Mandlakazi, Phiwokuhle2024-06-062024-06-062022Rudd, Reinhard. (2024). The VAT implications for residential property developers in relation to short term letting or temporary letting of a dwelling: a comparative study of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Estonia [Master’s dissertation PhD thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. Wiredspace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38610https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38610University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg A research report to be submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce (Specialising in Taxation)The purpose for which a property will be used is an essential element in establishing proper value- added tax (VAT) treatment. The VAT implications for property developers where the developer may have to temporarily let a dwelling or dwellings before finding a suitable buyer still remain unclear even after the promulgation of the new section 18D which came into effect on 1 April 2022. Property developers had to pay VAT on the open market value of the property which had been substantially higher than the VAT that was claimed on the costs incurred on the developmentof the properties. This had a negative cash flow effect on the property developers. The new section 8D is addressing the issues previously experienced when dealing with VAT on the letting of residential dwellings that were developed for sale. This section however, still leaves a lot of questions unanswered because o f its failure to address all possible transactions that may result from temporary leasing and the subsequent sale of residential dwellings. This study considers the challenges experienced or that may be experienced by property developers and the implications of the VAT regulations where residential property in a dwelling is concerned. The implications on property developers where dwellings are temporarily let to cover certain costs before f inding a suitable buyer are examined. The study will examine the VAT implication onproperty developers in relation to temporary letting of a dwelling in South Africa. The South African VAT implications will be compared to the VAT implications in New Zealand, Australia and Estoniaen© 2022 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.UCTDValue-added taxGoods and services taxResidential propertyProperty developersTemporary letting, change in usDwellingSDG-8: Decent work and economic growthDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg