In South Africa, providing interest-free loans to directors is a common question, especially for smaller companies with close relationships between management and directors. It’s essential to understand both the Companies Act and tax laws before proceeding.

Loans Under the Companies Act

Section 45 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 allows loans to directors, provided:

• The board approves the loan through a formal resolution.
• The loan doesn’t endanger the company’s financial health; the company must remain solvent and liquid.
• Shareholders are informed if the loan amount is significant.

These loans are permitted but must be transparent and not compromise the company’s stability.

Tax Implications

Even if legal under the Companies Act, interest-free or below-market-rate loans can trigger tax consequences:

1. Fringe Benefits Tax:
   
   If the company provides an interest-free or low-interest loan, SARS may treat the difference between the loan’s interest rate and the official market rate as a fringe benefit. The director is taxed on this difference as additional income.
   • Example: If the official rate is 10% and the company loans R100,000 interest-free, SARS considers R10,000 (10% of R100,000) as taxable income for the director.
2. Deemed Dividends:
   
   

   If the loan is at a below-market rate, Section 64E(4) of the Income Tax Act may deem the difference between the interest charged and the official rate as a dividend. The company would then pay dividends tax (currently 20%) on this amount.

   • Example: A R1 million loan at 6% interest (when the official rate is 10%) would result in a deemed dividend of R40,000, with R8,000 owed in dividends tax.
3. Loans to Trusts (Section 7C):
   
   If the loan is to a trust benefiting the director or their family, Section 7C may treat the difference between the actual and market rates as a donation, subject to 20% donations tax.

To avoid fringe benefits tax, deemed dividends, and donations tax, companies should charge market-related interest on loans to directors. This ensures compliance with both the Companies Act and tax regulations, reducing the risk of unnecessary tax liabilities.

While interest-free loans to directors are allowed, they come with potential tax implications. It’s advisable to charge interest at or above the market rate to avoid extra tax costs and ensure legal compliance.

We at waufm and waucomply are here to assist you to avoid getting on the wrong side of SARS. Contact Dale Petersen on 021 819 7802 or at dpetersen@wauko.com to connect with us.