Masters Degrees (Accounting)

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Secondary school accounting and accounting at university : with particular reference to an evaluation of the relevance of secondary school accounting in Natal to the first year accounting course at the University of Natal, Durban.
(1992) Hall, Trevor William.; Seneque, P.
This dissertation examines the teaching of Accounting in secondary schools under the auspices of the Natal Education Department (NED) and the influence that exposure to Accounting at high school then has on the performance of students in the first year Accounting course at the University of Natal (Durban). Teaching and examining methods in Accounting in Natal high schools have undergone notable revision since the introduction of the current Standard 10 syllabus in 1987. The nature of the revised methodology is assessed through surveys of the opinions of those individuals with a direct involvement in high school Accounting i.e. school pupils, prospective university students, the NED Subject Committee, school Accounting teachers, university lecturers and accountants in public practice. The major findings were that a significant majority of university students believed that previous exposure to the subject at high school level was a distinct advantage in Accounting I, while a significant majority of students who had not undertaken the subject up to matric level believed, in retrospect, that they should have done so. A number of universities are aware of the advantage enjoyed by students with previous exposure to the subject and have constructed their first year Accounting courses accordingly. The University of Natal, however, continues to treat its Accounting I group as a homogeneous unit, the implications of which are covered in the study. Data was collected over a three year period (1988 to 1990) in order to compare the performance of the two groups of students in Accounting I i.e. those with matric Accounting and those without. The statistical analysis revealed that students without matric Accounting have: * significantly higher drop-out rates (and drop-outs from this group were of relatively high academic ability) * significantly lower pass rates * significantly lower Accounting I marks, despite the fact that there is no apparent difference in the academic ability of the two groups of students. Whilst the study has focused on the relevance of high school Accounting towards further study at university, the point is made that the high school Accounting course needs to cater also for a majority of pupils who will choose alternative career options.
South African deferred tax practices within the context of positive and normative accounting theories.
(1993) Samkin, James Grant.; Konar, Deenadayalen.
The primary purpose of this study is to establish whether, by examining the responses to various pronouncements covering deferred taxation, a comprehensive theory of accounting can be said to exist in South Africa. Four case studies were conducted on the responses to the various pronouncements issued by the Accounting Practices Committee on deferred tax. The respondents to these pronouncements were surveyed to establish their perception and understanding of various aspects of accounting theory, deferred taxation and corporate management's influence on the accounting standard setting process. The results of the study indicate that, although the recognition of a positive theory of accounting cannot be conclusively shown to exist, certain of the factors that can be said to drive the accounting standard setting process are identified. A positive relationship is perceived to exist between the accounting standard setting process and management compensation.
The arbitrage pricing theory in South Africa : an empirical study of the effect of pre-specified risk factors on share prices on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
(1993) Reese, Bernadine Kathleen.; Miller, Jean.
This study tests the Arbitrage Pricing Theory on the Johannesburg stock Exchange (JSE). Following the McElroy and Burmeister (1988) approach of pre-specifying a factor structure to be tested, a possible set of factors was selected on the basis of a priori theoretical and empirical evidence that they could affect share prices. All combinations of these factors were separately tested against mining and industrial shares listed on the JSE. Two sets of tests were performed, firstly, a multivariate nonlinear regression with cross-equation restrictions as a test of the APT model and secondly, a seemingly unrelated regression model. The APT test results for mining shares show that the model with gold price risk and residual market risk and the model with growth rate risk and residual market risk had the highest adjusted-R2 values. However these factors were not priced APT factors since they were not significantly different from zero. Two one-factor models yielded priced APT factors. These were the model including the gold price risk and another model with growth rate risk. Whilst these were both priced APT factors, the gold price risk model was better fitted. Four models were selected from the APT tests on industrial shares, on the basis of high adjusted-R2 values and factors which were significantly different from zero. They included the following risk factors: gold price risk and residual market risk; foreign exchange risk and residual market risk; inflation risk and residual market risk; default premium risk, gold price risk and residual market risk. The seemingly unrelated regression models had very similar adjusted-R2 values and indicated that the APT did not appear to explain the variation in share returns any better or worse than the seemingly unrelated regression model. The adjusted-R2 values for individual shares and the signs of the factor risk-premiums appear to be reasonable. The residual market risk factor was significantly different from zero for both the mining and industrial share samples, indicating that further work is required to identify the APT factors operating on the JSE.
Segment reporting and trade unions in South Africa.
(1997) Peters, Linda Dawn.; Jackson, Robert David Charles.
