28. Taxation of short-term insurance business
Category: Section 28 (ITA) – Taxation of short-term insurance business
Section 28
- Heading of section 28 substituted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Definition of ‘Short-term Insurance Act’ deleted by section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 effective on 12 December 2013.
- Definition of ‘short-term policy’ substituted by section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (1) substituted by section 21 of Act 88 of 1971, amended by section 16 of Act 103 of 1976, section 19 of Act 91 of 1982, section 17 of Act 65 of 1986, section 23of Act 90 of 1988 and section 13 of Act 70 of 1989, substituted by section 25 of Act 101 of 1990, amended by section 29 of Act 129 of 1991, section 24 of Act 113 of 1993 and section 19 of Act 21 of 1994, deleted by section 33 of Act 30 of 2000 and again inserted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (1A) inserted by section 17 of Act 65 of 1986, substituted by section 29 of Act 129 of 1991 and deleted by section 33 of Act 30 of 2000.
- Subsection (1B) inserted by section 13 of Act 70 of 1989, amended by section 25 of Act 101 of 1990 and deleted by section 33 of Act 30 of 2000.
- Subsection (1C) inserted by section 24 of Act 113 of 1993 and deleted by section 33 of Act 30 of 2000.
- Subsection (2) amended by section 17 of Act 90 of 1962, section 22 of Act 55 of 1966, section 24 of Act 89 of 1969, section 22 of Act 94 of 1983, section 42 of Act 35 of 2007, section 40 of Act 60 of 2008, section 40 of Act 17 of 2009, section 51 of Act 7 of 2010 and substituted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013 and section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (3) substituted by section 21 of Act 88 of 1971, amended by section 25 of Act 101 of 1990, substituted by section 33 of Act 30 of 2000, deleted by section 42 of Act 35 of 2007, re-inserted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013 and substituted by section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (4) amended by section 19 of Act 65 of 1973 and section 33 of Act 30 of 2000, deleted by section 42 of Act 35 of 2007, re-inserted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013 and substituted by section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (5) added by section 42 of Act 35 of 2007, deleted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2014 and re-inserted by section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (6) added by section 42 of Act 35 of 2007 and deleted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Words preceding paragraph (7)(a) substituted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (7) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009.
- Proviso to paragraph (7)(c) added by section 51 of Act 7 of 2010 effective on 2 November 2010.
- Paragraph (8)(c) substituted by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (8) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009.
- Subsection (9) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009 and substituted by section 51 of Act 7 of 2010 effective on 2 November 2010 and section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January 2013.
- Subsection (10) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009.
- Subsection (11) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009.
“Branch policy” definition of section 28 of ITA
(1) For the purposes of this section-
“branch policy” means a policy contemplated in paragraph (c) of the definition of “shortterm policy” that is also a longterm policy as defined in section 1 of the Longterm Insurance Act;
[Definition of “branch policy” inserted by section 33(1)(a) of Act 34 of 2019]
“Premium” definition of section 28 of ITA
‘premium’ means a premium as defined in the Short-term Insurance Act;
“Short-term insurance business” definition of section 28 of ITA
‘short-term insurance business’ means-
(a) short-term insurance business as defined in the Short-term Insurance Act;
(b) micro-insurance business as defined in section 1 of the Insurance Act; or
(c) business conducted by a foreign reinsurer as contemplated in paragraph (c) of the definition of ‘short-term insurer’
[Definition of “short-term insurance business” substituted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 (substitution by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 deleted by section 107 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 8 January 2016) and substituted by section 50 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 1 July 2018, applies to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
“Short-term insurer” definition of section 28 of ITA
‘short-term insurer’ means-
(a) a company that is licensed under the Insurance Act and is conducting non-life insurance business as defined in that Act;
[Paragraph (a) substituted by section 21(1)(a) of Act 20 of 2021]
(b) a micro-insurer as defined in section 1 of the Insurance Act; or
(c) a foreign reinsurer conducting insurance business through a branch in the Republic in terms of section 6 of the Insurance Act;
[Definition of “short-term insurer” substituted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 (substitution by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 deleted by section 107 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 8 January 2016) and substituted by section 50 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 1 July 2018, applies to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
“Short-term policy” definition of section 28 of ITA
‘short-term policy’ means-
(a) a short-term policy as defined in the Short-term Insurance Act;
(b) a policy issued by a micro-insurer as defined in section 1 of the Insurance Act; or
(c) a policy issued by a foreign reinsurer as contemplated in paragraph (c) in the definition of ‘short-term insurer’.
