The Carbon Tax Bill which came into effect on the 1st of June 2019 states that any person, partnership, trust, community, municipal or public listed entity, who conducts an activity which results in the emission of greenhouse gases above the allowed threshold will have to pay the carbon tax.

This includes carbon emission from air conditioners and kettles to make coffee as well as how employees travel to work. A nominal tax rate of R120 will be levied per ton of carbon emitted. However, depending on the various tax-free allowances, the rate could drop to between R6 and R48 per tonne. 

As a result, 5inc, specialists in waste transformation and socio development project implementation, has launched its one-day training workshop on Carbon Tax. This one-day training workshop is aimed at sustainability managers, energy managers and corporate managers. The training will provide attendees with an understanding of how the Carbon Tax Bill works and, more importantly, how to change company behaviour in order to lower carbon emissions. 

Presenting the training, Yasmine Miemiec, Managing Director at 5inc  says, “Every company generates emissions through activities such as staff travelling to work. Companies need to learn to calculate each and every activity. This training will provide  companies with a broad overview of the Carbon Tax Bill, the requirements of the bill and how to apply the provisions of the bill. This will include the formulas to calculate emissions.”

As all companies will have to fill in a carbon tax form under the new bill, the workshop will be highly beneficial from companies who have a large carbon footprint to those small companies. Topics will include tax standards used to demonstrate tax liability, Greenhouse Gas emissions, inventory and sources and how to identify, calculate and report emissions as per regulatory requirements. Participants will also learn how to calculate carbon tax liability and use allowance to maximise tax reductions. 

“The idea behind the carbon tax is to drive a change of mindset such as the use of windows for natural light. Organisations need to comply and if they do not have an understanding of what the bill entails, then they will not be able to change their patterns accordingly.

Moreover, South Africa is one of the highest polluters in the world yet we signed the 2030 Sustainable Goals Agreement. Organisations  must reduce tax liability through our behaviour and this training course will help them to achieve this,” Miemiec concludes.