The Tax Refund Myth: Why aren't I getting anything back?

Posted 20 April 2020

Every year there arises a misconception amongst taxpayers that a tax refund or 'tax rebate', as it is incorrectly known to many,

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Who's (Legally) Allowed to File Your Tax Return?

Posted 12 April 2020

Tax isn’t the easiest of subjects to navigate. Besides the long list of legalese to master, there’s the fact that tax legislation

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How does Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) work?

Posted 10 April 2020

You may have seen the word PAYE on your IRP5 payslip or heard it mentioned by your employer, but have no idea of its meaning.

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Why is SARS asking me for outstanding tax returns?

Posted 9 April 2020

When did this happen?

Previously, assuming that SARS did not request any documents for verification and everything for the year was accepted

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10 Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund

Posted 8 April 2020

It’s tax season, and one of the most compelling reasons to file a tax return (besides the fact that it’s the law, of course) is the chance that you’ve

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Why don't I get a tax deduction for Out of Pocket Medical Expenses?

Posted 29 February 2020

Tax season always throws up some interesting and confusing calculations, but for many, the most confusing of all is how medical aid contributions and Out of Pocket medical expenses are treated.

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The 3 R's: Returns, Rebates and Refunds Explained

Posted 20 March 2018

When it comes to tax jargon, most people prefer to bury their heads in the sand instead of trying to understand all the confusing terms that tax practitioners use. Taxpayers just want to do their tax quickly and easily, and if they’re due - receive some money back from SARS. A lot of confusion surrounds the process, but by understanding three simple terms you can make tax season a little bit easier.

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Budget Speech: VAT rises by 1%, predictions were correct!

Posted 21 February 2018

Taxpayers should breathe a sigh of relief as a much lower than expected R36bn in increased taxes was announced by the once-off Minister of Finance. The biggest news amongst the increases was the VAT rise of 1%. For the first time in 25 years, all South Africans will see most goods and services become a little bit more expensive thanks to the Value Added Tax rise. Although controversial, a VAT rise was much needed and will bring in almost R23...

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2017/2018 Budget - The rich are going to pay more, but what does that mean for the rest of us?

Posted 22 February 2017

Personal Tax Rates (rates below)

Individuals across the country, those qualifying above the new tax threshold of R75 750 (previously R75 000) will be paying increased taxes of R16.5bn (previously R5.65bn in actual tax increase) for the next tax year, most of this will be for high income earners, however. Taxpayers generally across the board will be earning the tiniest bit more money each year as their tax brackets...

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5 Great Reasons to File Your Tax Return Early This Year

Posted 24 May 2016

Are you the type of person dashing into the store to grab a birthday gift en route to a party? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself scratching through your craft box at 11pm the night before to make a ‘World Book Day’ outfit for your son? Or possibly you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of South Africans who waits until the last week of November to file your tax return?

While I’m not suggesting that every minute of your life needs to be pre-planned and organised, there are certainly a number of benefits to getting your tax done early...

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The Smart Way to Save Tax when Renting out a Property

Posted 8 April 2016

Taxpayers who earn rental income from a second property of theirs often don’t know what they need to do when it comes to declaring this income to SARS. Sometimes taxpayers think that they don’t have to declare this extra income, or can hide it from SARS by not entering it on their tax return form - a big mistake!

The truth is that extra income earned from rental is taxable, and SARS needs to know about it. In some cases - if the amount earned (profit) outside of a sala...

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2016 Budget Speech: Welcome Back, Minister! You Couldn't Have Returned Just for the Free Lunch?

Posted 25 February 2016

The 24th of February 2016 was supposed to be a watershed moment for the Economy of South Africa. The old-new Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, was to deliver his budget for the 2016/2017 tax year and save South Africa from a financial pit-fall in the form of an International Ratings Agency downgrade. The jury is still out on whether or not this is possible. Immediately after the budget was revealed the Rand tumbled 2%, which doesn’t bode well for market sentiment. However, ...

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What You Need to Know About Changes to the Tax Clearance System

Posted 23 February 2016

Tax compliance makes its way into many aspects of life and business. Perhaps you’re considering applying for a tender, or for a foreign investment allowance to move funds offshore, or even looking to emigrate and leave our shores. These are just a few examples of instances where you may be asked by a third party to provide a Tax Clearance Certificate.

And until now, the course of action to obtain your certificate has been a tedious one.

Upon request, SARS would check its records and verify that the taxpayer had filed all required tax returns, paid all taxes, penalties and interest due, before releasing a Tax Clearance Certificate confirming a good standing...

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Retirement Funds Tax Laws Effective 1 March 2016 - How SARS' New Changes Affect You!

Posted 10 February 2016

If you’re diligently putting money away for your retirement in the form of a pension, provident fund or retirement annuity, you may be curious – perhaps even a touch concerned – about the changes SARS has made to the retirement fund tax laws, which come into effect on 1 March 2016.

If you missed the news, here's a quick overview.

SARS have changed how contributions to retirement funds are treated from a tax perspective, as well as how your funds are managed when you retire...

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SARS isn't paying my refund, they want my old returns!!!!

