2013]

[Paragraph (a) amended by section 77(1)(f) of Act 22 of 2012 and by section 94(1)(d) of Act 31 of 2013 deemed effective on 1 January, 2013 and applicable in respect of transactions entered into on or after that date]

(b)     The holder of any debt or share contemplated in paragraph (a) who is part of the same group of companies as the issuer of that debt or share must, for the purposes of-

(i)      paragraph 20 of the Eighth Schedule, be deemed to have acquired that debt or share for an amount of expenditure of nil; and

(ii)     section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2), be deemed to have acquired that debt or share for an amount of expenditure or cost of nil.

(c)     Where an amount, other than an amount of interest or an amount previously taken into account as interest, is received by or accrues to a holder in respect of a debt contemplated in paragraph (a) from any company that forms part of the same group of companies, as defined in section 1, as that holder and that amount is applied by the holder in settlement of the amount outstanding in respect of that debt, that amount must be disregarded in determining the aggregate capital gain or the taxable income of that holder to the extent that that amount reduces the liability of the issuer of that debt to that holder.

[Paragraph (c) substituted by section 77(1)(j) of Act 22 of 2012, section 77(1)(k) of Act 22 of 2012, section 77(1)(l) and section 64 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on 1 January 2016]

(d)     Where an amount, other than an amount that constitutes a dividend or an amount previously taken into account as a dividend, is received by or accrued to a holder in respect of a share contemplated in paragraph (a) from any company that forms part of the same group of companies as that holder and that amount is applied in reduction of the capital subscribed for that share, that amount must be disregarded in determining the aggregate capital gain or the taxable income of that holder.

(3B)

(a)     This subsection applies where a debt or share is issued or used for purposes of directly or indirectly facilitating or funding the acquisition of an asset that is acquired as contemplated in subsection (3A), and subsequent to that acquisition—

(i)      the transferee company, within a period of six years after the acquisition, ceases in relation to the transferor company or a controlling group company in relation to the transferor company, as contemplated in subsection (4), or the transferee company and the transferor company are deemed to have ceased in terms of subsection (4B), to form part of any group of companies as contemplated in subsection (4);

(ii)     the transferee company and the transferor company still form part of the same group of companies on the sixth anniversary of that acquisition; or

(iii)     the transferee company disposes of an asset in terms of any transaction other than a transaction contemplated under this Part.

[Paragraph (a) substituted by section 16(1)(a) of Act 20 of 2022 deemed effective on 1 January, 2022 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]

(b)     Where the holder of a debt or the holder of a share acquired that debt or share as a result of the issue or use of a debt or share as contemplated in paragraph (a), the holder of that debt or the holder of that share must, on the day on which the circumstances contemplated in paragraph (a) occur, be deemed to have incurred expenditure-

(i)      in respect of a debt, in an amount equal to the face value of that debt immediately after the acquisition of an asset as contemplated in paragraph (a) less any amount, other than an amount of interest or an amount previously taken into account as interest, that was received by or accrued to that holder in respect of that debt and was applied by that holder as settlement of the amount outstanding in respect of that debt; or

(ii)     in respect of a share, in an amount equal to the price at which that share was subscribed for by that holder of that share less any amount, other than an amount that constitutes a dividend or an amount previously taken into account as a dividend, that was received by or accrued to that holder in respect of that share if that amount so taken into account was previously applied in reduction of the amount of expenditure incurred in respect of the acquisition of that share:

Provided that the determination of any expenditure deemed to have been incurred shall be limited to the extent to which a debt or share facilitated the funding of the acquisition of an asset in respect of which the provisions of this section are applied.

[Subsection (3B) inserted by section 33(1) of Act 23 of 2020, substituted by section 26(1)(a) of Act 20 of 2021 and amended by section 16(1)(b) and (c) of Act 20 of 2022 deemed effective on 1 January, 2022 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]

(4)

(a)     This subsection applies in respect of a transferee-company which has acquired an asset –

(i)      in terms of a disposal by a transferor company by means of an intra-group transaction; or

(ii)     in terms of one or more disposals subsequent to the disposal contemplated in subparagraph (i),

[Subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 16(1)(d) of Act 20 of 2022]

and no capital gain or capital loss was determined in respect of any of those disposals as a result of the application of this Part: Provided that this subsection does not apply to any asset that constitutes trading stock that is regularly and continuously disposed of by the transferee company.

