Do your Tax with TaxTim and WIN R10,000  More info   T&C's apply

Foreign employment income Posts in Tax Q&A

How would I be taxed if I am spending every second month out the country for work?



I have been offered a job within South Africa that has various branches across the world. I will be contracted by the company. Thus I will be spending every second month out of the country, 6 months away and 6 months home. I would like to know how I am going to be taxed because I am not 100% sure?

Tax code not entered on IRP5 for tax exemption. How do I get this fixed?



I have worked out of the country last year for more than 183 days and 60 days continuous.
We do not do this every year, so my employer did not enter the tax code under (Reason for Non deduction of employees tax) (4150) . They said it is to difficult now to change it.

What will I be able to do, to get this fixed, it will probably only be for one last year. Should I go to the Tax office and try to explain?

Thanks

Freelancer - local and international - Needs to start keeping records for tax purposes



I have been freelancing for local and international companies for a few months. I need to get my tax admin sorted out. I work from home and am on my husbands medical aid.

Where do I start and how do I maintain all my information that I need to? I'm happy to set up Excel docs to keep records. I'd like to know what I should be keeping records of,  where I can benefit from tax refunds, and what expenses I can set against the business. Do you have any templates I could use?

Als...

Read more →

Why did we only get R500 back from SARS?



My hubby requested that his Co deduct R500 pm extra since August 2012. Total of R500 x 7 = R3500
IRP 5 reads R 173 579 code 3601
R 105 831 code 3605 (This is actually his commission)
PAYE R 49 183.30 code 4102

However we are only getting back R500.30. Why not the R3500?

Hi Tim. I work in Sierra Leone and get paid in dollars, into a SA bank account, how do I complete my



I comply with the regulations regarding 183 days out, 60 days consecutive. My question is where do I fill this in on my return. They want a rand value, and I do not have an IRP5 but one from the company.

s10(1)(o)(ii) and once off-contracts



I will be fulfilling a contract overseas for more than 183 days and more than 60 continuous days. I meet these requirements of s10(1)(o)(ii), but I am unsure if the section applies to once-off contracts with an overseas company. The contract will last for more than 10 months however. Does this make me an independent contractor?

Income in SA and paid overseas by SA company



Hi Tim

Your service is very helpful thank you!

I am an SA permanent resident spending 3-4 months per year in SA.

I have rental income from property in SA paid into my SA bank account.

I am also paid as an independent contractor by an SA company directly into my overseas bank account.

On my tax return:
I will claim the SA rental income and expenses.
Do I also declare the other income as foreign income with the associated overseas tax paid on it?...

Read more →

Are UK pensions liable to South African income tax?



Are UK state pensions or UK company pensions, paid into the UK Bank account of a British national, who is resident as a retired person in South Africa, liable to South African income tax?

If I use your online digital tax assistant application will it correctly cope with such overseas pension income?

Why do I have an amount on my IRP5 under code 3698?



I just received my IRP5 today from my former employer and I have an amount under code 3698 which I believe is reserved for Gross Non-Retirement Funding Income.
Last Tax Year I was working outside the borders of South Africa and was in the local payroll only because I was in the local Medical Aid (I left my dependents in South Africa while working abroad), I did not receive any other income in South Africa.

What are tax benefits of working 180 days out of SA and 60 consecutive days?



I work for SA company in Botswana. My salary and tax are paid in South Africa. Is there a tax benefit in working 180 days out of the country.

If out of the country for longer than 183 days, what portion of my income is exempt from tax?



I worked for a South African company (for 1 year), and did most of my work in another country, where I meet the 183 day & 60 consecutive day requirement. My question is: I earned a basic salary, plus allowances for being in another country, e.g. food allowance, transport, accommodation, etc. These allowances were paid together with my salary. Based on my total income from the company - what portion of this will be taxed and what will be exempt?

Can I claim for tax if I have been overseas for a year?



My company has sent me overseas for studies with full pay for a year. I also receive an allowance for all my expenses overseas (accomodation, food, transport ...etc).
My first question: Should I declare all the allowance received while I was overseas? My second question: Can I claim for taxes that my employer has paid from my salary while I was overseas?