Posted 3 August 2015

Taxpayers this year are facing a new gripe with SARS when it comes to receiving those well-earned refunds. The current two scenarios are:

• NO AUDIT: A taxpayer files a tax return, gets their ITA34 and does not need to submit supporting documents; or
• AUDIT: A taxpayer files a return and in their ITA34 is requested to submit supporting documents, after which they receives a Completion Letter stating "no adjustment made".

In both these cases a refund should be paid out a few days later (if the taxpayer is due one), however thousands of taxpayers still have not been paid their refund. Here’s why!...

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Thank you Minister - we expected worse! 2015 Budget

Posted 25 February 2015

New Finance Minister Nene delivers his first budget with some “better than expected” tax increases. The fight against corruption was highlighted with the minster announcing a series of reforms and procedures to be introduced both to curb corruption and make doing business with the state easier. The minister announced that R25bn would be saved in expenditure over the next two years, but R16.8bn is to be raised this year via tax increases and a remarkably large rise in the fuel and road accident fund levies. To be honest, we expected greater tax increases from the minister, thankfully he spared us some of the pain! ...

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What's the delay with getting my SARS Refund?

Posted 6 August 2014

SARS has typically been quick to refund taxpayers who have filed their tax returns and are due a refund, with money appearing back in their bank accounts smoothly and reliably, often within a day or two.

However since the opening of this tax season on 1 July 2014, the process appears to have changed and suffered a few hiccups along the way. From the queries we have received over the last month from multiple confused taxpayers, it would seem that thousands of refunds were first paid out, then reversed...

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What to Expect after Submitting your Tax Return to SARS

Posted 23 July 2014

As soon as tax season opens in July, many taxpayers rush to submit their ITR12 tax returns as early as possible, eagerly hoping for a nice refund. After the rush, when nothing happens, they often ask us "Ok I have submitted. What happens now?" In most cases where an income tax refund is due to a taxpayer, SARS pays it out within one or two days. However there are many instances when this does not happen, leaving people feeling unsure as to what is happening with their tax return and tax refund. ...

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2014 Budget - A move to economic transformation

Posted 26 February 2014

In delivering what could possibly be his last annual budget and perhaps in an election year a very pragmatic one, Minister Pravin Gordhan painted a rather positive picture for the future of South Africa, whilst at the same time warning of the impact the global economy is having on the South African economy. He too, had a “good story” to tell of how well managed the economy is and how we have survived the economic downturn of the last half decade. The minister, like his predecessors b...

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Garnishee orders explained: How SARS can deduct penalties directly from your pay cheque and how to stop it

Posted 14 November 2013

The last days of the month are often the most exciting for employees as they look forward to spending their monthly pay cheques. Unfortunately for many taxpayers anticipation quickly turns to grief when the money they receive in their bank account is suddenly less than they had expected. Stress and anxiety then result in light of impending debit orders and monthly expenses that need to be paid.

Apart from the ordinary deductions that your employer takes off your salary each month - expenses for your benefit such as medical aid or a retirement / pension plan - there is another deduction that can take place unexpectedly: a garnishee order...

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SARS Tax Tables for 2014

Posted 4 July 2013

Tax rates for Individuals and Trusts
Income tax rates: Natural persons (that's you) and special trusts.

2013 tax year: 1 March 2013 - 28 Feb 2014.

Individuals and Special Trusts:



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Important Information for Surviving the SARS Outbreak

Posted 18 June 2013

From the office of the Center for Dis-Ease Control, 12 Bliksem Straat, Pretoria, South Africa

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Severe Anxiety from Revenue Services (SARS) is a common affliction affecting millions of South Africans in all major city centres every year. Historically, symptoms begin to present themselves in the winter season from 1 July and continue to increase in severity towards a statistical peak for the epidemic on 22 November every year...

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The effect of the 2013/14 annual budget speech on the average South African taxpayer

Posted 28 February 2013

It was with great enthusiasm that we at TaxTim awaited delivery by the Minister of Finance of his annual budget speech this afternoon, especially after some of the shocks experienced by taxpayers and tax professionals last year. Surprisingly he delivered a very mild budget in terms of individuals with the Minister stating, “No tax rises.” The main focus areas relating to tax in this budget speech were on compliance, tax evasion and big companies seeking to shift their income around the world in order to avoid higher taxes...

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Why employers should help their employees with tax

Posted 25 February 2013

Individual taxpayers have traditionally been told that when it comes to tax returns, they're on their own with regard to submitting each year and their employer does not need to get involved. Despite the employer making payment of PAYE (the majority of their tax liability) on their behalf, after handing over their IRP5 detailing this payment they resume business as usual and the employee is left to navigate the ever-challenging tax system on their own, without any assistance. Fortunately this attitude is changing as more companies recognise the benefits of helping staff with their tax matters. ...

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SARS Tax Tables for 2013

Posted 18 January 2013

Tax rates for Individuals and Trusts
Income tax rates: Natural persons (that's you) and special trusts.

2013 tax year: 1 March 2012 - 28 Feb 2013.


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