Written by Marc
Updated 13 July 2025
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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Written by Nicci
Updated 27 June 2025
You may be employed by someone, but for one reason or another- you don't receive an IRP5 and no amount of begging or pleading
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Written by Alicia
Posted 3 June 2025
The 2025 filing season opens this year on Monday, 21 July.
This year, the tax season is even shorter than last year (and last year was shorter than the prior year!). This means that SARS are giving you less time to file your tax return.
Important Filing Deadlines
20 October 2025: Salary-only employees, who earn no other signficant income (i.e. non-provisional taxpayers) and ALL auto-assessed ...
Written by Nicci
Posted 14 May 2025
South Africa introduced the Two-Pot Retirement System to help people access part of their retirement savings before retirement age, while keeping the rest for retirement. It's a helpful system – but it comes with tax rules that can surprise some people.
If you withdrew from your Two-Pot in the tax year, you need to include the details of this withdrawal in your annual tax return. The fund should have issued you an IRP5/IT3a tax certificate which reflects the withdrawal amount (source code 3926), related tax as well as the tax directive number issued by SARS...
Written by Nicci
Updated 15 April 2025
Consult the image below to find all the tax-related information on your IRP5 that you will need when completing your annual tax return.
Written by Vee
Updated 10 April 2025
Medical expenses are nothing to sneeze at. Private medical treatment is increasingly pushing the limits of medical aid scheme
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Written by Nicci
Updated 11 November 2024
We often receive questions from taxpayers as to how to structure their salary most efficiently for tax purposes. Unfortunately, the reality is that the days of employees gaining a tax advantage Has SARS asked you for documents that you can't produce, such as an old IRP5 from a prior year that your employer doesn't have, or that simply doesn't exist? SARS 2024 tax season dates: 15 July 2024 to 21 October 2024: individual (non-provisional) taxpayers 15 July 2024 to 20 January 2025: provisional taxpayers If you earn less than R500 000 in a year, and fulfill a series of complicated criteria, you may not have to file a tax return in 2024. 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. Received your IRP5 or IT3(a) but unsure what it all means? Here’s a quick introduction to help you understand this tax document. Your IRP5 starts with your personal details. While these details won’t override what SARS has on record, it’s important to check them and update any outdated information with your employer. Your ... Exempt or non-taxable income refers to certain types of income, which is not subject to income tax. When pursuing a business activity, trade or renting out a property, you’re no doubt doing so to make some money, but the reality for self-starters You’ve been up since 4am in order to catch yet another red-eye flight for a 9am business meeting - 1,400km away - and you’re already onto your third coffee by the time you board the plane. 1. Keep an accurate record of revenue and expenses You can draw up these records by way of a simple spreadsheet based on your invoices and then confirm these amounts by cross-checking them against your bank statement. When a Tax Return is filed usually SARS issues an immediate assessment (ITA34), however sometimes they do need to do a further manual check on their side. Last year, we noticed that many taxpayers filed their tax returns before the tax season officially began (i.e July). However, doing so caused delays and problems with their tax refunds. There are only three specific instances where you can file your tax return (ITR12) directly on eFiling before tax season starts: Perhaps you just tried to submit your tax return and you instantly got an error relating to 3696 and 3699. As frustrating as it could be, don’t worry the error can be fixed. Maybe, you might have just simply left an amount out. Let’s have a look at what you should do, in order to crack these codes correctly – in that way making filing much more easier for you. SARS charges interest on late payments made toward provisional tax deadlines. These tips are part of TaxTim's personalised recommendation tool called the Tax Health Score. Once you file your tax return with TaxTim, What is an IRP5? For those fortunate enough to receive bonus payments as part of your remuneration, you’ll understand the On Tuesday evening, the SARS commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, held a media briefing to talk about the challenges that SARS is facing due to Covid-19. Why must I pay tax, I don’t earn enough! Will I get a penalty if I don’t disclose all my income to SARS?
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Swear an affidavit for SARS
Written by Evan
Updated 1 August 2024
To prove to SARS that you cannot produce the document they want, you will need to produce what is called a sworn affidavit.
This is basically a letter that you must write, that you then take to your nearest police station to get signed and stamped.
Items to include:
1. Your name, ID number and contact details...
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5 Reasons you Still Need to File your Tax Return
Written by Evan
Updated 20 July 2024
However, we advise you to take GREAT CARE here, and understand your duties properly, because if you don't, you may suffer for it later on.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should not skip filing your tax return this season:
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The 3 R's: Returns, Rebates and Refunds Explained
Written by Marc
Updated 16 July 2024
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Navigating your way around your IRP5
Written by Nicci
Updated 27 May 2024
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Top Questions on Income that is not taxed
Written by Nicci
Updated 20 March 2024
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Do You Need to Ring-Fence Your Business or Rental Losses for Tax?
Written by Vee
Updated 19 March 2024
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Food for Thought on Subsistence Allowances
Written by Vee
Updated 19 March 2024
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Top Tips for Sole Props
Written by Nicci
Updated 22 January 2024
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What to do if your tax return was rejected by SARS
Written by Alicia
Updated 22 November 2023
If you've received a letter from SARS saying that your tax return has been rejected and you're not sure why, there could be a few reasons why this has happened. Here are some of the most common reasons, along with the corrective steps you need to take:
Reason 1: You were auto-assessed by SARS for the 2020, 2021 or 2022 tax year, but you submitted your tax return after the 40-day period SARS gave you, and you failed to request an extension in time. Please click here to read more about auto-assessments. ...
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Why does SARS require manual intervention to finalise my return?
Written by Marc
Updated 21 November 2023
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Don't file on SARS eFiling before 7 July
Written by Alicia
Updated 14 June 2023
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How to calculate totals under source codes 3696 and 3699
Written by Nicci
Posted 12 January 2022
You’ll need to check your IRP5 to make sure you answered TaxTim's questions for these amounts correctly. Your IRP5 can show one or more amounts with source codes describing the income you received from your employer that year. ...
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Calculate interest on late provisional tax payment
Written by Evan
Posted 28 December 2021
To calculate this late payment penalty, use the formula below:
Provisional tax amount x Loading...% x (days after deadline / 365)
Use the calculator below:
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10 Tips to Pay Less Tax
Written by Nicci
Posted 18 August 2021
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IRP5 FAQs
Written by Nicci
Posted 22 February 2021
An IRP5 is the employee's tax certificate that is issued to him/her at the end of each tax year detailing all employer/employee related incomes, deductions, and related taxes. The employee uses it specifically to complete his/her income tax return for a specific year.
Do I need an IRP5?
Yes, you do if you were employed during the tax year.
Can I submit a return without an IRP5? OR Am I able to submit returns without my IRP5? OR Are you able to submit without the IRP5?...
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Tax on Bonus Payments: How Does it Work?
Written by Vee
Posted 18 January 2021
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News Alert: Tax Season 2020
Written by Nicci
Posted 8 May 2020
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Do I earn enough to have to pay tax?
Written by Marc
Posted 23 April 2020
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Do Your Tax Return Easily