{"id":144610,"date":"2023-02-08T19:24:59","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T13:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.regenesys.net\/reginsights\/?p=144610"},"modified":"2025-11-18T16:12:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T10:42:28","slug":"tips-to-strategically-plan-your-finances-ahead-of-the-tax-year-end-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.regenesys.net\/reginsights\/tips-to-strategically-plan-your-finances-ahead-of-the-tax-year-end-part-1","title":{"rendered":"Tips to Strategically Plan Your Finances Ahead of the Tax Year End \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
The month of February is not only for celebrating love, but it is also the last month of the tax year, and therefore it is time to take advantage of certain tax incentives if you have not yet done so. Strategically planning to utilise these exemptions and deductions can be very beneficial to your investment journey in the long run, and sometimes all it takes is just being aware of them.<\/p>\n
Over the next two articles we will look at some important annual tax incentives to consider from a personal finance point of view \u2013 consider it a bit of self love.\u00a0<\/span>We will start by looking at two products and their tax considerations and benefits that are most commonly used to save discretionary funds \u2013 Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) and your emergency fund which will usually be saved in liquid interest bearing products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every year, each South African is allowed to contribute a maximum of R36,000 to their TFSA and a maximum of R500,000 can be contributed towards this Investment Product over each investors\u2019 lifetime. The benefit of this product is that all growth accumulated in this product will not be subject to any taxes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This rule applies whether the growth was made from interest, dividend or selling assets at a profit. It is therefore to the investor\u2019s benefit to contribute the maximum annual amount each year so that there are as many funds in the product as allowed, that can grow without being subjected to tax.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Keep in mind that should the allowed contribution thresholds be breached there are heavy penalties. It is also important to remember that there are no roll-overs to the next tax year so utilising your allowed R36,000 each year must be considered a priority towards your saving goal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One more limitation of a TFSA is that when you make a withdrawal from the fund, the funds taken out can not be replaced at a later stage. It is therefore advised to invest money in a TFSA that is saved towards longer term goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n TFSA can be opened with most big banks and investment houses in South Africa. You can have more than one TFSA, but the contribution limits apply to your aggregated TFSA portfolio. From an admin point of view, it may be easier to just top up your existing TFSA each year, but by opening a new TFSA with a new product provider, you may get access to their range of underlying funds which enhances your investments\u2019 diversification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember that there aren\u2019t limitations on what you can invest in as an underlying investment within this product \u2013 this means you can invest in equity, property and interest bearing products and each provider will have their own range of funds in which you can invest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTax Free Savings Accounts\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n