[Definition of ‘short-term policy’ substituted by section 76 of Act 31 of 2013 and section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 (substitution by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 deleted by section 107 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 8 January 2016) and substituted by section 50 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 1 July 2018, applies to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
Subsections 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of section 28 of ITA
(2) For the purpose of determining the taxable income derived during a year of assessment by any short-term insurer from carrying on short-term insurance business-
[Words preceding paragraph (a) substituted by section 50 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 1 July 2018, applies to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
(a) a premium received by or accrued to that person in respect of a short-term policy issued by that short-term insurer shall be deemed to be—
(i) an amount equal to the sum of insurance revenue for insurance contracts and net earned premiums for investment contracts, which are determined in accordance with IFRS as reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited financial statements, other than any reinsurance due to a cell owner as contemplated in the definition of “cell structure” in section 1 of the Insurance Act, in respect of “third party risks” as defined in that section of that Act, which is included in that insurance revenue in accordance with IFRS; and
(ii) premium income earned in relation to an investment contract entered into by a “cell captive insurer” as defined in section 1 of the Insurance Act in respect of “first party risks” as defined in that section of that Act, which does not form part of amounts contemplated in subparagraph (i);
[Paragraph (a) substituted by section 14(1)(a) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(b) . . . . . .
[Paragraph (b) deleted by section 14(1)(b) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(c) an amount of expenditure payable by that short-term insurer in respect of any claim in terms of a short-term policy-
(i) may be deducted in terms of section 11(a) to the extent that the amount has been paid by that short-term insurer; and
(ii) to the extent that the amount has been paid by the short-term insurer, sections 23(c) and 23H shall not apply to that expenditure; and
[Paragraph (c) amended by section 14(1)(b) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(d) section 23H shall not apply to expenditure (other than expenditure contemplated in paragraph (c)) incurred in respect of-
(i) a short-term policy issued by that short-term insurer; or
(ii) a policy of reinsurance if that short-term insurer is the holder of that policy;
[Paragraph (d) amended by section 14(1)(b) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(e) . . . . . .
[Subsection (2) amended by section 17 of Act 90 of 1962, by section 22 of Act 55 of 1966, by section 24 of Act 89 of 1969, by section 22 of Act 94 of 1983, by section 42(a)-(e) of Act 35 of 2007, by section 40 of Act 60 of 2008, by section 40(1)(a) of Act 17 of 2009 and by section 51(1)(a) of Act 7 of 2010, substituted by section 61(1)(b) of Act 22 of 2012 and by section 76(1)(c) of Act 31 of 2013 and amended by section 50(1)(d) of Act 23 of 2018 deemed effective on 1 July, 2018 and applicable in respect of years of assessment ending on or after that date. Paragraph (e) deleted by section 14(1)(b) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(3) Subject to subsection (3A) and notwithstanding section 23(e), for the purpose of determining the taxable income derived during any year of assessment by any short-term insurer from carrying on short-term insurance business, there shall be allowed as a deduction from the income of that short-term insurer an amount equal to the sum of liabilities for incurred claims relating to short-term insurance business in respect of the policies of the insurer, net of amounts recognised in respect of reinsurance contracts for liabilities for incurred claims, which are determined in accordance with IFRS as reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited annual financial statements.