During the early 1970's two trends emerged in the South African business environment. The first trend was that the number of diversified enterprises started increasing, and the second trend was that there was a steady increase in the activities and power of trade unions. These two trends were considered during the evaluation of prior research on the topic of segment reporting. Prior research on segment reporting focused on the usefulness of segment reporting, the problems associated with segment identification, the objections to providing segment information, and the extent to which diversified companies disclose segment information. Using the trends identified and the prior research, the research problem developed was as follows: are the segment disclosures of South African listed companies sufficient to meet the information needs of trade unions in South Africa, and if not, what additional information do trade unions require? The research problem was limited to listed companies as it was identified that trade unions may experience difficulty in obtaining information which is not available to the general public. In addressing the problem, the following three objectives were formulated: (i) to determine if trade unions use segment information, (ii) to determine what their requirements are in respect of segment information, and (iii) if trade unions do not use segment information, to determine why segment information is not used. In order to achieve these three objectives, it was necessary to conduct a survey of trade unions on their use of segment information. This survey was undertaken as a series of replicative case studies with the primary data being obtained by means of interviews. Generalisations were then made about the use that trade unions make of segment information. The main conclusions to this research were: (i) trade unions use segment information unless they are part of a national bargaining forum, (ii) trade unions consider segment information to be at least as useful as consolidated information, and (iii) trade unions use segment information primarily to form the basis for wage negotiations and to assess overall company performance. Once these conclusions had been drawn, the results were compared to results of a survey of investment analysts in South Africa, and evaluated against proposals contained in the International Exposure Draft (E51) on segment reporting. There were similarities between the segment itnformation needs of trade unions and investment analysts, although the trade unions required more information regarding employees and the remuneration of management. Trade unions also indicated that the proposals contained in the exposure draft would be acceptable, although the unions would require more employee information on a segment basis to be disclosed. Thus, the research project achieved its objectives. In addition, areas for further research within the area of segment reporting were identified.
An analysis of transfer pricing theory and an investigation into the domestic transfer pricing practices of large listed South African industrial companies.
(1997) Vally, Imtiaz A. S.; Chukwuogor-Ndu, Chiaku.; Clulow, Alistair David.
An analysis of transfer pricing theory reveals that there are three main objectives of a transfer pricing system: the attainment of goal congruence, the facilitation of fair divisional performance evaluation and the promotion of divisional autonomy. A critical evaluation of suggested theoretically correct transfer pricing methods suggests that the simultaneous attainment of all three objectives is a difficult goal to be realised by a single transfer pricing method. The most appropriate method to suit a particular set of circumstances is contingent upon those circumstances. The transfer pricing objective considered most important in practice by large listed South African industrial companies is the facilitation of fair divisional performance evaluation. Objectives relating to simplicity and ease of application are also rated more highly than goal congruence. Both these findings are somewhat surprising based on the review of current literature. The domestic transfer pricing methods used by large listed South African industrial companies are fairly evenly split between cost and non-cost-oriented methods. The most frequently used primary transfer pricing method is market price. The use of mathematical programming and economic marginal cost prices is practically non-existent. These findings are consistent with the findings of some recent overseas studies. Policies relating to the selection of the transfer pricing method, the purchase of intermediate goods and services and the settlement of transfer pricing disputes reflects some head office management involvement in the transfer price decision process in most cases. Three organisational variables appear to have a significant association with a firm's choice of transfer pricing method. Firstly, companies with a low level of interdivisional trading use non-cost oriented transfer pricing methods whereas companies with a high level of interdivisional trading use cost-oriented methods. Secondly, transfer pricing methods selected as a result of some head office management involvement tend to be cost-oriented whereas methods selected by the divisions themselves tend to be non-cost-oriented. Thirdly, cost-oriented methods tend to be used in companies in which transfer pricing disputes are normally settled by some form of head office intervention and non-cost oriented methods are used in those companies in which disputes are normally settled by the divisions themselves.
The impact of the business purpose test on section 103(1)
(1999) Jonsson, Jennifer.; Mitchell, Lindsay David.
The aim of this collection of essays is to provide a detailed and critical commentary on and analysis of the legislation and case law relating to the impact of the 'business purposes test' on section 103(1) of the Income Tax Act. The Income Tax Act No. 58 of 162 and case law that are the subject of these essays were promulgated on or before 28 February 1999.
A critical commentary on and analysis of the general anti-avoidance section in the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 paying particular attention to the introduction of the so-called business purpose test.
(1999) Ismail, Yusuf.; Mitchell, Lindsay David.
