If you’re a small business owner aged 55 or older, the 2026 Budget contained some very good news. Not only has the CGT exemption on the sale of small business...
Selling Your Business to Retire? Get This Tax Relief!
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Taxation
Annual Employee Tax Recon Due End May
The Annual Employer Reconciliation Declaration (EMP501) remains a focus area for SARS. Employers have until the end of May to submit their declarations for...
Your Tax Deadlines for May 2026
07 May – PAYE submissions and payments 25 May – VAT manual submissions and payments 28 May – Excise duty payments 29 May – VAT electronic submissions and...
Your Tax Deadlines for April 2026
01 April: Start of the 2026/27 Financial Year 07 April: PAYE submissions and payments 24 April: VAT manual submissions and payments 29 April: Excise duty...
15% Global Minimum Tax (GMT) Goes Live at SARS
The global minimum tax (GMT) – called an “agreement that will really change the world” – will be implemented in South Africa by SARS in 2026/27. While it may...
New VAT Thresholds: Thinking of Deregistering?
The recent increases in the compulsory VAT registration threshold to R2.3 million and in the voluntary registration threshold to R120,000 are widely welcomed....
When Growth Is a Tax Problem
Growth feels like progress. Sales increase, staff numbers rise, and profit improves. Yet each of these shifts changes your tax position. Here we examine how...
Appointment of New SARS Commissioner
Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu Appointed as New SARS Commissioner In a landmark move for South Africa’s tax administration, President Cyril Ramaphosa has...
2026 Budget Speech: Tax Highlights
South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech introduced a series of tax adjustments aimed at maintaining revenue stability while offering targeted relief to households...
2026 Budget Speech: Fiscal Policy
South Africa’s 2026 Budget highlights government’s spending priorities over the medium term, emphasising the need to balance fiscal sustainability with...
Your Tax Deadlines for March 2026
06 March – PAYE submissions and payments 25 March – VAT manual submissions and payments 30 March – Excise duty payments 31 March – End of the 2025/6 Financial...
Budget 2026: Your Tax Tables and Tax Calculator
Budget 2026 has brought long-overdue relief to taxpayers by not imposing VAT or income tax hikes and by adjusting the tables for tax rates, rebates and...
Budget 2026: What it Means for You and Your Business
Taxpayers will enjoy long-awaited tax relief with much good news contained in the 2026 Budget. It scrapped the previously announced R20 billion in tax...
Taxpayers Brace for a Tougher SARS in 2026
Taxpayers Brace for a Tougher SARS in 2026 South African taxpayers are heading into the new tax year with a clearer picture of what to expect - and the...
Your Tax Deadlines for February 2026
06 February – PAYE submissions and payments 25 February – VAT manual submissions and payments 26 February – Excise duty payments 27 February – VAT electronic...
February Provisional Tax Deadline: How to Avoid Stiff Underestimation Penalties
The second provisional tax deadline for the 2026 financial year is just days away on 27 February 2026. This is an important and tricky deadline, because this...
Your Tax Deadlines for January 2026
07 January – PAYE submissions and payments 19 January – End of Filing Season 2025 for Provisional Taxpayers and End of Filing Season 2025 for Trusts 23...
ISA402: How to assess if services provided by a third party is considered a service organisation and when ISA 402.5 exemption applies
ISA 402 specifically excludes services provided by financial institutions that are limited to executing transactions specifically authorized by the entity...
South African Revenue Service (SARS) updates
Tax Statistics and Revenue Performance SARS and National Treasury have released the 18th annual Tax Statistics bulletin, showing strong revenue growth. For...
Your Tax Deadlines for December 2025
05 December – PAYE submissions and payments 24 December – VAT manual submissions and payments 30 December – Excise duty payments 31 December – VAT electronic...
Moving from Freelancer to Employer: The Complete Guide
Whatever your line of work, moving from solo-business or freelancer to taking on staff is a big choice usually prompted by steady demand you can’t handle on...
Outstanding Tax Debt? SARS’ Expedited Debt Compromise Ends 31 December 2025
To offer taxpayers a way to settle outstanding tax debt swiftly and to regularise their tax affairs on more favourable terms, SARS has launched an expedited...
NPO? NGO? NPC? PBO? What’s the Difference Anyway?
Helping others should be the simplest thing in the world, but the truth is there’s a lot more red tape than you might expect. You’re just trying to run a...
Your Tax Deadlines for November 2025
07 November – PAYE submissions and payments 25 November – VAT manual submissions and payments 27 November – Excise duty payments 28 November – VAT electronic...
Surviving Trust Tax Season 2025 – And Beyond
Trust Tax Season 2025 opened in September and SARS has already issued reminders to trustees that all trusts, including those that are not economically active,...
Scam Alert: Beware of “Final Demand – Debt Management” Letter
Taxpayers should be alert to a rising phishing threat - fraudsters are sending out fake PDF letters with subjects such as “LEGAL RULING SUMMON DEMAND AS AT 21...
