ONLINE TRUST TAX WORKSHOP:
The Tax Behind the Transaction
A trust transaction is never just a transaction. What did it trigger for tax?
Income earned. A right vested. A distribution made. A capital gain realised. What happens in a trust determines who is taxed, on what and why – but only if you understand the principles that drive the tax treatment.
Presented by Michael Graskie, the workshop will take you through the reasoning behind the tax treatment of trusts so that you can better understand what should be taxed, where it should be taxed and why.
Through worked examples, case studies and discussion, the workshop connects the technical principles to what actually happens when working with trusts in practice.
Whether you prepare trust tax returns, advise on trusts or work with them in practice, the workshop is designed to help you understand what drives the tax treatment, which principles apply and how they work together.
Date:
3 September 2026
Time:
08:00-13:30
Platform:
Teams
Fee:
R1850.00 (incl. VAT)
Subscriber Fees:
R1550.00 (incl. VAT)
CPD Points:
5
Subscriber Fees:
R1550.00
CPD Points:
5
Throughout the workshop, you will have the opportunity to work through practical examples and case studies, ask questions as the concepts are unpacked and see how the different principles come together in a comprehensive trust tax example.
The aim is that you leave with more than an understanding of the legislation – you should be able to take what you have learnt and use it when working with trusts and completing trust income tax returns.
What You Will Take Away
- Understand the core trust principles, including vested and discretionary rights and their tax implications
- Understand the key legislation, sections and definitions that underpin trust taxation
- Know how section 25B applies to the taxation of trust income
- Understand the Capital Gains Tax principles applicable to trusts and beneficiaries
- See how these principles are applied to practical trust tax scenarios
- Bring it all together in a comprehensive trust tax example, including how the treatment translates into the trust income tax return
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Workshop Programme
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08:00 – 08:30 | Welcome, Registration & Online Set-Up
Join the workshop, get set up and ready for the session to begin.
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08:30 – 10:30 | Session 1: Trust Principles & Section 25B
- Trust Basic Principles – Vested vs Discretionary Rights
- Trust-Specific Legislation – Key Sections, Definitions & Meaning
- Section 25B – Basic Principles
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10:30 – 11:00 | Comfort Break
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11:00 – 13:00 | Session 2: Capital Gains Tax & Practical Application
- Capital Gains Tax and Trusts
- Case Study 1 – CGT Example
- Case Study 2 – Comprehensive Trust Tax Example
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13:00 – 13:30 | The Floor Is Yours
Stay on and put your questions to Michael – revisit anything from the workshop, test your understanding or dig a little deeper into the practical application of the principles covered.
Who Should Join?
Tax Practitioners and Tax Consultants
Trust Accountants and Bookkeepers
Trustees
Trust Officers and Trust Administrators
Fiduciary Practitioners
Business Compliance Officers
Professionals involved in preparing or reviewing trust income tax returns
Meet The Speaker
Michael Graskie is a highly experienced Chartered Accountant with 34 years of professional expertise across insurance, auditing, public sector oversight, and taxation. He obtained his BCom and BCom Honours degrees from the University of Johannesburg, formerly Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), and went on to build a distinguished career grounded in technical excellence, governance, and tax administration. After beginning his career in the insurance industry, Michael discovered his passion for auditing and progressed to become a partner in audit practice.
In 2009, following a period at the Auditor-General, he joined the South African Revenue Service (SARS), where he fulfilled a range of specialist and leadership roles. He later became part of the SARS Trust Product Team, where he concluded his SARS career and made a significant contribution to the administration and development of trust-related tax matters. In 2019, Michael completed an MCom Tax through the University of Pretoria, with research focused on the complexity of trust tax legislation in selected SADC countries.
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With his rare combination of academic insight, practical tax experience, and deep exposure to trust administration, Michael brings valuable perspective to professional training and discussion on trusts, taxation, compliance, and modernisation.
As part of his duties at SARS, Michael was responsible for training staff members on a wide range of trust-related matters. He was also involved in designing and supporting trust modernisation initiatives, including the development and rollout of improvements through the annual Trust Tax Return and other implementation channels. This experience positions him as a knowledgeable and practical voice on the evolving trust tax environment and the operational realities faced by both tax practitioners and administrators.
Get the principles right. Make better sense of the tax.
