“qualifying distribution”, in respect of a year of assessment of a company that is a REIT or a controlled company as at the end of a year of assessment, means any dividend (other than a dividend contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of “dividend”) paid or payable in respect of an equity share, or interest incurred in respect of a debenture forming part of a linked unit in that company, if the amount thereof is determined with reference to the financial results of that company as reflected in the financial statements prepared for that year of assessment if-

[Definition of “qualifying distribution” amended by section 45(a) of Act 17 of 2017 and by section 29(1)(a) of Act 23 of 2020 effective on 1 January, 2021 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]

(a)     that year of assessment is the first year of assessment and at least 75 per cent of the gross income received by or accrued to a company during that first year of assessment that the company qualifies as a REIT or controlled company, consists of rental income; and

[Paragraph (a) substituted by section 50 of Act 25 of 2015 and section 49 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 17 January 2019]

(b)     in any other case, at least 75 per cent of the gross income received by or accrued to a REIT or a controlled company in the preceding year of assessment consists of rental income:

Provided that any amount that must be included in the income of the REIT or controlled company in terms of section 9D(2) must not be included in the gross income of the REIT or controlled company in respect of that year of assessment for the purposes of this definition;