[Paragraph (a) amended by section 64(1)(a) of Act 7 of 2010 and by section 16(1)(d) of Act 20 of 2022]

(b)     Where a transferee company contemplated in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘intra-group transaction’ which has acquired an asset as contemplated in paragraph (a) ceases within a period of six years after the acquisition to form part of any group of companies in relation to the transferor company contemplated in paragraph (a)(i) or a controlling group company in relation to the transferor company, and the transferee company has not disposed of that asset-

(i)      an amount, in the case of an asset other than an asset contemplated in section 25BB(5), equal to the lesser of-

(aa)   the greatest capital gain that would have been determined in respect of any disposal of the asset in terms of an intra-group transaction within the period of six years preceding the date on which the transferee company ceased to form part of the group of companies, had subsection (2) not applied in respect of that disposal; or

(bb)   the capital gain that would be determined if the asset was disposed of on the date on which the transferee company ceases to form part of the group of companies for an amount equal to the market value of the asset on that date,

is deemed to be a capital gain of the transferee company for the current year of assessment and the base cost of the asset must be increased by that amount and, where the asset is an allowance asset, the cost or value of the asset must be increased by 80 per cent of that amount;

[Sub­paragraph (i) amended by section 42(a) and (b) of Act 34 of 2019]

(ii)     an amount equal to the greater of-

(aa)   the greatest amount contemplated in paragraph (j) or (n) of the definition of ‘gross income’ that would have been included in income as a result of any disposal of the asset in terms of an intra-group transaction within the period of six years preceding the date on which the transferee company ceases to form part of the group of companies, had subsection (3) not applied in respect of that disposal; or

(bb)   the amount contemplated in paragraph (j) or (n) of the definition of ‘gross income’ that would be included in income if the asset was disposed of on the date on which the transferee company ceases to form part of the group of companies for an amount equal to the market value of the asset on that date,

must be included in the gross income of the transferee company for the current year of assessment and the cost or value of the asset for purposes of any deductions allowable in respect of that asset (other than deductions allowable in terms of section 12G or 12I) must be increased by that amount: Provided that where an amount contemplated in paragraph (j) of the definition of ‘gross income ‘ is so included, the cost or value is deemed to be so increased immediately before any subsequent disposal of the asset; and

(iii)    an amount equal to the lesser of-

(aa)   the greatest amount of taxable income (other than any taxable capital gain and any taxable income derived as a result of an amount being included in gross income in terms of paragraph (j) or (n) of the definition of ‘gross income ‘) that would have been determined in respect of any disposal of the asset in terms of an intra-group transaction within the period of six years preceding the date on which the transferee company ceases to form part of the group of companies, had subsection (2) not applied in respect of that disposal; or

(bb)   the taxable income (other than any taxable capital gain and any taxable income derived as a result of an amount being included in gross income in terms of paragraph (j) or (n) of the definition of ‘gross income’), that would be determined if the asset was disposed of on the date on which the transferee company ceases to form part of the group of companies for an amount equal to the market value of the asset on that date,

must be included in the taxable income of the transferee company for the current year of assessment and the cost of the asset must be increased by that amount;

(bA)  Where a transferee company contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘intra-group transaction’ which has acquired an asset that constitutes an equity share as contemplated in paragraph (a)-

(i)      ceases within a period of six years after the acquisition-

(aa)   to form part of any group of companies (as defined in section 1) in relation to-

(A)    the transferor company contemplated in paragraph (a)(i); or

(B)    any controlling group company of a group of companies (as defined in section 1) in relation to that transferor company; or

(bb)   to be a controlled foreign company in relation to any resident that is part of any group of companies contemplated in item (aa);and

(ii)     has not disposed of that equity share at the time of so ceasing,

an amount equal to the lesser of-

(AA)  the greatest capital gain that would have been determined in respect of any disposal of the equity share in terms of an intra-group transaction within the period of six years preceding the date on which the transferee company ceased to form part of the group of companies as contemplated in item (aa), had subsection (2) not applied in respect of that disposal; or

