Resumen
AbstractClient loyalty programmes are a common phenomenon in the South African market. Despite the fact that client loyalty programmes have been prevalent in South Africa since the 1980s, the South African Revenue Service has issued minimal guidance on the value-added tax treatment of client loyalty programme transactions. The main objective of the research was to determine whether South African client loyalty programme suppliers correctly account for client loyalty programme transactions for value-added tax purposes. In order to meet this objective, available local literature was analysed to determine the proposed value-added tax treatment of a client loyalty programme transaction. The proposed correct value-added tax treatment was compared with a survey circulated to a population of client loyalty programme suppliers in South Africa. The comparison indicated that in practice the Value-Added Tax Act 89 of 1991 is not always interpreted correctly. This incorrect tax treatment could result in financial loss to the client loyalty programme supplier as taxpayer