Section 9HA of the Income Tax Act deals with deemed disposals by a deceased person. This section of the Act often causes some confusion, especially where there are heirs or legatees other than the surviving spouse. In terms of the provision, a deceased person is treated as having disposed of his or her assets at the date of death, for an amount received or accrued equal to the market value of those assets as at the date of death.
This deeming provision does not apply to the following circumstances:
The position is, however, different if the surviving spouse of the deceased acquires the assets. In this instance, the deceased is deemed to have disposed of the assets at base cost on the date of the deceased’s death. The surviving spouse essentially steps into the deceased’s position.
In the situation where assets are acquired by heirs or legatee’s, assets acquired are treated as though they were disposed of on the day immediately before the deceased’s death, at the market value of those assets. In this instance, any capital gains are to be included in the deceased’s final tax return covering taxes up to date of death.
The consequence is that, if an heir or legatee acquires assets in this manner, the base cost for them is the market value of the assets on the date of death of the deceased.
The practicalities of death are that there are essentially three different taxpayers involved:
Executors of estates should, therefore, exercise caution when dealing with the capital gains tax consequences of a person’s death, as the type of heir or legatee could determine the treatment.
This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied upon as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your financial adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE)
Years in the industry: 1999 to …
Leon’s working knowledge of the financial services industry and his exceptional business acumen continues to guide the development and growth of the Origin Group of Companies and positions us as one of the leading niche financial service providers in southern Africa.
Leon has assisted clients in all areas of financial advice, including life, investment, retirement and estate planning. He also has extensive experience in short-term insurance, particularly in the commercial short-term insurance space.
He is a member of the Financial Planner Institute (FPI) and the Financial Intermediary Association (FIA), where he serves in a representative capacity on a regional and national level.
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