(BB)  the capital gain that would be determined if the asset was disposed of on the date on which the transferee company ceases to form part of the group of companies as contemplated in item (aa) or on the date before the day the transferee company ceases to be a controlled foreign company as contemplated in item (bb) for an amount equal to the market value of the equity share on that date,

[Sub­paragraph (BB) substituted by section 42(c) of Act 34 of 2019]

must be deemed to be a capital gain of the transferee company for the year of assessment in which the transferee company ceased to form part of the group of companies as contemplated in item (aa) or on the date before the day the transferee company ceases to be a controlled foreign company as contemplated in item (bb) and applied to increase the base cost of the equity share.

[Paragraph (bA) inserted by section 77(1)(n) of Act 22 of 2012 and amended by section 42(c) of Act 34 of 2019]

(c)     Where the transferor company or transferee company contemplated in paragraph (b) is liquidated, wound up or deregistered at a time when a company which is a resident (hereinafter referred to as the ‘holding company’) holds at least 70 per cent of the equity shares of that company which is liquidated, wound up or deregistered, the holding company and the company which is liquidated, wound up or deregistered must be deemed to be one and the same company for purposes of paragraph (b).

(d)     Where the transferor company or transferee company contemplated in paragraph (bA) is liquidated, wound up or deregistered at a time when a company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘holding company ), which is a resident or a controlled foreign company in relation to any resident, holds at least 70 per cent of the equity shares of that company which is liquidated, wound up or deregistered, the holding company and the company which is liquidated, wound up or deregistered must be deemed to be one and the same company for purposes of paragraph (bA).

(4A)  Subsection 4(b) does not apply in respect of any asset disposed of-

(a)     prior to 21 February 2008, where that transferee company and that transferor company contemplated in that subsection cease to form part of a group of companies by reason of the coming into operation of section 52(1)(c) of the Revenue Laws Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 35 of 2007); or

(b)     on or after 1 January 2011, where that transferee company and that transferor company contemplated in that subsection cease to form part of a group of companies by reason of the coming into operation of section 6(1)(g) of the Taxation Laws Amendment Act, 2010.

(4B)   A transferee company and a transferor company contemplated in subsection (4)(b) must for purposes of subsection (4) be deemed to have ceased to form part of any group of companies in relation to each other if a disposal contemplated in subsection (4) forms part of any transaction, operation or scheme in terms of which-

(a)     any consideration received or accrued in respect of that disposal; or

(b)     more than 10 per cent of any amount derived directly or indirectly from such consideration, has, within two years of that disposal, been disposed of-

(i)      by that transferor company; or

(ii)     by any other company forming part of the same group of companies as the transferor company, to any person that does not form part of the same group of companies as the transferor company-

(aa)    for no consideration;

(bb)   for a consideration which does not reflect an arm’s length price; or

(cc)    by means of a distribution.

(5)     Where a transferee company disposes of an asset, other than an asset contemplated in section 25BB(5) or in terms of an involuntary disposal as contemplated in paragraph 65 of the Eighth Schedule or a disposal that would have constituted an involuntary disposal as contemplated in that paragraph had that asset not been a financial instrument, within a period of 18 months after acquiring that asset in terms of an intra­group transaction and—

(a)     that asset constitutes a capital asset in the hands of that transferee company-

(i)      so much of any capital gain determined in respect of the disposal of that asset as does not exceed the amount that would have been determined had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months for proceeds equal to the market value of that asset as at that date, may not be taken into account in determining any net capital gain or assessed capital loss of that transferee company but is subject to paragraph 10 of the Eighth Schedule for purpose of determining an amount of taxable capital gain derived from that gain, which taxable capital gain may not be set off against any assessed loss or balance of assessed loss of that transferee company; or

(ii)     so much of any capital loss determined in respect of the disposal of that asset as does not exceed that amount that would have been determined had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months for proceeds equal to the market value of that asset as at that date, must be disregarded in determining the aggregate capital gain or aggregate capital loss of that transferee company for purposes of the Eighth Schedule: Provided that the amount of any capital loss so disregarded may be deducted from the amount of any capital gain determined in respect of the disposal during that year or any subsequent year of assessment of any other asset acquired by that transferee company from the transferor company in terms of an intra-group transaction; or

