Whether you’re running a small business or freelancing on your own, provisional tax in South Africa can feel like a maze.
South Africans receiving a Letter of Demand from SARS are being urged to act quickly — ignoring it could result in frozen bank accounts, garnished salaries, or even court judgments. What is a SARS Letter of Demand? A Letter of Demand is a formal notice issued when SARS believes you owe outstanding tax. This may […]
Let’s be honest—traveling for work is way less exciting than traveling for leisure. And when tax season rolls around, all that business travel can turn into a paperwork nightmare. But don’t worry—if you know what documents to keep and what SARS expects, claiming your travel deductions can be a breeze. Here’s your ultimate guide to […]
As the 2025 tax season approaches, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has rolled out a new eFiling feature—‘Express Access’—to make tax compliance simpler and more accessible for everyday taxpayers. This user-friendly tool has been built with taxpayers in mind, streamlining the eFiling process, particularly for the over 5 million individuals expected to be auto-assessed. […]
SARS Tightens the Net on Employers Ahead of 2025 Tax Season The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is ramping up efforts to hold employers accountable for tax compliance, particularly in areas historically prone to neglect—such as contractor classification, fringe benefits, travel claims, and the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI). With the 2025 tax season approaching, employers […]
Managing debt can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to control your life. For many South Africans, the challenge of navigating personal finances and debt is a daily reality. Fortunately, with the right approach and some practical strategies, you can take charge of your financial situation and work towards a debt-free future. This guide offers […]
If you’ve recently been asked to submit supporting documents to SARS after filing your tax return, you’re not alone—and you’re probably wondering why. For many taxpayers, especially those who have never been audited before, this sudden request can be both confusing and stressful. Tax payers often say variations of the following: If any of these […]
As tax season approaches, South Africans should take the necessary steps to ensure that they are prepared, in order to minimize their tax liabilities, and steer clear of penalties from the tax authorities. When preparing for taxes, the process will differ based on whether someone is a full-time employee, self-employed, or an investor. Nonetheless, there […]
An auto-assessment is an automatic evaluation conducted by SARS for specific taxpayers. Utilizing data gathered from employers, financial institutions, medical schemes, retirement annuity fund administrators, and various third-party data providers, SARS generates the assessment autonomously, without requiring any participation from the taxpayer. If you have been auto-assessed, you will receive a notification via SMS or […]
Work culture has undergone significant transformation, with many employees working from home, especially after the COVID pandemic. There has also been a rise in entrepreneurship opportunities and freelancing. With that being said, it is important to know how having a home office influences your taxes. Understanding the tax regulations regarding home office expenses is important, […]
From 1 November 2024 new eFiling registrations for Personal Income Tax may require facial recognition. Biometric facial recognition authentication is being implemented for all individuals registering for eFiling with a valid South African ID. This applies to the eFiling website, the SARS MobiApp and the SARS Self Service Kiosks: Download the official SARS guides for […]
According to the official SARS website, SARS has appointed third-party external debt collectors (EDC) to help collect long-outstanding debt owed by taxpayers. SARS has been outsourcing overdue debt that is older than five years to external third-party debt collectors from October 2023. The debt collectors will assist with overdue accounts where no active payment or […]
In what seems to be a strategic move to combat noncompliance, SARS appears to be increasing its focus on taxpayer revenue augmentation. While this practice may not be entirely new, it certainly appears to be occurring on a much larger scale than before. In other words, an increasing number of taxpayers are being required to […]
