Find out more about Solar tax incentive for businesses in South Africa here.
As from 1 January 2016, Section 12b of the Income Tax Act (South Africa) was amended from a three-year (50% – 30% – 20%) accelerated depreciation allowance on renewable energy to an even quicker depreciation allowance of ONE year (100%).
In 2023, this section was updated and replaced by section 12BA, this incentive is an enhancement
of the existing renewable energy tax incentive.
This is a temporary incentive that enhances the current renewable energy tax incentive available in section 12B of the Income Tax Act. The incentive is only available for two years from 1 March 2023 until and including 28 February 2025. The incentive’s temporary nature aims to encourage businesses to respond sooner by investing into assets used for renewable energy production.
The temporary incentive increases the amount claimable from 100% to 125%.
This accelerated depreciation allowance came about from a proposal in the 2015 draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill that the definition of solar energy be amended to distinguish between photo-voltaic solar energy of more than 1 megawatt, photo-voltaic solar energy of less than 1 megawatt and concentrated solar energy. The amended Section 12b provision now provides for an accelerated capital allowance of 100% in the first year, in respect of photo-voltaic solar energy of less than 1 megawatt.
The reason for the change is to accelerate and incentivise the development of smaller photo-voltaic solar energy projects, as it has a low impact on water and environmental consumption. This is also intended to help address the energy shortages facing South Africa in a more environmentally friendly way.
Section 12B of the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962, as amended (the ‘Act’), provides for a capital allowance for movable assets used in the production of renewable energy. More specifically, it allows for a deduction equal to 100% basis in respect of any plant or machinery brought into use in a year of assessment for the first time and used in a process of manufacture or any other process which is of a similar nature. It is important to note that the allowance is only available if the asset is brought into use for the first time by the taxpayer. In other words, the allowance is not limited to new or unused assets. The wording merely prevents the taxpayer from claiming the section 12B allowance twice on the same asset.
What does this mean for your company? Currently, company tax in South-Africa is 28%. With this incentive, you can deduct the value of your new solar power system as a depreciation expense from your companies’ profits. This means that your companies income tax liability will be decreased by the same value as the value of the installed solar system. This reduction can also be carried over to the next financial year as a deferred tax asset. In effect it is the same as getting a 28% discount on the price of your solar system!
With this incentive, it makes the financial model of a commercial roof-top, grid-tied, solar power system look very attractive. Above is an example of a client in the City of Joburg municipality. If the system is financed, they will be cash-flow positive from year 2. If the system is bought with cash-upfront, the system will pay for itself in under 5 years. The effect of the accelerated depreciation incentive can be seen clearly in year one.
To find out more about grid tied solar power click here
More info here: SARS guide to Taxation in South Africa 2015/2016.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ENHANCED RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVE FOR BUSINESSES
Find out how we can help your company save on your income tax and electricity bill, contact us today.
Find out more about our solar system planning, supply and installation services here:
https://greenenergysolutions.co.za/commercial-solar-and-backup-power/
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