(b)     that asset constitutes-

(i)      trading stock in the hands of that transferee company, so much of the amount received or accrued in respect of the disposal of that trading stock as does not exceed the market value of that trading stock as at the beginning of that period of 18 months and so much of the amount taken into account in respect of that trading stock in terms of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2) as is equal to the amount so taken into account in terms of subsection (2)(b): Povided that this subparagraph does not apply to any asset that constitutes trading stock that is regularly and continuously disposed of by that transferee company; or

(ii)     an allowance asset in the hands of that transferee company other than a transferee company that is a REIT or a controlled company, as defined in section 25BB(1), so much of any allowance in respect of that asset that is recovered or recouped by or included in the income of that transferee company as a result of that disposal as does not exceed the amount that would have been recovered had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months for an amount equal to the market value of that asset as at that date,

[Subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 53 of Act 17 of 2017 effective on 18 December 2017]

must be deemed to be attributable to a separate trade carried on by that transferee company, the taxable income or assessed loss from which trade may not be set off against any assessed loss or balance of assessed loss of that transferee company: Provided that no regard must be had to the provisions of this subsection if the provisions of subsection (4) have, subsequent to the acquisition of an asset by a transferee company from a transferor company in terms of an intra-group transaction in the manner contemplated in paragraph (a), been applied in respect of that asset: Provided further that no regard must be had to the provisions of this subsection in the instance that-

(a)     a capital gain is determined in respect of the disposal of an asset where a capital loss would have been determined had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months; or

(b)     a capital loss is determined in respect of the disposal of an asset where a capital gain would have been determined had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months.

[Subsection (5) amended by section 53(1)(c) of Act 45 of 2003, by section 42(d) and (e) of Act 34 of 2019 and by section 26(1)(b) of Act 20 of 2021 effective on 1 January, 2022 and applicable in respect of the disposal of any asset on or after that date]

(6)     This section does not apply in respect of the disposal of an asset if-

(a)     ……….

(b)     all the receipts and accruals of the transferee company are exempt from tax in terms of section 10(1)(cA), (cN), (cO), (cP), (d) or (t);

(c)     the asset was disposed of by the transferor company in exchange for equity shares issued by the transferee company;

(d)     the asset constitutes a share that is distributed by the transferor company to the transferee company;

(e)     the asset was disposed of by the transferor company to the transferee company in terms of a liquidation distribution referred to in section 47 regardless of whether or not an election has been made for the provisions of that section to apply and regardless of whether or not that transferee company acquired that asset as a capital asset or as trading stock;

(f)      the asset constitutes a share in the transferee company; or

(g)     at the time of the disposal of the asset, the transferor company and the transferee company agree in writing that this section does not apply to that disposal.

“Intra-group transaction” definition of section 45 of ITA

(1)     For the purposes of this section-

 

‘intra-group transaction’ means any transaction-

 

(a)

 

(i)      in terms of which any asset is disposed of by one company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘transferor company’) to another company that is a resident (hereinafter referred to as the ‘transferee company’) and both companies form part of the same group of companies as at the end of the day of that transaction; and

 

(ii)     as a result of which that transferee company acquires that asset from that transferor company-

 

(aa)    as a capital asset, where that transferor company holds it as a capital asset; or

 

(bb)   as trading stock, where that transferor company holds it as trading stock; or

 

(b)

  

(i)      in terms of which any asset that constitutes an equity share held by a transferor company as a capital asset in a foreign company is disposed of by that transferor company to a transferee company in exchange for the issue of debt or shares other than equity shares by that transferee company;

  

(ii)     as a result of which that transferee company acquires that asset from that transferor company as a capital asset; and

 

(iii)    if, immediately before and as at the end of the day of that transaction-

 

(aa)   that transferor company and that transferee company form part of the same group of companies (as defined in section 1);

 

(bb)   that transferor company is a resident or is a controlled foreign company in relation to one or more residents that form part of that group of companies; and

 

(cc)   that transferee company is a resident or is a controlled foreign company in relation to one or more residents that form part of that group of companies.

