TRANSFER DUTY OR VAT PAYABLE: REMEMBER TO CHECK THE OFFER TO PURCHASE

When buying a property, the usual process is that transfer duty is payable by the buyer on the property, but if the property is registered in the name of a company it will be subject to VAT instead.

Transfer duty is the usual tax levied on the sale of immovable property and VAT is levied on the supply of goods and services by a VAT vendor. Transfer duty is not to be confused with transfer fees, which is what is paid to the conveyancer for his services to transfer the property from seller to buyer, says Nelio Mendes, marketing manager at SAProperty.com.

To ascertain whether VAT or transfer duty is payable, one usually checks the status of the seller: if the seller is registered for VAT purposes, VAT is payable on the transaction and no transfer duty is payable by the purchaser in the transaction. If the seller is not registered for VAT purposes, then transfer duty is payable on the transaction by the purchaser.

The current rate of VAT is 15% and when buying, it must be borne in mind that the buyer will never pay VAT as well as transfer duty but he must budget for that extra amount if VAT is payable. The usual amount he would pay in transfer duty is around 8%, so the difference might come as a "nasty surprise" if he didn't realise that VAT was payable.

The other question which arises is whether VAT is included in the purchase price or not. As a general rule in South Africa, any purchase price must be VAT inclusive. Accordingly, if the transaction is a VAT transaction, then the purchase price will be inclusive of VAT unless the contract specifies that VAT is excluded from the purchase price. 

But before signing an offer to purchase, ask the right questions, he advises. The buyer must ask whether the seller is a VAT vendor. If the seller is indeed so, then the property forms part of his taxable supply.

Always remember in the VAT equation, said Mendes, that this VAT can be claimed back but at the time of selling the property, 15% must be set aside for the Receiver of Revenue. People must know and remember this as it can be quite a large amount that has to be factored in and taken note of by the agent.

"Another thing to remember if you are selling," said Mendes, "is that if the property is VAT registered that you tell the agent this, so that he is aware of this fact. The commission paid to the agent must be calculated on the nett amount and not the gross sales amount."

For further information contact Nelio Mendes on 021 427 1600 or email nelio@saproperty.com.