The aim of this technical report is to provide a detailed and critical commentary on and analysis of the general anti-avoidance section in the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 paying particular attention to the introduction of the so-called business purpose test. The South African Acts that are the subject of this technical report are as follows: • The Income Tax Act 58 of 1962. • The Income Tax Act 21 of 1995. • The Income Tax Act 36 of 1996. • The Revenue Laws Amendment Act 46 of 1996. • The General Law Amendment Act 49 of 1996. • The Income Tax Act 28 of 1997. • The South African Revenue Service Act 34 of 1997. • The Estate Duty Act 45 of 1955. • The Value-Added Tax Act 89 of 1991. • The Transfer Duty Act 40 of 1949. The principal South African taxes dealt with in this technical report are as follows: • Normal Tax. • Donations Tax. • Estate Duty. Also covered is the legislation contained in the abovementioned Acts affecting estate planning schemes, generation skipping devices, income splitting schemes and tax avoidance schemes.
The use of earnings per share disclosures in annual financial statements by managers of South African equity unit trust portfolios as a performance indicator.
(2000) Suliman, Yasmeen.; Jackson, Robert David Charles.
The earnings per share ratio is often quoted in financial publications as an indictor of how well a company has performed financially. However, there is much controversy over the usefulness of earnings per share information, especially in respect of its potential for manipulation by the preparers of financial information. Recent changes to South African accounting standards through the International Harmonisation Project resulted in a revision of the Statement of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 104: Earnings per Share (AC104). Significant changes to the method of calculation and disclosure of both basic and diluted earnings per share were implemented. Unit trusts have gained popularity in South Africa over the past decade. Members of the public prefer to invest on the Johannesburg .Stock Exchange through intermediaries such as unit trusts rather than undertake investment decisions personally. Unit trust portfolio managers are in an important and a responsible position: they wield significant power on the stock exchange with their daily dealings in shares but they also carry the responsibility of making sound investment decisions. Research has tended to focus more on earnings than earnings per share. A review of literature and prior research revealed several controversial issues: the usefulness of earnings in making investment decisions, the susceptibility of both earnings and earnings per share to manipulation, the predictive value of earnings, the use of earnings in the valuation of securities and the use of earnings and earnings per share in performance measurement. The research problem was thus developed as follows: are the earnings per share disclosures of South African listed companies sufficient to meet the needs of equity unit trust portfolio managers in South Africa as a performance indicator, and if not, what additional information do they require? In addressing the research problem, the following four objectives were formulated: (i) to determine what changes have been made to earnings per share calculation and disclosure by the issue of the new ACI04, (ii) to determine what characteristics South African equity unit trust portfolio managers regard as indicative of a good financial performance indicator, (iii) to determine what impact the changes made to the earnings per share calculation and disclosure by the new AC104 has had on the use of earnings per share information by South African unit trust portfolio managers as a performance indicator, and (iv) to determine the extent of use of other similar performance indicators, such as headline earnings per share and cash flows per share, as compared to earnings per share. In order to meet these objectives, it was necessary to conduct a survey of South African equity unit trust portfolio managers. The descriptive survey method was identified as being appropriate and a mailed survey was undertaken. The main conclusions to this research were that: (i) the characteristics of a useful performance indicator are related to reliability, consistency, comparability, adequate disclosure and ease of computation and understanding, (ii) equity unit trust portfolio managers regard the changes to the calculation and disclosure of basic earnings per share to be improvements to the standard but their use of basic earnings per share as a performance indicator has remained unchanged, (iii) equity unit trust portfolio managers regard the changes to the calculation and disclosure of diluted earnings per share to be improvements to the standard and their use of diluted earnings per share as a performance indicator has, as a result, increased, (iv) headline earnings per share and diluted earnings per share are considered to be better performance indicators and are used more frequently as performance indicators than basic earnings per share. Thus the research project achieved its objectives. In addition, interesting findings in respect of other issues were identified. Further areas for research were also identified.
Section 31 : transfer pricing and thin capitalisation.
(2000) Govender, Shane.; Mitchell, Lindsay.
The aim of this technical report is to provide a detailed and informative understanding of transfer pricing and thin capitalisation. The South African Act that is the subject of this technical report is the Income Tax Act, No.58 of 1962. The principal South African taxes dealt with in this technical report are as follows: • Normal Tax • Secondary tax on companies.
Tax implications of a credit agreement.
(2001) Kotze, Tian.; Mitchell, Lindsay David.
The aim of this dissertation is to provide a detailed analysis of, and commentary on, the tax implications of a credit agreement, based on current legislation, case law and practice as applied by the Commissioner. The South African Acts that are the subject of this dissertation are as follows: • The Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (as amended). • The Value-Added Tax Act 89 of 1991 (as amended). The principal South African taxes dealt with in this dissertation are as follows: • Normal tax. • Value-added tax.
