South African tax

South African tax returns

Our end-to-end assistance with individual tax returns covers everything from registering as a South African tax payer to calculating and submitting your tax return. We make sure you get the maximum benefit for your tax situation and that you’re always ready come tax season.

We’re fully compliant with South African income tax legislation and always in contact with SARS. This ensures we can make submissions as fast as possible and keep up to date with all process and systems changes.

Individual income tax

We check if you need to register and submit an individual income tax return by doing an assessment of your situation.

Tax registrations

We deal with SARS on your behalf. You won’t need to wait in queues and worry if you’ve brought the right documents. We take care of your income tax registration from start to finish.

Provisional tax

If you receive income other than a salary, you’ll need to register as a provisional taxpayer. Being a provisional taxpayer means you’ll be required to pay your estimated tax in advance. We can assist with registration, calculation and submission to make sure you’re always prepared.

Tax calculations and submissions

We can help you submit the most beneficial SARS tax return for your personal situation. Equipped with expert knowledge and years of tax experience, we advise, calculate and submit for you.

Voluntary disclosure applications (VDP)

SARS has set up a programme to allow taxpayers to make a disclosure to avoid prosecution. If you have any outstanding tax affairs and are facing penalties, we can put together your VDP application and submit it to SARS. We will mediate an agreement to waiver any penalties and correct your standing with SARS.

Tax file maintenance

By law, all tax-related files need to be kept for five years. It can get quite confusing trying to keep track of everything and stay compliant. We can maintain and store all your tax records and documents for the compulsory five-year period. All physical and electronic documents will be kept safe and secure.

International tax

South Africans with international affairs have unique tax requirements. Whether you live in the country and have foreign income or you’re an expat living abroad with local revenue, you’ll need to declare it to SARS. We can set up the best solution to support your international interests.

South African residents

Income from outside South Africa is subject to specific declaration and management requirements. We can help you structure your earnings to be tax efficient and comply with any relevant regulations.

Expat tax

If you’re living overseas and earn money from South African sources, we can handle your income tax in South Africa. We’ll work with you to arrive at the best solution and deal with SARS on your behalf. If you’re interested in learning more about financial emigration from South Africa, our specialists can assess your needs and advise you on the best path.

Tax residency

We can assist with any tax residency queries. This includes determining your tax residency status, advise regarding double taxation agreements (DTAs) between South Africa and foreign states.

Every country’s tax system works differently, so you always need to check if there’s an agreement in place that prevents you from getting taxed twice on your income. We can advise on whether a DTA is in place, and how you can prevent getting taxed more than necessary.

Income from certain employment outside South Africa is exempt from tax. Most employees fall under section 10(1)(o)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. In order to qualify for the exemption, you need to be employed outside the country for at least 183 full days during a 12-month period, with at least 60 of those days spent consecutively outside the country. While currently all foreign income is exempt, from 1 March 2020, only the first R1 million of foreign income will be exempt from tax.

Officers and crew members working on ships fall under section 10(1)(o)(i), with differing requirements for exemption. We’re equipped to answer any queries you have about this section of law.

If you’re classified as a “non-resident” for tax purposes, you’ll be exempt from paying tax on your foreign income. We can check where you stand, advise how this affects your tax affairs and plan your future tax requirements.

What is provisional tax?

Provisional tax is a forecast during the year estimating what income is likely to be taxed in South Africa. This is done because the taxpayer does not pay tax on a monthly basis via PAYE.

At the end of the tax year, final income tax is calculated, and the provisional tax already paid is deducted from the total. This determines whether the taxpayer has paid the right amount of provisional tax. If they’ve paid too much or too little, the balance is either refunded or paid to SARS.

Am I a provisional taxpayer?

A provisional taxpayer:

1. Earns enough to pay tax to SARS
2. Earns income fom a source that does not deduct tax
3. Earns a total taxable income (not taxed at source) that exceeds R30,000

Should I register for provisional tax?

You no longer need to register for provisional taxes. SARS is now allowed to assess on final tax assessment whether you are a provisional taxpayer. If you are and you haven’t paid enough tax, you may have to pay a penalty.

When do I need to pay provisional tax?

The South African tax year runs from March to February. If you are a provisional taxpayer, you will need to submit two provisional tax returns during the tax year and then a final tax return of actual figures after tax year end.

First provisional tax payment – This payment is due in August and you must pay half of the total estimated tax for the full tax year. Taxpayers who earn under R1 million may use the SARS basic to make this payment (i.e. the last tax assessment SARS has on record) as, usually, their tax returns are similar year on year.

Second provisional tax payment – This payment is due in February and you must pay the balance of the total estimated tax for the full year. Taxpayers who earn under R1 million may use the SARS basic to make this payment (i.e. the last tax assessment SARS has on record) as, usually, their tax returns are similar year on year.

Third provisional tax payment (voluntary) – If you have short-paid by the end of February, then you can make a voluntary top-up payment prior to 1 October. After this point, SARS is allowed to start charging interest on taxes due.

South African tax FAQ