Subsections 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 of section 44 of ITA

(2)     Where an amalgamated company disposes of-

(a)     a capital asset in terms of an amalgamation transaction to a resultant company which acquires it as a capital asset-

(i)      the amalgamated company must be deemed to have disposed of that asset for an amount equal to the base cost of that asset on the date of that disposal; and

(ii)     that resultant company and that amalgamated company must, for purposes of determining any capital gain or capital loss in respect of a disposal of that asset by that resultant company, be deemed to be one and the same person with respect to-

(aa)   the date of acquisition of that asset by that amalgamated company and the amount and date of incurral by that amalgamated company of any expenditure in respect of that asset allowable in terms of paragraph 20 of the Eighth Schedule; and

(bb)   any valuation of that asset effected by that amalgamated company as contemplated in paragraph 29(4) of the Eighth Schedule;

: Provided that this paragraph does not apply to any asset disposed of in terms of an amalgamation transaction contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘amalgamation transaction’ if, on the date of that disposal, the market value of that asset is less than the base cost of that asset;

(b)     an asset held by it as trading stock in terms of an amalgamation transaction to a resultant company which acquires it as trading stock-

(i)      that amalgamated company must be deemed to have disposed of that asset for an amount equal to the amount taken into account by that amalgamated company in respect of that asset in terms of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2); and

(ii)     that amalgamated company and that resultant company must, for purposes of determining any taxable income derived by that resultant company from a trade carried on by it, be deemed to be one and the same person with respect to the date of acquisition of that asset by that amalgamated company and the amount and date of incurral by that amalgamated company of any cost or expenditure incurred in respect of that asset as contemplated in section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2).

: Provided that this paragraph does not apply to any asset disposed of in terms of an amalgamation transaction contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘amalgamation transaction’ if, on the date of that disposal, the market value of that asset is less than the amount taken into account in respect of that asset in terms of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2);

(3)     Where an amalgamated company disposes of-

(a)     an asset that constitutes an allowance asset for that amalgamated company to a resultant company as part of an amalgamation transaction and that resultant company acquires that asset as an allowance asset or that resultant company is a REIT or a controlled company, as defined in section 25BB(1), that acquires that asset as a capital asset or an allowance asset-

[Words preceding subparagraph (i) substituted by section 52 of Act 17 of 2017 and section 56 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 18 December 2017]

(i)      no allowance allowed to that amalgamated company in respect of that asset must be recovered or recouped by that amalgamated company or included in that amalgamated company’s income for the year of that transfer; and

(ii)     that amalgamated company and that resultant company must be deemed to be one and the same person for purposes of determining the amount of any allowance or deduction –

(aa)   to which that resultant company may be entitled in respect of that asset; or

(bb)   that is to be recovered or recouped by or included in the income of that resultant company in respect of that asset;

[Item (bb) substituted by section 52 of Act 17 of 2017 and section 56 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 18 December 2017]

(b)     a contract to a resultant company as part of a disposal of a business as a going concern in terms of an amalgamation transaction and an allowance in terms of section 24, 24C or 24P was allowable to that amalgamated company in respect of that contract for the year preceding that in which that contract is transferred or would have been allowable to that amalgamated company for the year of that transfer had that contract not been so transferred-

[Words preceding subparagraph (i) substituted by section 52 of Act 17 of 2017 effective on 18 December 2017]

(i)      no allowance allowed to that amalgamated company under those sections must be included in that amalgamated company’s income for the year of that transfer; and

(ii)     that amalgamated company and that resultant company must be deemed to be one and the same person for purposes of determining the amount of any allowance-

(aa)   to which that resultant company may be entitled under those sections; or

(bb)   that is to be included in the income of that resultant company under those sections.

