Horizontal equity in the taxation of the income of individuals in the Republic of South Africa subsequent to the submission of the Margo report

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine whether horizontal equity in the taxation of individuals in South Africa improved after the legislative changes from 1984 to 1995 and the Katz Commission recommendations. After an extensive literature study, horizontal equity in the taxation of individuals in South Africa was defined as the equivalent tax treatment in equivalent economic circumstances for the same economic units. The household as the economic unit, is the unit to be considered when evaluating horizontal equity. The study also reviewed the solutions found in other countries for the dilemma of the one-breadwinner versus the two-breadwinner married couple. It was found that the tax systems of most countries provide relief to the one-breadwinner couple while the working wife was taxed separately from her husband or had the option to be taxed separately. An important part of this study compared the tax of the unmarried taxpayer and the married couple as the units for horizontal equity. It was found that, although two-breadwinner married couples were discriminated against until the separate taxation of married couples was introduced, the one-breadwinner couple and single taxpayers with dependants now suffer more horizontal inequity than was previously the case. The research indicated that to attain greater horizontal equity provision should also be made for families and households with only one breadwinner (breadwinner being defined as the provider in a one-breadwinner couple or a ·taxpayer with dependents). Recommendations made to alleviate this inequity are transferable allowances for spouses, or, without ~ontravening the Constitution's demands for equality, a separate rate schedule for breadwinners, a fixed allowance or rebate for breadwinners, or a proportional allo~ance depending on the breadwinner's income. The study also addressed the financial and administrative implications and political acceptability of these recommendations and concluded that the proportional allowance, although expensive, would come the closest to providing the greatest horizontal equity. The research into the international tax measures to promote equity revealed that horizontal equity could be further promoted by providing tax relief for child-care and day-care facilities. This would benefit both the two-breadwinner married couple and the single parent with dependent children.