SARS Expands Oversight of Crypto Transactions
South Africa’s tax authorities are preparing to implement new reporting standards that will bring cryptocurrency transactions squarely within the formal tax...
Treasury Eyes Foreign Pensions: What It Means for Retirees
Recent proposals from the National Treasury suggest a major shift in how foreign pensions and retirement benefits are taxed in South Africa. Currently, under...
VAT Modernisation SA: Guiding Businesses Through South Africa’s Real-Time VAT Transition
South Africa is on the path to a real-time VAT reporting system, with full implementation expected by 2028. This will see a shift away from periodic...
SARS Relief Possible for Taxpayers
A forthcoming legislative change could offer relief to South African taxpayers, but only under stringent conditions. Under the proposed amendments in the 2025...
Your Tax Deadlines for October 2025
07 October – Monthly Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) submissions and payments 20 October – End of Filing Season 2025 for Individual taxpayers 24 October – Value-Added...
This Halloween, Stay Safe From eFiling Profile Hijackings
The dramatic rise of SARS eFiling profile hijackings is being investigated by the Tax Ombud as a possible SARS systemic issue due to the number of complaints...
Your Tax Deadlines for September 2025
05 September – PAYE submissions and payments 25 September – VAT manual submissions and payments 29 September – Excise duty payments ...
Top Complaints Against SARS – And How We Help You Avoid Them
The most common complaints against SARS (unsurprisingly, delayed refunds are at Number 1) are referred to as ‘systemic issues’ because they impact so many...
National Treasury and SARB publish 2025 draft tax bills and regulations for comment
On 16 August 2025, National Treasury and SARS released the 2025 Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB), Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill...
Your Tax Deadlines for August 2025
07 August – PAYE submissions and payments 25 August – VAT manual submissions and payments 28 August – Excise duty payments 29 August – VAT electronic...
SARS’ Crypto Crackdown Intensifies with Dedicated Crypto Unit
Did you know that tax is payable on crypto asset transactions? SARS has intensified its focus on crypto asset trading recently, significantly improving its...
SARS Expands Auto-Assessment Program for 2025 Tax Season
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has launched its most ambitious auto-assessment initiative to date, marking a significant shift in how taxpayers...
Your Tax Deadlines for July 2025
07 July – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 July – Value Added Tax (VAT) manual submissions and payments 30 July – Excise duty payments 31 July – VAT...
How Funding Budget 3.0 Will Impact You: Project AmaBillions
The scrapping of the proposed VAT increase in Budget 3.0 resulted in a budget shortfall, necessitating alternative sources of funding. One of these is the...
The 2025 Tax Filing Season Opens on 7 July
The Tax Filing Season for the 2024/2025 year of assessment will officially open on 7 July 2025. Find out here what the deadlines are and which of them apply...
SARS Tax Case Sends Strong Message on Trust Accountability
A recent ruling by the Johannesburg Tax Court has sent a powerful warning to trustees, funders, and high-net-worth individuals: poor record-keeping and vague...
SARS Launches 2025 Tax Season with Expanded Auto-Assessments and Compliance Focus
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially launched the 2025 tax season, introducing a streamlined filing process and reinforcing its commitment...
Your Tax Deadlines for June 2025
06 June – PAYE submissions and payments 25 June – VAT manual submissions and payments 27 June – Excise duty payments 30 June – VAT electronic...
Budget 3.0: VAT Increase Out, Fuel Levy Hikes In
Last month’s Budget 3.0 withdrew the contentious proposed VAT changes. This resulted in inflation-linked fuel levy increases of 16c for petrol and 15c for...
Tax Avoidance vs Tax Evasion: Toeing the Line
There’s a thin line between tax avoidance, which is legal, and tax evasion, which is a tax crime. Every taxpayer, corporate or individual, has the right and...
Understanding the Tables of Interest Rates: What Taxpayers Need to Know
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) recently released updated Tables of Interest Rates, providing crucial information for individuals and businesses...
2025 Budget Review: Key Updates
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Enoch Godongwana, has announced that the 2025 Budget Review will be re-tabled on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. This revised budget...
Your Tax Deadlines for May 2025
07 May – PAYE submissions and payments 23 May – VAT manual submissions and payments 29 May – Excise duty payments 30 May – VAT electronic submissions and...
Mind The Tax Gap! Here’s How…
Increased funding allocated in Budget 2025 will enable SARS to zoom in on an estimated R800 billion in unpaid taxes in South Africa, including a substantial...
Increase of VAT
The recent proposal by the Minister of Finance to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate by 0.5% on 1 May has sparked significant discussion. One of the key...
The Institute of Race Relations Report
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has recently unveiled a report that underscores the substantial financial burden imposed by Broad-Based Black Economic...
Your Tax Deadlines for April 2025
01 April – Start of the 2025/26 Financial Year 07 April - PAYE submissions and payments 25 April – VAT manual submissions and payments 29 April – Excise duty...
