The Davis Tax Committee (DTC) takes its mandate from its Terms of Reference. Amongst other items, “The terms of reference for the Tax Review Committee are to inquire into the role of the tax system in the promotion of inclusive economic growth, employment creation, development and fiscal sustainability. The committee will take into account recent domestic and international developments and, particularly, the long term objectives of the National Development Plan.”

The DTC received numerous requests to inquire into the carbon tax proposed by National Treasury in various discussion papers released to the public since 2006. National Treasury also released its draft proposed carbon tax legislation on 2 November 2015 for public comment.

Although not specifically listed in its Terms of Reference, there is sufficient scope for the DTC to examine the proposed carbon tax and make recommendations to the Minister of Finance, based on the following wording in the DTC’s Terms of Reference:

“The Committee is mandated to study any further tax issues which, in the Committee’s view, should be addressed in order to promote inclusive economic growth, employment creation, development and fiscal sustainability.”

In light of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris this December, the DTC expedited the submission of its comments and recommendations on the proposed carbon tax to the Minister of Finance as input for South Africa’s representation at the conference. A DTC report was submitted to the Minister on 29 October 2015. He subsequently approved the release of the report for public comment.

In compiling the report, the DTC consulted widely and took into account 45 written and oral submissions from the public.  Drafts of the report have been reviewed and discussed by the committee as a whole in the production of the signed-off final version.

The DTC will gladly take into account any responses that may be generated by the report and will produce a further report accordingly.

The DTC’s First Interim Report on the proposed Carbon Tax for South Africa is now available on the DTC website, www.taxcom.org.za Comments on the report can be sent by e-mail to taxcom@sars.gov.za or by post to PO Box 2344, Brooklyn Square, Pretoria, 0075.

The closing date for comments is 31 January 2016.

Questions relating to this Media Statement can be directed to the Secretariat for the Davis Tax Committee on the telephone number 012 432 9390.

Issued by South African Revenue Service