Trusts and offshore trusts.
(2002) Haffejee, Mahomed Cassim.; Garach, D.; Sullivan, Phillip Lester.
No abstract available.
Estate planning.
(2002) Garach, Persen Govin.; Garach, D.; Sullivan, Phillip Lester.
No abstract available.
A critical analysis of fringe benefits in South Africa.
(2002) Nkosi, Alfred Sandile.; Garach, D.; Sullivan, Phillip Lester.
No abstract provided.
An analysis of the approach of the courts in determining the capital or revenue nature of income and expenditure.
(2002) Maliti, T. L. C.; Garach, D.; Sullivan, Phillip Lester.
The aim of this research is to analyse the approach of the courts in determining the capital and revenue nature of income and expenditure.
The constitutional validity of the search and seizure provisions in the fiscal laws and how they impact on the taxpayer's constitutional rights.
(2002) Tulwana, Mcebisi James.; Deodutt, Jugjith.
No abstract available.
An analysis of the South African Revenue Services' recognition of unmarried partners as spouses.
(2002) Galt, Harold Hermanus.; Garach, D.; Sullivan, Phillip Lester.
The focus of this study is on the criteria and processes used by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) in recognising spouses in permanent, unmarried unions. In theoretically positioning this focus, four possible areas of tax benefits were reviewed . These include: (i) donations tax, (ii) capital gains tax, (iii) estate duty tax and (iv) transfer duty. Also , the focus of this study was positioned relative to South African taxation acts. Specifically, three Acts were selected for review, viz.: (i) the Income Tax Act, No. 58 of 1962, the Estate Duty Act, No. 45 of 1955, and the Transfer Duty Act, No. 40 of 1949. These Acts may be understood relative to the South African Constitution's framing of notions like equality - given that these Acts signal the legislation's intention to honour the constitutional rights of its tax-paying citizenry. Furthermore, a theoretical framework that highlights official and espoused perspectives of practice is reviewed as it provides a theoretical frame for this study. Given this legislative and theoretical background the following aims were focussed: (1) To identify the official and espoused criteria used by the South African Revenue Services to recognise unmarried partners as spouses, and (2) To identify the official and espoused processes used b~ the South African Revenue Services to recognise unmarried partners as spouses. The chosen methodology is an explorative descriptive methodology, as situated within a qualitative framework. Data sources are described as constituting the three tax Acts, a senior SARS official, and SARS helpdesk personnel. Data selection criteria are described , and convenience and purposive sampling are the stated data selection techniques. Document analysis and interview schedules were used to collect data. Data was managed and analysed via the use of several data analysis techniques. Results are presented and discussed. Significantly, SARS has non-specific criteria that are nebulous, and open to interpretation. Furthermore, processes are poorly stated and provide insufficient guidance to the taxpayer. Given these outcomes, this study also offers two South African legal cases that cogently illustrate criteria and processes for recognising a spouse. Each of these cases are analysed regarding the criteria and processes used to determine the definition of 'spouse'. These cases, while dealing with issues of same-sex adoption and same-sex partner's rights to remuneration benefits serve to highlight factors that may be of use to SARS. Furthermore, international case exemplars are also discussed. Specifically, Canada's taxation laws were focussed. Canada's criteria and processes used to define common-law partners (read as spouse for purposes of this study) serves as an informative case exemplar, relative to other countries also investigated in this study, viz .: the United States of America , Belgium and other European countries. Finally, several recommendations are stated , and an evaluation of the study is provided.
Residence status and its implications on income and capital gains tax.
(2004) Labuschagne, Trevor.; Sullivan, Phillip Lester.
As the international markets opened up it became imperative that the for South African taxation system be brought into line with those of its major trading partners whose tax systems are residence based. For South Africans the change to a residence base and the introduction of Capital Gains Tax in 2001 drastically altered the previous source-based tax playing fields. The purpose of this research is to investigate all aspects of residence and its effect on natural persons as well as other legal personae and to discuss how the various forms of income are affected by the new tax dispensation. The position in other fiscal dispositions is also scrutinised to give the reader a more comprehensive understanding of residence-based taxation as applied by some of South Africa's major trading partners. For foreign nationals residing in South Africa, the new system has also had its negative impact. Previously, their foreign earnings were free from local tax because of the old source base system, but this has also changed. The South African legal system is also thoroughly canvassed regarding two important concepts, namely, "resident" and "ordinary resident" and what are meant by them in terms of tax law. These concepts have also enjoyed the scrutiny of the other fiscal dispensations legal systems reviewed. Residence tests to determine the tax status of a person in South Africa and in other fiscal dispensations are investigated in this study to give anyone wishing to emigrate to other climes, a better understanding of what they can expect from a taxation point of view from the fiscal authorities there. The impact of residence on most forms of income is discussed including that of foreign workers and on other legal entities such as companies, while Capital Gains Tax, and the importance of residence on this tax is also canvassed by this study. The study concludes with a review of the standard Double Tax Agreement concluded by South Africa with most other countries and lists those countries with which it has such agreements.