Why Use a Registered Tax Practitioner? Here’s What SARS Says…
“Protect Yourself – Use Only Registered Tax Practitioners” was among the first messages from SARS this year. The message also highlighted the risks of...
Budget 2025: Your Tax Tables and Tax Calculator
In its current form, Budget 2025 will effectively bring about an increase in personal income tax by not adjusting the tables for tax rates, rebates and...
Budget 2025: How It Affects You and Your Business
The proposed VAT increase of 0.5% in 2025 and another 0.5% in 2026 is the big news from Budget Speech 2025. The increase is strongly opposed by political...
Understanding the South African Budget Process: From Proposal to Parliamentary Ratification
The South African budget process is a meticulous and continuous cycle that ensures government spending aligns with the country's policy goals and objectives....
South Africa Increases Carbon Tax to Combat Climate Change
In a significant move to bolster its climate change mitigation efforts, South Africa has announced an increase in its carbon tax. Effective from January 1,...
South Africa to Increase VAT Rate in 2025
In a significant move to boost revenue, the South African government has announced a two-phase increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate. The first increase...
Review of the 2025 Budget Speech
The 2025 Budget Speech addressed the economic stagnation of the past decade, with GDP growth averaging less than 2%. In 2024, the economy grew by only 0.6%,...
Your Tax Deadlines for March 2025
07 March - PAYE submissions and payments 25 March – VAT manual submissions and payments 28 March – Excise duty payments 31 March – End of the 2023/24...
Disagree with SARS? Here’s How we Can Assist You
If you don’t agree with an assessment from SARS, swift action and careful management of the dispute process will maximise your chances of a favourable...
Maximising Your Wealth: The SARS Foreign Investment Allowance
For South Africans looking to diversify their investments internationally, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) offers a useful tool - the Foreign...
Your Tax Deadlines for February 2025
07 February – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 February – Value Added Tax (VAT) manual submissions and payments 27 February – Excise duty payments 28...
Budget 2025: The Minister of Finance Wants to Hear from You!
“Together, government and business can drive the messages that matter most, which are those of resilience, opportunity, and shared prosperity.” (Minister of...
Are You Ready for the Next Provisional Tax Deadline?
The second provisional tax deadline for the 2025 tax year is just days away (28 February 2025). It’s the trickiest and most important provisional tax deadline...
SARS Reports Over 2 Million Tax Directive Applications for Savings Withdrawals
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced a significant milestone in the implementation of the two-pot system, with a total of 2,664,279...
SARS Invites Public Input on 2025 Budget
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a call for public input on the upcoming 2025 Budget. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver the...
Your Tax Deadlines for January 2025
07 January - PAYE submissions and payments 20 January – End of Filing Season 2024 for Provisional taxpayers & Trusts 24 January – VAT manual submissions...
Starting a New Business? Here Are the Tax Implications…
Starting a new business isn’t just a challenging undertaking. It also comes with a list of tax liabilities and administrative obligations. Not to mention an...
Tax Compliance in 2025: Help Is at Hand
SARS has warned that it will intensify and deepen its existing administrative efforts to drive taxpayer compliance, deploying more data science and AI, and...
How to Obtain a Tax Directive from SARS
Obtaining a tax directive from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is a crucial step for employers, fund administrators, and insurers to ensure the...
Your Tax Deadlines for December 2024
06 December - Monthly Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) submissions and payments 24 December - Value-Added Tax (VAT) manual submissions and payments 30 December - Excise...
Can You Afford to Work Overseas? How Double Taxation Agreements Work
If you live in one country and work in another, you may already be aware of the threat of double taxation. Your country of residence may want to claim tax for...
To Host or Not To Host a Year-End Party?
Should your business host year-end functions for staff, clients and suppliers? While there’s no obligation to have an end of year shindig, it may be a...
Your Tax Deadlines for November 2024
07 November – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 November – Value Added Tax (VAT) manual submissions and payments 28 November – Excise duty payments 29...
Global Corporate Tax Changes: Advice Is More Crucial Than Ever
There have been significant shifts in the corporate income tax landscape of late – not only in South Africa, but across the globe. The global minimum tax is a...
Your Tax Deadlines for October 2024
07 October – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 21 October – End of filing season for individual taxpayers (non-provisional) 25 October – Value Added Tax...
Ready to Submit Your Interim EMP501 Reconciliation By 31 October?
Yes, yet another EMP501 reconciliation is due! That’s because not one, but two recons are due in each tax year. By 31 October, the interim EMP501...
How To Avoid an eFiling Profile Hijacking
SARS eFiling profile hijackings are becoming an increasingly concerning and common hazard. Reports of this type of cybercrime have peaked in recent months and...
How to Breeze Through a SARS Audit
Nobody wants to go through a SARS audit, as collating all the documents requires time, money and effort. What’s more, it may result in the levying of...
