We earn little so should we be taxed?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 23 February 2017

I work for a small company and all of us earn salaries ranging from R3 000 to R4 500 and only the owner earns R25 000. So now the company wants to register for PAYE and UIF. So after reading through most of your articles and many other ones online I discovered there is a minimum amount per year that you have to earn and none of us reach that amount except for the owner. So does this means that the company can register for all those but not deduct anything from the rest of us but himself?

Rebate FAQs

  Written by Nicci   Posted 22 February 2017

What is a rebate?

A rebate is an amount by which SARS takes off the actual taxes owing to them. SARS will calculate the amount of tax that you owe to them, based on your income and expenses throughout the year, then if certain conditions apply, they’ll reduce the amount due.

What does a negative tax refund amount mean?
This means SARS owes you money

What do I do if my refund was paid into the wrong bank account? ...

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Audit FAQs

  Written by Nicci   Posted 22 February 2017

What is the meaning of an audit? What is an audit from SARS? SARS audit What is a SARS audit?

Being audited just means that SARS could be doing a random selection and checking that all the information submitted is the same as they have.

How long does it take for SARS to pay me after an audit? OR Payment pending an audit, how long is that? OR Payment still pending due to audit.
It can take anywhere from 24 hours to a few months. You will receive a letter of completion once the audit has been verified indicating if any changes have been made. You just have to sit tight and be patient....

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Donations FAQs

  Written by Nicci   Posted 22 February 2017

Are donations to political parties’ tax deductible?

They are deductible if the political party is a registered Public Benefit Organisation/Not-For-Profit and is registered with SARS.

Are church donations deductible?
The church should give you a receipt with a PBO/NPO/NPC number, if they don't have a number then you cannot claim the deduction. The number needs to start with a 9. It should be either 9 or 10 digits. 

Foreign gift in the form of donation OR Donation from overseas OR Informing SARS of inheritance OR Donations received from overseas...

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

  Written by Marc   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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Refunded tax-invoice does not include the tax portion only the service fee before tax.

  Written by Alicia   Posted 22 February 2017

I pay Eskom directly for electricity. Every few months they overcharge and I have get them to refund and rebill. The issue here is that they only refund the service fees, never the tax portion. For example, last month they charged me R 1223. 22 Inc vat. This was incorrect. They refunded me R 1073. 00. And then charged me the correct amount + vat. How do I claim for the money paid in vat, if I even can?

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for my query but I have no idea wher...

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How will tax work on my bank account with other peoples money in it?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 21 February 2017

Me and five members of my family want to start investing. Before the profits will be paid out the company that does the investments does the tax part on it and then pay us the profits. What I want to know is, if they pay the family members profit into my bank account with my profit will there be any problems with tax on my side because all the money is going to my account. The company will send each of us an IRP5 at the end of the season so that each of us can fill in our tax return.

SARS refund document verifiction

  Written by Alicia   Posted 21 February 2017

Hi, I have filed tax returns with SARS through a practitioner in 2016 for the period (Aug 2015 - Jan 2016) when I was working in SA but I have been notified by SARS to verify bank account and address. As I am not staying in South Africa any more and currently in USA, can not go personally to SARS branch. There are some additional things to this now. I sent scanned copied of the documents like address proof and FNB bank account confirmation along with employment proof and passport to practitione...

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Getting paid in dollars

  Written by Alicia   Posted 20 February 2017

Hi, I am working for an overseas startup. I get paid in dollars. For the last six months I have been getting $500 a month. Starting this month I will be getting incentives as well. It is below the salary for tax but I'm not sure how it works with an overseas company?

Rental expenses claim during the next tax year

  Written by Alicia   Posted 20 February 2017

If I spent more on maintenance of my rented granny flat than I earned in rent can I offset it over several years?

Is this allowed by SARS?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 20 February 2017

Can I contribute 27.5 of my income to a pension even if my employer only allows me to contribute 10% through them to our work pension fund?

Tax on CCMA settlement

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

I am about to receive a CCMA settlement and was told by my previously employer that I will be taxed on it, is this right as this will be my first income after 8 months of fighting for it?

Sale of rental property

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

My son works abroad, but he owns a rental property in South Africa which he sold recently. Is he required to pay capital gains tax on the proceeds?

Are foreign students required to pay tax on their earnings for part-time work?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

My son is a foreign student studying for his degree at a South African University. He has a valid Study visa and is permitted under this visa to work 20 hours per week. His employer wants to pay him a salary of R10,000 per month. Firstly does my son have to pay tax on this and if so, how does he register with SARS without a SA Identity document?

Depreciation FAQs

  Written by Nicci   Posted 17 February 2017

What constitutes wear and tear? What is depreciation? What is the depreciation limit?

Wear and Tear or Depreciation is the decrease in value of an asset. SARS allows you to deduct this decrease each year based on the tables. See here for the latest Depreciation Calculator

Can I claim depreciation for my car as a sole proprietor if I have a log book by using the tax table?
You would be able to depreciate your car over 5 years, but you need to then apportion it for the use of business travel based on the logbook...

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Do I need to file old returns to obtain refund, even if I fell below the tax filing threshold?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

SARS want to me file all my previous tax returns in order to receive my refund for this year. In 2011 I tutored at a university and earned below the tax filing threshold and therefore did not file my tax return. How do I file my tax return now for 2012 or how do I show SARS that I didn't need to?

Can I apply for a tax clearance certificate?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

My ITR12 for 2016 is still outstanding as my bookkeeper is still compiling my invoices, can I still apply for a tax clearance certificate?

Who can claim additional medical tax credit for their children

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

My husband pays the medical aid for himself and me his wife and 2 children and he claims the tax credit back for this. There is no point in him claiming additional medical tax credit for other medical out of pocket expenses as he earns too much to qualify for this. I however earn much less. Can I on my tax return claim additional medical tax credit for any medical out of pocket expenses for myself and my 2 children.

SARS correction still possible?

  Written by Alicia   Posted 17 February 2017

I submitted an income tax return as farming sole prop for 2016. SARS requested supporting documentation and then I uploaded an income statement. I then received an Operations Audit letter from SARS asking to furnish them with the reason of farming income loss. The letter was emailed and does not appear on SARS eFiling. On SARS eFiling they sent a new letter the same as the old one requesting supporting documentation and the generic letter that says if you dont agree re-look at your tax return. I...

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File ITR14

  Written by Alicia   Posted 16 February 2017

My company was registered in October 2016 and my financial year end is February, can you help me do my IRP6 and company tax return or should I wait as the company have not started trading?

IRP6 required

  Written by Alicia   Posted 16 February 2017

SARS requested an IRP6 from me but I was not trading in that tax period, what should I do?

Claim more than 27.5% on retirement deduction

  Written by Alicia   Posted 16 February 2017

If I am able to contribute more than the mentioned 27.5% of my income towards a retirement fund, will SARS still give me a deduction for the entire contribution?

Tax on pension contributions

  Written by Alicia   Posted 16 February 2017

I save money in a separate bank account and plan to use it once I retire, can I claim it as a retirement fund contribution?

Calculate the tax amount when I resign at work on the amount of R1200 000 pension and provident fund

  Written by Alicia   Posted 16 February 2017

How do I calculate the tax amount when I resign at work on the amount of R1200 000 pension and provident fund

Tax estimation

  Written by Alicia   Posted 16 February 2017

Good day I intend resigning from the public service after 26 yrs service. My resignation benefit is R2,5 million. May you kindly estimate how much will be taxed?
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