Subsection 2, 3, 4 and 5 of section 23N of ITA

(2)     Where an amount of interest is incurred by an acquiring company in terms of a debt-

[Words preceding paragraph (a) substituted by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

(a)     directly or indirectly assumed or applied for the purpose of procuring, enabling, facilitating or funding the acquisition by that acquiring company of any asset in terms of a reorganisation transaction;

(b)     used directly or indirectly for the purpose of redeeming, refinancing or settling the debt contemplated in paragraph (a);

(c)     issued, assumed or used in terms of an acquisition transaction; or

(d)     used directly or indirectly for the purpose of redeeming, refinancing or settling the debt contemplated in paragraph (c),

the amount of interest allowed to be deducted must not exceed the amount determined in terms of subsection (3).

(3)     The amount of interest allowed to be deducted in terms of all debts owed as contemplated in subsection (2), in respect of any year of assessment in which the acquisition transaction or reorganisation transaction is entered into and in respect of five years of assessment immediately following that year of assessment, must not exceed the sum of-

(a)     the amount of interest received by or accrued to the acquiring company; and

(b)     the highest of the amounts determined by multiplying the percentage determined under subsection (4) by the adjusted taxable income of the acquiring company for each of the years of assessment-

(i)      in which the acquisition transaction or reorganisation transaction is entered into;

(ii)     in which the amount of interest is incurred by that acquiring company; or

(iii)    immediately prior to the year of assessment contemplated in subparagraph (i),

[Paragraph (b) substituted by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 and section 40 of Act 17 of 2017 effective on 18 December 2017]

reduced by any amount of interest incurred by the acquiring company in respect of debts other than debts contemplated in subsection (2).

[Words following paragraph (b) substituted by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

(4)     The percentage contemplated in subsection (3)(b) must be determined in accordance with the formula-

         A   =   B   x   C

                              D

in which formula-

(a)     ‘A’ represents the percentage to be determined;

(b)     ‘B’ represents the number 40;

(c)     ‘C’ represents the average repo rate plus 400 basis points; and

(d)     ‘D’ represents the number 10,

but not exceeding 60 per cent of the adjusted taxable income of that acquiring company.

[Subsection (4) substituted by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

(5)       ……….

[Subsection (5) deleted by section 64 of Act 31 of 2013, re-inserted by section 42 of Act 15 of 2016, amended by section 40 of Act 17 of 2017 and deleted by section 42 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 1 January 2019 and applies in respect of amounts incurred on or after that date]

“Adjusted taxable income” definition of section 23N of ITA

“adjusted taxable income” means taxable income calculated before applying this section and before setting off any balance of assessed loss that has been carried forward from the preceding year of assessment: Provided that the result of the calculation may not be less than zero-

(a)     reduced by-

(i)      any amount of interest received or accrued that forms part of taxable income;

[Subsection (i) substituted by section 42 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 17 January 2019]

(ii)     any amount included in the income of a person as contemplated in section 9D(2);

(iii)    any amount recovered or recouped in respect of an allowance contemplated in this Act in respect of a capital asset as defined in section 19; and

[Subparagraph (iii) amended by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

(b)     with the addition of-

(i)      any amount of interest incurred that has been allowed as a deduction from income;

[Subsection (i) substituted by section 42 of Act 23 of 2018 effective on 17 January 2019]

(ii)     any amount allowed as a deduction in terms of this Act in respect of a capital asset as defined in section 19 for purposes other than the determination of any capital gain or capital loss;

[Subparagraph (ii) amended by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

(iii)    75 per cent of the receipts or accruals derived from the letting of any immovable property; and

[Subparagraph (iii) amended by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

(iv)    any assessed loss or balance of assessed loss allowed to be set off against income in terms of section 20;

[Subparagraph (iv) added by section 38 of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January 2015]

[Definition of “adjusted taxable income” amended by section 42(1)(a) of Act 23 of 2018 and by section 19(1)(a) of Act 42 of 2024 effective on 1 January, 2025 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date. Subparagraph (iv) added by section 38(1)(d) of Act 43 of 2014 effective on 1 January, 2015 and applicable in respect of years of assessment commencing on or after that date]

“Acquisition transaction” definition of section 23N of ITA

‘acquisition transaction’ means any transaction-

(a)     in terms of which an acquiring company acquires an equity share in an acquired company that is a company as contemplated in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “acquisition transaction” in section 24O(1); and

[Paragraph (a) substituted by section 40 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on 1 January 2016]

(b)     as a result of which that acquiring company, as at the end of the day of that transaction, becomes a controlling group company in relation to that acquired company;

[Paragraph (b) substituted by section 40 of Act 25 of 2015 effective on 1 January 2016]

“Acquiring company” definition of section 23N of ITA

‘acquiring company’ means-

(a)     a transferee company contemplated in the definition of ‘intra-group transaction’ in section 45(1);

(b)     a holding company contemplated in the definition of ‘liquidation distribution’ in section 47(1); or

(c)     a company that acquires an equity share in another company in terms of an acquisition transaction;

“Acquired company” definition of section 23N of ITA

(1)       For the purposes of this section-

‘acquired company’ means-

(a)     a transferor company or a liquidating company that disposes of assets pursuant to a reorganisation transaction; or

(b)     a company in which equity shares are acquired by another company in terms of an acquisition transaction;