The budget speech & your finances: What you need to know

The national budget isn’t just about numbers - it shapes the legal, tax, and regulatory realities that affect every South African resident. Whether you're an individual taxpayer, trustee, business owner, or corporate executive, understanding the implications of the 2025 Budget Speech is crucial for informed decision-making.

That’s why our expert panel, featuring Francois FoucheTanya Strauss, and Andrè van Niekerk, alongside Brendon Jones, CEO of the Adansonia Group, unpacked key takeaways from the 2025 national budget. Facilitated by Dr Damian Viviers from PH Attorneys, this discussion covered everything from potential tax changes to compliance shifts that could impact your personal and business finances and planning. 

Some of the takeaways you don’t want to miss: 

Taxation: In terms of taxation, we did not see the usual bracket relief that we have come to expect over time.  

Discussions around wealth tax are gaining momentum. While South Africa already has a form of wealth tax, it appears that an additional type may be on the cards in future. This is unlikely to be the last we hear on the matter. As advisors and planners, we will need to remain aware of this possibility. 

Economic risks: Current global uncertainties hold economic risk. Advisors must understand the fluidity of the current landscape and ensure client strategies and planning are flexible and able to adjust rapidly to changing circumstances.  

Retirement & Immigration: You might be impacted by the budget if you are a South African wishing to return and retire in South Africa, or a foreigner looking to retire in the country. Currently, lump sums and pension annuities received by South African residents from foreign retirement funds or salaries earned outside South Africa are usually exempt from tax. The budget has flagged this as a potential loophole, and the proposal aims to remove this exemption. 

These insights—and more—were dissected by our panel of experts.  
 
LISTEN to the full discussion below:

March 26, 2025
Navigating financial emigration

Navigating financial emigration

In recent years, South Africa has seen a notable rise in financial emigration. This shift comes with significant tax implications, as individuals who cease to be tax residents must navigate complex regulations and financial considerations. Understanding these implications is crucial for anyone considering this move. Financial emigration refers to the formal process by which South African taxpayers alter their tax residency status, change their status with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) for exchange control purposes and relocate their financial assets to other countries. This often involves transferring wealth, investments, and retirement funds offshore. The South African Revenue Services now mainly oversees this process, allowing individuals to terminate their tax residency in South Africa while effectively transferring their finances overseas.

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