Tax issues Update for schools and VAT Good news! SARS has finally issued a FAQ for schools impacted by the exemption that was to be effective on the 1st of January. The full detail is available here: https://www.sars.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Ops/Guides/Legal-Pub-Guide-VATRef02-VAT-Reference-Guide-Schools-Exiting-the-VAT-System.pdf Given that the law was applied retrospectively, SARS assumed in the Guide that schools had still charged … Read more
Hoping you’re keeping warm in this cold weather. Tax issues Fuel levy increases Just reminder that on the 3rd of June the fuel levy increases from 110c/litre to 260c/litre on petrol and from nil to 197c/litre on diesel. Then, on the 1st of July, there is another increase from 260c/litre to 410c/litre on petrol and an … Read more
2026 is now a third complete – may it have been successful and filled with some wonderful short breaks over the public holidays. Tax issues Trusts and penalties A reminder that as of 4 May 2026, SARS will start enforcing administrative non-compliance penalties against Trusts with outstanding income returns from 2024 onwards. This should come … Read more
We’re now a quarter of the way into 2026 – hope it has been successful. Tax issues EMP 501s The annual EMP 501 submission period will run from Wednesday, 1 April 2026, until Sunday, 31 May 2026. During this period, the old version of e@syFile will be available, but only to facilitate the viewing of … Read more
We have made it through tax silly season – and with a Budget delivered! Tax issues Budget 2026 The big news of the Budget is obviously all of the amendments to the monetary amounts. A table is attached below outlining all of the changes that were proposed and tabled during the Budget Speech. It makes … Read more
The first Newsletter for 2026. May the year be kind, the filing season friendly and the Budget singular. Tax issues VAT modernisation programme It’s not just us. The OECD has just released research on the impact on VAT collections and other considerations for countries who have implemented real time VAT reporting in line with the … Read more
There is practically one working month left in 2025. May it be productive for you all. Tax issues SARS and influencers Something a little light hearted to start off this month’s newsletter. Some news outlets published stories about “SARS coming after social media influencers! Influences beware!” with variations on this very click bait title. The … Read more
What a wild ride the last few weeks have been. Tax issues Draft Tax Amendments With all the shenanigans that surrounded the Budget Speech this year, National Treasury has confirmed that the draft Tax Amendments will only be released in August. They had been hoping for July (and may still squeak them in), but early … Read more
What a wild ride the last few weeks have been. Tax issues Greylisting update At the June plenary session, the FATF has confirmed that South Africa has substantially completed all of the actions required. The next steps would be an on site inspection to assess the continued implementation and political will to keep these actions … Read more
What a wild ride the last few weeks have been. Tax issues Budget update The big question is of course “Do I amend my invoices to 15,5% VAT as of 1 May. The short practical answer to this question is, after the announcement by the Finance Minister: No. The legal answer is however a little … Read more