[Subsection (3) substituted by section 21(1)(b) of Act 88 of 1971, amended by section 25(1)(c) of Act 101 of 1990, substituted by section 33(b) of Act 30 of 2000, deleted by section 42(f) of Act 35 of 2007, inserted by section 61(1)(b) of Act 22 of 2012, substituted by section 76(1)(c) of Act 31 of 2013 and by section 52(1)(d) of Act 25 of 2015, amended by section 49(1) of Act 15 of 2016 and by section 50(1)(e) of Act 23 of 2018 and substituted by section 33(1)(b) of Act 34 of 2019 and by section 14(1)(c) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(3A) Notwithstanding section 23(e), for the purpose of determining the taxable income derived during any year of assessment by any foreign reinsurer conducting insurance business through a branch in the Republic in terms of section 6 of the Insurance Act in respect of a branch policy, there shall be allowed as a deduction from the income of that foreign reinsurer an amount in respect of liabilities determined in accordance with the formula-
I = (L + LIC + DL) – DC + DR
in which formula-
(a) “I” represents the amount to be determined;
(b) “L” represents the aggregate amounts of-
(i) insurance contract liabilities;
(ii) investment contract liabilities; and
(iii) reinsurance contract liabilities,
reduced by-
(aa) insurance contract assets;
(bb) reinsurance contract assets, and
(cc) liability for incurred claims contemplated in paragraph (c),
the amounts of which are determined in accordance with IFRS as annually reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited annual financial statements in respect of branch policies: Provided that any amount that is payable to or receivable from a cell owner, referred to in the definition of ‘cell structure’ in section 1 of the Insurance Act, in respect of ‘third party risks’ as defined in that section of that Act, must be disregarded: Provided further that the amount may not be less than zero;
[Paragraph (b) amended by section 31(1)(a) of Act 17 of 2023 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(c) “LIC” represents the amount of the liability for incurred claims determined in accordance with IFRS 17 in respect of the policies of the insurer, net of amounts recognised in reinsurance contracts for liabilities for incurred claims, which are determined in accordance with IFRS as annually reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited annual financial statements;
(d) “DL” represents the amount of deferred tax liabilities, determined in accordance with IFRS as annually reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited annual financial statements, in respect of branch policies;
(e) “DC” represents the amount of deferred acquisition costs determined in accordance with IFRS as annually reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited financial statements in respect of branch policies; and
f) “DR” represents the amount of deferred revenue determined in accordance with IFRS as annually reported by the insurer to shareholders in the audited financial statements in respect of branch policies.
[Subsection (3A) inserted by section 33(1)(c) of Act 34 of 2019 and substituted by section 14(1)(d) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(3B)
(a) Where a person transfers short-term insurance policies as part of any short-term insurance business to another short-term insurer carrying on or to be carrying on short-term insurance business, that person may for purposes of section 11(a) deduct an amount equal to liabilities on investment contracts relating to short-term insurance business and amounts of insurance liabilities relating to premiums and claims transferred to the other short-term insurer.
(b) An amount contemplated in paragraph (a) must be included in the income of the short-term insurer to which the liabilities were transferred as described in paragraph (a).
[Subsection (3B) inserted by section 21(1)(b) of Act 20 of 2021 effective on 1 January, 2022 and applicable in respect of years of assessment ending on or after that date]
(3C) For the purpose of determining the taxable income derived by any short-term insurer from carrying on short-term insurance business, the short-term insurer must, in the first year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2023-
(a) include in its income an amount equal to the difference between amounts recoverable by that short-term insurer in respect of claims incurred under a short-term policy issued by that short-term insurer at the end of the lastest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, that has not been received by that short-term insurer by the end of that year of assessment;
(b) deduct the liabilities for remaining coverage, net of reinsurance, calculated for the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, had IFRS 17 been applied at the end of that year of assessment; and
[Paragraph (b) substituted by section 31(1)(b) of Act 17 of 2023 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(c) deduct the net amounts of insurance premium or reinsurance premium debtors, and amounts of reinsurance premium payable, taken into account in determining the liabilities for remaining coverage at the end of the lastest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, had IFRS 17 been applied at the end of that year of assessment.
[Subsection (3C) inserted by section 14(1)(e) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(3D)
(a) For the purposes of determining the taxable income derived by any short-term insurer from carrying on short-term insurance business, there shall be allowed as a deduction from the income of that short-term insurer in respect of-
(i) the first year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2023, 66.7 per cent of the phasing-in amount as determined under paragraph (c); and
(ii) the second year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2023, 33.3 per cent of the phasing-in amount as determined under paragraph (c):
Provided that where an insurer ceases to conduct business during any year of assessment contemplated in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the amount to be deducted in respect of the phasing-in amount in respect of that year of assessment must be nil.
