The tax reform process may be thought of as being divided into three distinct stages. First, tax policies are formulated. Secondly, they are authorised legally. Thirdly, they are implemented. This article is a preliminary examination of the redrafting process of the income tax legislation in South Africa and India. It analyses and compares the approaches policy makers and governments have followed when dealing with issues that arise at each stage of the tax reform process. It also determines whether they have learned from the experiences in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.