by O'Hagan Attorneys | Jul 2, 2026 | tax, Trusts
“Things do not go away. They go somewhere.” (Annie Dillard) Many trustees assume that a dormant trust can be safely forgotten. No income, no assets, no transactions … No problem. SARS has made it clear that this assumption may be an expensive one. In recent months,...
by O'Hagan Attorneys | Jun 3, 2026 | Property, tax, Wills and Estate Planning
“I can’t afford to die; I’d lose too much money.” (George Burns, comedian) At the heart of any estate plan lies your will. Pair it with a file containing all the information and documents that your executor and heirs will need to wind up your estate, and...
by O'Hagan Attorneys | Mar 9, 2026 | Economy, Financial Planning, Saving & Investing, tax
“The 2026 Budget marks an important turning point for South Africa.” (Dr Duncan Pieterse, Director-General, National Treasury) Some of the best news in Budget 2026 is the real GDP growth of an estimated 1.4% for 2025, rising to 2% in 2028, and a debt ratio that will...
by O'Hagan Attorneys | Feb 3, 2026 | Retirement Planning, Saving & Investing, tax
“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward. (John Maynard Keynes) 1. Boost your retirement savings Contributing to a Retirement Annuity (RA) before 28 February can reduce your taxable income and grow your long-term...
by O'Hagan Attorneys | Mar 5, 2025 | tax
“I’ll tax the street, I’ll tax your seat, I’ll tax the heat, I’ll tax your feet.” (Adapted from Taxman by The Beatles) 1. Why do I have to pay CGT in the first place? Following a worldwide trend, South African authorities introduced CGT in 2001...
by O'Hagan Attorneys | Jan 31, 2023 | Economy, tax
“Finally, we pay tribute to the millions of South Africans, whose resilience and courage during these times of pandemic and economic hardship, is an inspiration to all of us who have the privilege to serve in the public sector.” (From the 2022 Budget Speech) Finance...