Tax and Estate Planning

Optimise your tax position and protect your legacy

Effective tax and estate planning can make a significant difference to your wealth over time. Through Old Mutual Personal Financial Advice, we structure your finances to minimise unnecessary tax burden and ensure your legacy is handled as you intend.

Overview

Tax and estate planning are two sides of the same coin - both are about making sure your hard-earned wealth goes where you want it to, rather than being eroded unnecessarily. At SVZ AND ASSOCIATES, Sean is both a CFP® professional and a registered DoMyTax tax practitioner, bringing deep expertise in both areas.

South Africa's tax landscape is complex, with income tax, capital gains tax, donations tax, and estate duty all impacting your wealth. We help you navigate these complexities, using legitimate strategies to minimise your tax burden while remaining fully compliant with SARS requirements.

Estate planning ensures that when the time comes, your assets are distributed according to your wishes, your loved ones are provided for, and unnecessary costs and delays are avoided. We work closely with legal professionals to ensure your will, trust structures, and beneficiary nominations are all properly coordinated.

What We Offer

Income Tax Optimisation

Strategic use of tax-deductible contributions, tax-efficient investment vehicles, and income structuring to legally minimise your annual tax liability.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Planning

Managing the timing and structure of asset disposals to optimise your CGT position, including making use of annual exclusions and primary residence exemptions.

Will Drafting Coordination

Through Old Mutual, we help you draft a new will or update your existing one, ensuring it reflects your current wishes and works efficiently with your broader financial plan.

Trust Structures

Advising on whether trust structures are appropriate for your situation, including inter-vivos trusts for asset protection and testamentary trusts for minor beneficiaries.

Tax Return Assistance

As a registered tax practitioner, Sean can assist with the preparation and submission of your annual tax returns, ensuring accuracy and compliance with SARS.

Client Stories

What tax and estate planning clients say

9 reviews

“Sean has helped me with my financial planning and taxes for many years. He has always been professional, personable and gone the extra mile. I highly recommend his services.”

Gary S.

Google Review · Google review published on 2024-02-01

“Very happy with the prompt and professional assistance received regarding my tax returns. Would highly recommend.”

Colleen K.

Google Review · Google review published on 2024-04-01

“Thank you Sean and his brilliant support staff, my Tax profile was a mess and I got an sms stating I owed them money. I reached out to Sean and in a matter of days I got a refund from SARS. Thank you for your brilliant service.”

Alex C.

Google Review · Google review published on 2024-06-01

“I had been involved in a hit and run and my car was damaged. I was referred to Timeka who has excellent service by the way and super friendly. She helped me get the claim sorted with the insurance and was quick and efficient.”

Tyler K.

Google Review · Google review published on 2024-08-01

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about tax and estate planning - answered by our team.

Absolutely. Without a will, your estate will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act, which may not reflect your wishes. A properly drafted will ensures your assets go to the people and causes you care about, and can significantly reduce the time and cost of winding up your estate.

There are several legitimate strategies: maximising retirement fund contributions (tax-deductible up to 27.5% of income), using a TFSA, structuring investments tax-efficiently, timing asset sales to manage CGT, and ensuring you claim all eligible deductions. We help you identify and implement these strategies.

Estate duty is a tax of 20% on the first R30 million of your estate's net value (above the R3.5 million abatement) and 25% on amounts exceeding R30 million. Proper estate planning can significantly reduce this liability through tools like insurance, trusts, and spousal bequests.

Not necessarily - trusts have become more complex and costly to administer, and SARS has tightened rules around their tax treatment. However, trusts can still be valuable for asset protection, providing for minor children, and certain estate planning scenarios. We'll advise whether a trust makes sense for your situation.

Review your will at least every 3-5 years, or whenever there's a significant life event: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary, or a major change in your financial situation. An outdated will can cause serious problems.