Environmental policy integration in terms of section 37d of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962

Abstract

Environmental policy integration is essential in achieving environmental sustainability goals across non-environmental sectors. Dilution of environmental goals in environmental policy integration should be avoided. The conservation tax incentive of the repealed section 37C(5) read with section 18A of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962, replaced by section 37D, represents environmental policy integration in tax legislation. The study primarily aimed to determine whether the replacement will benefit contracted landowners, using historical comparative methodology. Secondarily, a historical review of the literature on environmental policy integration and alternative incentives for private conservation efforts was performed. Although contracted landowners might obtain a smaller tax benefit annually, they will receive the same total tax benefit over the entire period of the deduction. They will have certainty regarding their annual tax benefit. As certainty is preferred by most landowners, the study concluded that dilution of environmental policy integration goals will not result from the amended legislation.