Tax Law
Core concepts
Angolan tax law is built on the principle of legality (taxes must be created by law), equality, ability to pay, and the prohibition of retroactive taxation. Candidates must know the main taxes: the Industrial Tax, the Personal Income Tax (IRT), the Value Added Tax (IVA), stamp duty, and property tax. They must also understand the structure of the tax obligation (taxable event, taxable base, rate, and taxpayer), the powers of the tax administration (assessment, inspection, collection), and the taxpayer's rights, including the right to contest assessments and to claim refunds.
Traps
A common trap is confusing the taxable event with the taxable base. Questions also test the difference between liquidação (assessment) and cobrança (collection), and the time limits for assessment and for contestation. Watch for the rule that tax law is interpreted strictly, and that exemptions must be expressly provided by law.
Rule of thumb
For any tax question, identify who pays, on what, at what rate, and when. Most errors come from misidentifying the taxable event.
Worked example
A company receives a service invoice from a foreign supplier. The question is whether withholding applies: the taxable event is the payment for the service, and the obligation to withhold arises at the moment of payment, even if the supplier is abroad.