[Paragraph (b) substituted by section 63 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on 1 January 2016]

(4)     The provisions of subsections (2) and (3) will not apply to a disposal of an asset by an amalgamated company to a resultant company as part of an amalgamation transaction to the extent that such asset is so disposed of in exchange for consideration other than-

(a)     an equity share or shares in that resultant company; or

(b)     the assumption by that resultant company of a debt of that amalgamated company that was incurred by that amalgamated company, that –

(i)      was incurred by that amalgamated company-

(aa)    more than 18 months before that disposal; or

(bb)   within a period of 18 months before that disposal, to the extent that the debt –

(A)    constitutes the refinancing of any debt incurred as contemplated in subparagraph (aa); or

(B)     is attributable to and arose in the ordinary course of a business undertaking disposed of, as a going concern to that resultant company as part of that amalgamation transaction; and.

(ii)     was not incurred by that amalgamated company for the purpose of procuring, enabling, facilitating or funding the acquisition by that resultant company of any asset in terms of that amalgamation transaction.

(4A)   For purposes of the definition of ‘contributed tax capital’, if the resultant company issues shares in exchange for the disposal   of an asset in terms of an amalgamation transaction, the amount received by or accrued to the resultant company as consideration for the issue of shares is deemed to be equal to an amount which bears to the contributed tax capital of the amalgamated company at the time of termination contemplated in paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of ‘amalgamation transaction’ in subsection (1) the same ratio as the value of the shares held in the amalgamated company at that time by shareholders other than the resultant company bears to the value of all shares held in the amalgamated company at that time: Provided that where the amalgamated company is a portfolio of a collective investment scheme in property, the price at which the participatory interests were issued shall be added to the contributed tax capital in respect of the class of shares issued by the resultant company.

(5)     Where the resultant company acquires any asset, other than an asset contemplated in section 25BB(5), from the amalgamated company in terms of an amalgamation transaction that was subject to subsection (2) or (3) and that resultant company disposes of that asset within a period of 18 months after so acquiring that asset and—

(a)     that asset constitutes a capital asset in the hands of that resultant company-

(i)      so much of any capital gain determined in respect of the disposal of that asset as does not exceed the amount that would have been determined had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months for proceeds equal to the market value of that asset as at that date, may not be taken into account in determining any net capital gain or assessed capital loss of that resultant company but is subject to paragraph 10 of the Eighth Schedule for purpose of determining an amount of taxable capital gain derived from that gain, which taxable capital gain may not be set off against any assessed loss or balance of assessed loss of that resultant company; or

(ii)     so much of any capital loss determined in respect of the disposal of that asset as does not exceed the amount that would have been determined had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months for proceeds equal to the market value of that asset as at that date, must be disregarded in determining the aggregate capital gain or aggregate capital loss of that resultant company for purposes of the Eighth Schedule: Provided that the amount of any capital loss so disregarded may be deducted from the amount of any capital gain determined in respect of the disposal during that year or any subsequent year of assessment of any other asset acquired by that resultant company from that amalgamated company in terms of that amalgamation transaction; or

(b)     that asset constitutes-

(i)      trading stock in the hands of that resultant company, so much of the amount received or accrued in respect of the disposal of that trading stock as does not exceed the market value of that trading stock as at the beginning of that period of 18 months and so much of the amount taken into account in respect of that trading stock in terms of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2) as is equal to the amount so taken into account in terms of subsection (2)(b); or

: Provided that this subparagraph does not apply to any asset that constitutes trading stock that is regularly and continuously disposed of by that resultant company

(ii)     an allowance asset in the hands of that resultant company other than a resultant company that is a REIT or a controlled company, as defined in section 25BB(1), so much of any allowance in respect of that asset that is recovered or recouped by or included in the income of that resultant company as a result of that disposal as does not exceed the amount that would have been recovered had that asset been disposed of at the beginning of that period of 18 months for an amount equal to the market value of that asset as at that date,

[Subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 52 of Act 17 of 2017 effective on 18 December 2017]

must be deemed to be attributable to a separate trade carried on by that resultant company, the taxable income or assessed loss from which trade may not be set off against or added to any assessed loss or balance of assessed loss of that resultant company.

[Sub­section (5) amended by section 41 of Act 34 of 2019]

(6)

(a)     This subsection applies where any person that holds an equity share in an amalgamated company acquires an equity share in the resultant company by virtue of that shareholding and pursuant to an amalgamation transaction in respect of which subsection (2) or (3) applied-

(i)      as either a capital asset or trading stock, in the case where that equity share in the amalgamated company is held as a capital asset; or

(ii)     as trading stock in the case where that equity share in the amalgamated company is held as trading stock.

