Articles on South African tax, business and outsourcing
CIPC now requires OTP confirmation before adding a company director
CIPC has introduced a one-time password step for confirming newly appointed directors, starting with small companies where the directors and shareholders are the same people.
CIPC now geolocates company and close corporation address changes
CIPC has added a geolocation step to the forms used to change a company or close corporation's registered address. Here is what changed on 6 October 2026 and what a business should check now.
Provisional tax deadlines
Provisional tax payments are due at the end of August and the end of February.
Tax deductions for South African small businesses
Legitimate business expenses South African owners can claim, the difference between capital and running costs, and the records SARS expects you to keep.
How to pay yourself from your Pty Ltd
Salary and dividends from your Pty Ltd, the 27% company tax and 20% dividends tax, the case for a mix of the two, and how SARS treats owner drawings.
Do you need a bookkeeper, an accountant or both?
What a bookkeeper does, what an accountant does, when a business needs each, and the cost of leaving the books until year-end.
SARS filing season 2026 deadlines
The 2026 SARS filing season dates for individuals, provisional taxpayers, trusts and companies, and what to check before accepting an auto-assessment.
SARS penalties and how to avoid them
The main SARS penalties for a small business: administrative penalties, late payment, under-estimation, understatement and interest.
The VAT registration threshold is now R2.3 million
From 1 April 2026 compulsory VAT registration applies from R2.3 million, up from R1 million. Whether to register, stay registered or deregister.
First-year SARS and CIPC checklist
Register the company, income tax, VAT if needed, employer registration, provisional tax and the CIPC annual return.
VAT mistakes that cost South African businesses money
Claiming without valid tax invoices, missing the registration deadline, charging VAT before you're registered, and the rolling 12-month threshold.
UK accounting firms offshoring to South Africa
Offshoring accounts production to South Africa for UK accounting firms: time zone, English, accounting talent and cost.
The CIPC annual return and deregistration
The CIPC annual return is due within 30 business days of your incorporation anniversary.
What to do with a SARS verification letter
What a SARS verification letter means, what selects a return for verification, what SARS asks for, the 21-business-day timeline, and how good records…
5 bookkeeping mistakes that cost SA businesses at tax time
Five bookkeeping mistakes that lead to tax penalties and disallowed deductions for South African small businesses, and how to avoid each one.
Beneficial ownership filing with CIPC
Every South African company must file a beneficial ownership declaration with CIPC and keep it current, or its annual return can be blocked.
Invoicing and getting paid on time
Clear payment terms, deposits, a follow-up routine and VAT on the invoice basis. How a South African small business gets invoices paid on time.
Choosing a business structure
Liability, tax, admin and credibility compared for a sole proprietor, Pty Ltd and partnership in South Africa, and the signs that it is time to incorporate.
The tax treatment of load-shedding costs
How SARS treats backup-power spending: diesel and running costs are deducted in the year you incur them, and generators and inverters are claimed…
How to register a company in South Africa, step by step
The five steps to register a (Pty) Ltd in South Africa: CIPC, SARS, bank account, beneficial ownership and annual deadlines.
Budget 2026 changes for small business
From 1 April 2026 the compulsory VAT registration threshold rises to R2.3m.
Year-end tax check before end-February
Provisional estimate review, retirement-annuity top-ups, bad debts, and stock and asset timing.