The South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) longstanding tolerance of delayed or omitted trust submissions may soon come to an end, with administrative penalties and increased oversight on the horizon. The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) formally reported to members that SARS advised of its intention to start levying administrative non-compliance penalties on the […]
The 2025 trust filing season (20 September 2025 to 19 January 2026) opened against a new backdrop: the updated trust income tax return (ITR12T) now includes compliance questions that change how trusts disclose income and beneficiaries to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
SARS are leveraging their powers under the Tax Administration Act, which provides for instances in which the Directors, Public Officers, or other representative taxpayers, can be held personally liable for a company’s tax debt!
SARS are leveraging their powers under the Tax Administration Act, which provides for instances in which the Directors, Public Officers, or other representative taxpayers, can be held personally liable for a company’s tax debt!
What you think you know about tax when coming out of university changes quickly once you step into a top tax practice. Within the first few weeks on the job, I realised academic knowledge could only take me so far; the real depth begins in practice, far beyond what the lecture hall prepares you for. […]
For years, taxpayers and their advisors have relied on a small phrase in the Tax Administration Act (TAA) as a defence against understatement penalties, which can run up to 200 percent of the shortfall between what taxpayers declared and the revised assessment. But that lifeline is now on the chopping block.
South African seafarers, whose careers on cruise ships, geographical vessels or fishing vessels often take them across international waters, are currently experiencing a significant shift in how the South African Revenue Service (SARS) approaches their tax obligations. What was once a relatively straightforward process is now marked by intensified audits, refined questioning, and a request […]
For many taxpayers, especially expatriates, managing South African tax obligations from a distance can be complicated. Years may pass without any direct interaction with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and key details like contact information, banking details, and tax number status often become outdated.
Social influencers in South Africa must declare all income, including non-monetary compensation, as clarified by SARS! On 5 September 2025, SARS issued a media release stating its zero-tolerance position when it comes to social influencers and undeclared income, but also providing clear guidance on the tax obligations of these social influencers. As digital marketing continues […]
With the 2025 annual tax filing season deadline fast approaching, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has quickly tightened its verification processes for taxpayers requesting to update their tax residency status to that of non-resident on a more urgent basis than they would have liked.