(b)     The person contemplated in paragraph (a) is deemed, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e), to have-

(i)      disposed of the equity share in that amalgamated company for an amount equal to the expenditure incurred by that person in respect of that equity share which is or was allowable in terms of paragraph 20 of the Eighth Schedule or taken into account in terms of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2), as the case may be;

(ii)     acquired the equity share in the resultant company on the date on which that person acquired the equity share in the amalgamated company for a cost equal to the expenditure incurred by that person as contemplated in subparagraph (i);

(iii)    incurred the cost contemplated in subparagraph (ii) on the date on which that person incurred the expenditure in respect of the equity share in the amalgamated company, which cost must be treated as-

(aa)   an expenditure actually incurred by that person in respect of those equity shares for the purposes of paragraph 20 of the Eighth Schedule, if those equity shares in the resultant company are acquired as capital assets; or

(bb)   the amount to be taken into account by that person in respect of those equity shares for the purposes of section 11(a) or 22(1) or (2), if those equity shares in the resultant company are acquired as trading stock; and

(iv)    done any valuation of the equity share in the amalgamated company which was done by that person within the period contemplated in paragraph 29(4) of the Eighth Schedule, in respect of the equity share in the resultant company.

(c)     An equity share in the resultant company that is acquired by the person contemplated in paragraph (a) is deemed not to be an amount transferred or applied by the amalgamated company for the benefit or on behalf of that person in respect of the share held by that person in that amalgamated company.

(d)     Where the person contemplated in paragraph (a) becomes entitled to any consideration other than any equity share in the resultant company, the provisions of paragraph (b) must not apply in respect of the part of the equity share held by that person in the amalgamated company which bears the same ratio to that share as the amount of that other consideration bears to the amount of the full consideration in respect of that share.

(e)     Where the person contemplated in paragraph (a) becomes entitled, by virtue of the equity share held by that person in the amalgamated company, to any consideration other than any equity share in the resultant company, so much of the amount of that other consideration as does not exceed the market value of all the assets of the amalgamated company immediately before the amalgamation, conversion or merger less-

(i)      the liabilities; and

(ii)     the sum of the contributed tax capital of all the classes of shares,

of the amalgamated company immediately before the amalgamation, conversion or merger must, for the purposes of the definitions of ‘dividend’, ‘foreign dividend’, ‘foreign return of capital’ and ‘return of capital’ in section 1, be deemed to be an amount transferred or applied by that amalgamated company for the benefit or on behalf of that person in respect of the share held by that person in the amalgamated company.

(7)     ……….

(8)     Where an amalgamated company disposes of any equity shares in a resultant company that were acquired by that amalgamated company in terms of an amalgamation transaction that was subject to subsection (2) or (3), to a shareholder of that amalgamated company as part of that amalgamation transaction, that amalgamated company must disregard that disposal for purposes of determining its taxable income or assessed loss.

(9)     ………

[Subsection (9) amended by section 52 of Act 45 of 2003, section 69 of Act 24 of 2011, section 76 of Act 22 of 2012 and section 93 of Act 31 of 2013 and deleted by section 56 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 17 January 2019]

(10)    ……….

(11)   ……….

(12)   ……….

(13)   The provisions of this section do not apply where the amalgamated company-

(a)     has not, within a period of 36 months after the date of the amalgamation transaction, or such further period as the Commissioner may allow, taken the steps contemplated in section 41(4) to liquidate, wind up or deregister; or

(b)     has at any stage withdrawn any step taken to liquidate, wind up or deregister that company, as contemplated in paragraph (a), or does anything to invalidate any step so taken, with the result that the company will not be liquidated, wound up or deregistered.

