Tax for a Personal Service Provider

Written by Nicci
Posted 10 March 2022
Hi Tax Tim,
I am a Personal Service Provider (PSP). My client withholds PAYE at 28% in the name of the PSP i.e in my company's name and not me personally, as an individual taxpayer. This concerns me because the PAYE tax credits sit in my company's name, but from an individual perspective I have not paid any tax on the salary I withdraw from my company.
The PAYE refund, if any, will be paid into my company. How do I show the tax on my salary in my individual tax return? If I...
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How to calculate totals under source codes 3696 and 3699

Written by Neo
Posted 12 January 2022
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.
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
SARS charges interest on late payments made toward provisional tax deadlines.
To calculate this late payment penalty, use the formula below:
Provisional tax amount x 7% x (days after deadline / 365)
Use the calculator below:
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10 Tips to Pay Less Tax

Written by Neo
Posted 18 August 2021
These tips are part of TaxTim's personalised recommendation tool called the Tax Health Score. Once you file your tax return with TaxTim,
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IRP5 FAQs

Written by Neo
Posted 22 February 2021
What is an IRP5?
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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Is there a limit on the contribution towards PAYE for tax on perks such as fuel?

Written by Neo
Posted 20 January 2021
As part of my package I receive the benefit of a fuel card and car allowance (but I do not do any business travel). However, on my tax return for 2020 I had to pay almost R9k because of this benefit. I had thought that our Human Resource Department would have made adjustments to my PAYE so that I would be paying 100% of the applicable tax so that I do not have anything to pay when I do my tax return once a year. Our Human Resource person said that he was not able to set the PAYE so that I could in future pay 100% of the fuel and car allowance benefit, but was limited to set it at 80%. ...
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Tax on Bonus Payments: How Does it Work?

Written by Vee
Posted 18 January 2021
For those fortunate enough to receive bonus payments as part of your remuneration, you’ll understand the
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What does SARS mean by auto-assessment?

Written by Neo
Posted 27 July 2020
I saw something in a news article about SARS issuing auto-assessments this year from 1 August. I tried to research but couldn't find much and this is all very new to me. Please can you explain what this is? Are there any new changes which I need to be aware moving forward? I have been filing my own tax return for the past years, but I hear that I might not need to do so this year.
What happens to previous late/incomplete tax returns after a penalty has been paid in full?

Written by Neo
Posted 21 July 2020
I have been working abroad permanently for more than three years and I reside outside of South Africa. I have never fully understood the tax rules and see that I have some penalties (fines) for late/incomplete submissions. I do not have any way of receiving all information needed to submit old tax returns, so I want to know what will happen when I pay the penalties? Will it just start racking up again for the same infringements or will I have a clean slate to do things the right way going forwar...
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SARS sent me an SMS about auto-assessment? Is this legit?

Written by Neo
Posted 20 July 2020
I received an SMS from SARS which mentioned something about an auto-assessment. I have not heard of this before. I don't trust anyone these days, and because of that I just want to ensure that this is legit - do you think this is a scam?
What is cut-off date for tax return submissions?

Written by Neo
Posted 18 June 2020
What is the cut-off date for submitting a tax return this year? I am struggling to get a hold of my IRP5 from my previous employer and I am therefore concerned that I will miss the submissions cut off date.
TaxTim Filing before tax season

Written by Neo
Posted 22 May 2020
I have registered on TaxTim and have also granted you permission to get my information from SARS. Should I wait till tax season begins before I complete all the questions on TaxTim? I am however still waiting for my IRP5 from my employer. I also have property that I am renting out and have a logbook. Please advise.
News Alert: Tax Season 2020

Written by Neo
Posted 8 May 2020
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.
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IRP5s and companies paying RA for employees

Written by Neo
Posted 7 May 2020
If a company is paying into a Retirement Annuity (RA) for employees when preparing an IRP5, using source code 3828 as income, would we then need to use source code 4006 for the same amount? In other words, source code 3828 for the amount paid by company on behalf of employee (this amount will be added to the income total) and code 4475 for the same amount. If an employee has not contributed anything code 4006 will be 0, but will still have to appear on the IRP5?
Foreign Employment and Tax Implications

Written by Neo
Posted 29 April 2020
I am a South African resident currently employed full time. I earn a monthly salary of R23000 (before tax). I have recently started consulting part time for a foreign company that will pay me in dollars. On average $2000 every 3 months.
Provisional Tax and Rental Income

Written by Neo
Posted 29 April 2020
I have filed and completed the 2017 personal income tax for myself. I started receiving rental income from my property in March 2017. Where do I declare this income? Is it part of provisional tax and will I pay penalties for late submission?
Also,
1. The property is owned by myself and my wife. Will we both need to file tax returns for this Rental Income?
2. Does this mean a whole new tax return must be submitted, or is it only necessary to complete the IRP6?
Do I earn enough to have to pay tax?

Written by Marc
Posted 23 April 2020
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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The Tax Refund Myth: Why aren't I getting anything back?

Written by Marc
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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Promised a Guaranteed Tax Refund? Be Afraid - Be Very Afraid

Written by Vee
Posted 16 April 2020
Guarantees are pretty powerful – they’re used by leading manufacturers and retailers to gain our confidence and trust.
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Who's (Legally) Allowed to File Your Tax Return?

Written by Vee
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?

Written by Marc
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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I worked for less than a year: Do I still need to submit a tax return?

Written by Neo
Posted 10 April 2020
If you worked for less than a year, you may be confused as to whether or not you are required to submit a tax return.
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Multiple Employers, Multiple PAYE payments. Yet I still owe SARS?

Written by Neo
Posted 9 April 2020
We receive many questions to our Helpdesk from taxpayers who are faced with the following scenario:
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Provisional Tax and Annuity Income

Written by Neo
Posted 2 April 2020
At the start of the 2021 tax year I will be earning a monthly income from my living annuity [LA], however as I understand from the provider of the LA, that tax will be deducted by them before I receive the monthly amount. I am registered as a provisional taxpayer and will be earning additional income on top of the LA income. So, I therefore assume that I can continue being a provisional taxpayer and declare the additional income only in the IRP6, or would I have to declare both incomes and then ...
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Why don't I get a tax deduction for Out of Pocket Medical Expenses?

Written by Marc
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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