(b) For the purposes of determining the taxable income derived by any short-term insurer from carrying on any short-term insurance business, there shall be included in the income of that short-term insurer in respect of-
(i) the first year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2023, 66.7 per cent of the phasing-in amount as determined under paragraph (d); and
(ii) the second year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2023, 33.3 per cent of the phasing-in amount as determined under paragraph (d):
Provided that where an insurer ceases to conduct business during any year of assessment contemplated in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the amount to be included in respect of the phasing-in amount in respect of that year of assessment must be nil.
(c) For purposes of paragraph (a), ‘phasing-in amount’ means the amount by which the amount of the deduction under subsection (3) or (3A), for the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, exceeds the amount of the deduction under subsection (3) or (3A) for the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, had IFRS 17 and subsection 3 or (3A) as amended by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act, 2022, been applied at the end of that year of assessment, reduced by the difference between-
(i) the amount of insurance premium debtors and reinsurance premium debtors; and
(ii) the amount of reinsurance premiums payable,
at the end of the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, had IFRS 17 been applied, other than amounts forming part of the liability for incurred claims, and increased by the amount determined under subsection (3C)(a)
(d) For purposes of paragraph (b), ‘phasing-in amount’ means the amount by which the amount of the deduction under subsection (3) or (3A) for the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, had IFRS 17 and subsection (3) or (3A), as amended by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act, 2022, been applied at the end of that year of assessment exceeds the amount of the deduction under subsection (3) or (3A), for the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, increased by the difference between-
(i) the amount of insurance premium debtors and reinsurance premium debtors; and
(ii) the amount of reinsurance premiums payable, at the end of the latest year of assessment commencing on or after 1 January 2022, but before 1 January 2023, had IFRS 17 been applied, other than amounts forming part of the liability for incurred claims,
and reduced by the amount determined under subsection (3C)(a).
[Subsection (3D) inserted by section 14(1)(e) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(4)
(a) The total of all amounts deducted from the income of a short-term insurer in respect of a year of assessment in terms of subsections (3), (3A) and (3D)(a) shall be included in the income of that short-term insurer in the immediately following year of assessment.
(b) The amount included in the income of a short-term insurer in respect of a year of assessment in terms of subsection (3D)(b) shall be deducted from the income of that short-term insurer in the immediately following year of assessment.
[Subsection (4) amended by section 19(1) of Act 65 of 1973 and by section 33(c) and (d) of Act 30 of 2000, deleted by section 42(f) of Act 35 of 2007, inserted by section 61(1)(b) of Act 22 of 2012 and substituted by section 76(1)(c) of Act 31 of 2013, by section 21(1)(c) of Act 20 of 2021 and by section 14(1)(f) of Act 20 of 2022 effective on 1 January, 2023 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(5) . . . . . .
[Subsection (5) added by section 42(g) of Act 35 of 2007, substituted by section 76(1)(c) of Act 31 of 2013 deemed effective on 1 January, 2013 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date and deleted by section 61(1)(c) of Act 22 of 2012 effective on 1 January, 2014 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]
(6) ……….
(7) ……….
[Subsection (7) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009, amended by section 51 of Act 7 of 2010 and section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 and deleted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on the date on which the Insurance Act 2016, comes into operation, 1 July 2018, and apply to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
(8) ……….
[Subsection (8) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009, amended by section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 and deleted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on the date on which the Insurance Act 2016, 1 July 2018, comes into operation and apply to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
(9) ……….
[Subsection (9) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009, substituted by section 51 of Act 7 of 2010 and section 61 of Act 22 of 2012 and deleted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on the date on which the Insurance Act 2016, comes into operation, 1 July 2018, and apply to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
(10) ……….
[Subsection (10) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009 and deleted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on the date on which the Insurance Act 2016, comes into operation, 1 July 2018, and apply to years of assessment ending on or after that date]
(11) ……….
[Subsection (11) added by section 40 of Act 17 of 2009, and deleted by section 52 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on the date on which the Insurance Act 2016, comes into operation, 1 July 2018, and apply to years of assessment ending on or after that date]