: Provided that any tax which becomes payable as a result of the application of this subsection may be recovered from the resultant company

(14)   The provisions of this section do not apply-

(a)     in respect of any transaction that constituted a liquidation distribution as defined in section 47(1);

(b)     in respect of any transaction if the resultant company is a company contemplated in paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of ‘company’;

(bA)  in respect of any transaction if the resultant company is a portfolio of a collective investment scheme in securities and the amalgamated company is not a portfolio of a collective investment scheme in securities;

 

(bB)  in respect of any transaction if the resultant company is a portfolio of a hedge fund investment scheme and the amalgamated company is not a portfolio of a hedge fund collective investment scheme;

[Paragraph (bB) inserted by section 63 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on 1 April 2015 – comes into operation in terms of section 63 of Act 25 of 2015 as amended by section 102 of Act 15 of 2016]

(c)     in respect of any transaction if the resultant company is a non-profit company as defined in section 1 of the Companies Act;

(d)       . . . . . . . .

[Paragraph (d) deleted by section 29 of Act 42 of 2024]

(e)     in respect of any transaction if any amount constituting gross income of whatever nature would be exempt from tax in terms of section 10 were it to be received by or to accrue to the resultant company;

(f)      in respect of any transaction if the resultant company is a public benefit organisation or recreational club approved by the Commissioner in terms of section 30 or 30A; or

(g)     to a disposal of an asset by an amalgamated company to a resultant company-

(i)      in terms of an amalgamation transaction contemplated in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘amalgamation transaction’ where that resultant company and the person contemplated in subsection (6) form part of the same group of companies immediately before and after that disposal; or

(ii)     in terms of an amalgamation transaction contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of ‘amalgamation transaction ‘where that resultant company and the person contemplated in subsection (6) form part of the same group of companies (without regard to paragraph (i)(ee) of the proviso to the definition of ‘group of companies ‘in section 41) immediately before and after that disposal,

if that amalgamated company, resultant company and person jointly so elect.

“Amalgamation transaction” definition of section 44 of ITA

(1)       For the purposes of this section-

‘amalgamation transaction’ means any transaction-

(a)

(i)      in terms of which any company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘amalgamated company) which is a resident disposes of all of its assets (other than assets it elects to use to settle any debts incurred by it in the ordinary course of its trade and other than assets required to satisfy any reasonably anticipated liabilities to any sphere of government of any country and costs of administration relating to the liquidation or winding-up) to another company (hereinafter referred to as the ‘resultant company’) which is a resident, by means of an amalgamation, conversion or merger; and

[Subparagraph (i) substituted by section 57 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 20 January 2015]

(ii)     as a result of which the existence of that amalgamated company will be terminated;

(b)

(i)      in terms of which an amalgamated company which is a foreign company disposes of all of its assets (other than assets it elects to use to settle any debts incurred by it in the ordinary course of its trade and other than assets required to satisfy any reasonably anticipated liabilities to any sphere of government of any country and costs of administration relating to the liquidation or winding-up) to a resultant company which is a resident, by means of an amalgamation, conversion or merger;

[Subparagraph (i) substituted by section 57 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 20 January 2015]

(ii)     if, immediately before that transaction, any shares in that amalgamated company are held as capital assets; and

(iii)    as a result of which the existence of that amalgamated company will be terminated; or

(c)

(i)      in terms of which an amalgamated company which is a foreign company disposes of all of its assets (other than assets it elects to use to settle any debts incurred by it in the ordinary course of its trade and other than assets required to satisfy any reasonably anticipated liabilities to any sphere of government of any country and costs of administration relating to its liquidation or winding-up) to a resultant company which is a foreign company, by means of an amalgamation, conversion or merger;

[Subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 55 of Act 15 of 2016 effective on 19 January 2017]

(ii)     if-

(aa)    mmediately before that transaction-

(A)    that amalgamated company and that resultant company form part of the same group of companies (as defined in section 1);

(B)    that resultant company is a controlled foreign company in relation to any resident that is part of the group of companies contemplated in subitem (A); and

(C)    any shares in that amalgamated company that are directly or indirectly held by that resultant company are held as capital assets; and

(bb)   immediately after that transaction, more than 50 per cent of the equity shares in that resultant company are directly or indirectly held by a resident (whether alone or together with any other person that is a resident and that forms part of the same group of companies as that resident); and

(iii)    as a result of which the existence of that amalgamated company will be terminated.