A survey of South African registered Accountants' and Auditors' attitudes towards differential corporate reporting.
(2004) Wells, Michael John Cuthbert.; Stainbank, Lesley June.
The aim of this dissertation is to investigate aspects of the differential corporate reporting debate in South Africa. The dissertation summarises the background to the current position and findings in respect of all previous South African research and selected previous international research. The dissertation reports the results of a postal survey of South African registered accountants' and auditors' perceptions of the suitability of selected South African statements of generally accepted accounting practice to a range of South African entities varied by size, legal form and financial statement user base. The dissertation provides evidence of (i) the need for differential corporate reporting in South Africa, (ii) the need for multiple differential reporting thresholds in South Africa, and (iii) the need for differential reporting options to include both presentation and disclosure and recognition and measurement concessions. The dissertation also raises some questions for future research.
The approach by our courts of the apportionment of expenditure in terms of section 11(a) read with section 23(g) of the Income Tax Act no. 58 of 1962.
(2004) Ngubane, Dumisani Richard.; Hafejee, M.
The primary aim of a dissertation is to try to discover information that could assist in solving a particular problem at hand. The object of this dissertation is to determine the approach by our courts to apportionment of expenditure in terms of section 11(a) read with section 23(g) of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962. A single expenditure incurred for more than one purpose poses a problem when deduction of such an expenditure, is sought by a taxpayer. The problem that ttie courts have always encountered when dealing with the deductibility of expenditure incurred for a dual purpose, is that there is no provision in the Income Tax Act that directs what to do when faced with such a problem. The courts have always chosen apportionment of expenditure as a solution to the deductibility of expenditure incurred for more than one purpose, one such purpose being for tax purposes and the other being for non tax purposes. Apportionment of expenditure is used as a device to allocate part of the expenditure, which was incurred to produce income, as taxable expenditure, and another part of that expenditure which was incurred to produce non-taxable income, as non-deductible expenditure. This dissertation seeks to find out whether courts do take into consideration the provisions of the Income Tax Act applicable to the deduction of expenditure when called upon to make a decision on a particular case. The South African Revenue Services use apportionment of expenditure where it deems appropriate and the courts have never opposed it. The Legislature, which is responsible for the enactment of the act, seems to be happy to lie low, and allow the courts to dominate in handling the disputes that arise as a result of expenditure incurred with a dual purpose. It has been suggested that whilst the Income Tax Act does not provide any direction in situations where the deductibility of dual purposes expenditure is in dispute, apportionment is implied in the terms of section 11(a) read with section 23(g) of the Income Tax Act no 58 of 1962. The main aim of this research is to establish whether the path taken by the courts is the correct one in terms of section 11(a) and section 23(g) of the Income Tax Act no 58 of 1962. It is hoped that this work will be of assistance to both The South African Revenue Services and the taxpayers at large in terms of understanding that the courts are within the bounds of the Act.
Tax and other incentives to small, medium, micro enterprises in South Africa.
(2004) Pancha, Bhagwandas Bhana.; Haffejee, M.
The promotion of Small, Medium and Micro enterprises (SMMEs) has been identified as key strategy of government for employment creation and income generation. For some time now small business owners had to fend for themselves. Small business was neglected and was in the main ignored by government. Since the 1994 democratic process the challenge for the new order has been to create an enabling environment for the small business sector of the economy. The historical neglect and the consequent policy vacuum has had to be re assessed. To this end the 1995 White Paper on a National Strategy for the development and Promotion of Small Business in South Africa was the first major effort by government to design a policy framework targeting the small business sector. The promulgation of the Small Business Act in 1996 and the establishment of the Ntsika Enterprise Promotion agency under the aegis of the Department of Trade and Industry has attempted to provide direction and facilitate the provision of Non Financial support to the Small Business Sector. Various incentive schemes have been developed and put into operation together with a range of tax incentives to help promote Small Business. Eight years have passed since the promulgation of the Small Business Act and the perception that finance for SMMEs has been the greatest stumbling block to development. However the failure of the vast numbers of micro lending agencies have revealed that low levels of entrepreneurship has led to their demise. The provision of meaningful positive incentives need to be measured and their effectiveness needs to be tested. This study will try and identify the incentives available.

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