South African offshore divers working more than 183 days out of SA, do we have to pay tax now ?



South African divers working offshore on vessels in international waters for foreign companies (not South African companies), and working more than 183 days offshore with one trip longer than 60 days continuous. Do we have to pay tax now in the near future? I heard they want to change the tax law for all expats working offshore.

If I do 183 or more and 60 cont. and get paid from a company abroad I am tax free so to speak?



Now, if I do 150 and 60 cont. I need another 33 days to be tax free. Let's say I have a vacation in botswana and namibia for 40 days, do those days count towards my tax days.

Tax exemption clause



I understand the section 10(1)(o)(ii) about being outside a country for 183 days, of which 60 days must be consecutive in a 12 month cycle. My question however is: the company I work for is registered in SA and pays me in ZAR. But I travel outside South African borders for more than 183 days and for a 60 day continuous stint also...so, am I still exempt from tax then? Or do I have to pay tax as I get paid in ZAR and the company is registered in South Africa?

Spending 6 months out of SA. Will I have to pay tax?



I am resident in SA, but from 2014 I want to try a new life whereby I spend 6 months (winter!!) out of the country each year. During this time I would be earning some money through freelance online work for various individuals or companies from various parts of the world, plus I would be getting rental income from two properties in South Africa. While in South Africa (during summer), I would continue this online work, and do some other ad-hoc freelance work for South African companies, or be ear...

Read more →

If you stay out of country for 183 days, 60 days consecutive, can you apply for a NIL percent tax?



A directive that no tax is being taken off from your salary? As far as I am aware the lowest percentage directive is 18%. This person only comes to SA for holidays. I was informed that there is a NIL directive but not according to SARS???

Tax on Foreign Income



Hi Tim,I've got a new contracting job where I'll be working from SA, but I'll be paid from the UK. How do declare/pay my taxes on these? And do I have to transfer all my funds back to SA?

How do I fill in the form as a salary earner PLUS freelancer?



If I earn extra money as a freelancer, over and above my monthly salary, and I'm not registered as a business / CC, how do I fill that in on the form? i.e. I'm not the "director of a Private Company or a member of a Close Corporation" as it says in Section 13 & 14 - but I do freelance work outside my job that pays me (and some of it is foreign income).

Offshore tax exemption



There are roamers stating that if you work outside SA (offshore and not shore based) and your income is foreign based you do not require the 60 day period as indicated in section 10 o or 10 (1)o and in some instances don't even require the 183 day if you have been tax exempt for more that 5 years continuously . Please could you shed some light on these roamers..

Do I have to follow the 183 day Tax law with 60 days consecutive?



I currently work for a company in the Netherlands. I don't work in the Netherlands, I actually travel / work throughout Africa excluding South Africa. When I receive my Salary in South Africa it is paid from one of our subsidiary companies in Cyprus (which I know is a tax free haven). I would like to know if I have to follow the SA Tax Law?

Am I considered a tax resident in South Africa?



I have been working temporarily in South Africa for the last 6 years.. Over the last 2 years I work in SA less than 183 days per year and am out the country for more than 60 days continually, but if I add up the number of days I have spent in the last 5 years in SA it is over 915 days. My house is out of SA.

How do I claim tax back as a South African working outside of SA?



Hi, I am a South African working outside South Africa, getting payed by a South African company into my SA bank account. The company pays my PAYE / Pay As You Earn. I am out the country for - 260 days a year, and have time period longer than 90 days consecutive outside of SA. How can I get my tax back?

I am from the UK, but will get permanent residence in SA, but I have money overseas, will I pay tax



If i bring funds into SA and earn interest do I have to pay tax on it, what is the free allowance and then how much is it thereafter please?

How much can I deduct for expenses from money I earned in Saudi Arabia?



Hi, I taught a two-week course in Saudi Arabia, and they paid me straight into my bank account. Do I have to pay taxes on the full amount, or is there some fixed amount per day I can deduct for expenses?
Older posts →← Newer posts    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9

Blog Categories


Ask TaxTim

Got a question you want answered about tax?

Visit our helpdesk →

Get SARS Tax Deadlines in your Inbox
We'll tell you when you need to file, along with tax tips and updates.