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Value-Added Tax Act, 1991 (Act No. 89 of 1991)

Part VI : Payment, Recovery and Refund Tax

41. Liability for tax in respect of certain past supplies or importations

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act (other than the provisions of section 41B)—

[Words preceding section 41(a) substituted by section 11 of Notice No. 16, GG 42169, dated 17 January 2019 (Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018)]

(a) no amount of tax otherwise properly chargeable and payable by any person or not deductible by him under this Act, shall be recoverable by the Commissioner in respect of any past supply of goods or services or any past importation of goods if, in terms of a general written ruling by the Commissioner or a general oral ruling given by him prior to 9 July 1993 which had not been withdrawn by him at the time at which the said person became contractually obliged to supply or receive such goods or services, as the case may be, no tax was payable or a deduction was allowed in respect of such supply or importation;
(b) no further amount of tax shall be recoverable by the Commissioner in respect of or in relation to any past supply of goods or services or any past importation of goods if, in terms of a general written ruling by the Commissioner or a general oral ruling given by him prior to 9 July 1993 which had not been withdrawn by him at the time of such supply or importation, the tax payable or deductible in respect of such supply or importation had been calculated and paid or had been deducted in accordance with such ruling, as the case may be;
(c) where any written decision or, prior to 9 July 1993 an oral decision has been given by the Commissioner—
(i) to the effect that any person is required or not required to be registered as a vendor in terms of the provisions of this Act; or
(ii) as to the taxable or non-taxable nature of any supply of goods or services by any person or of the importation of goods by any person (including any decision as to the applicability of any exemption or rate of zero per cent) or as to the deductibility or non-deductibility in terms of section 16(3) of tax in respect of the supply to any person of goods or services or the importation by any person of goods,

and such decision is subsequently withdrawn, such withdrawal shall, as respects any contractual obligation incurred in accordance with the decision given by the Commissioner by the person concerned before such withdrawal to supply or receive the goods or services concerned, not affect the liability or non-liability of that person for the payment of tax in accordance with such decision or his entitlement or otherwise to a deduction of tax, as determined in accordance with such decision, as the case may be, provided such decision was accepted by the said person and all the material facts were known to the Commissioner when the decision was given:

(d) [Section 41(d) substituted by section 28 of the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2015 (Act No. 23 of 2015)]