Which Documents Do You Need to Submit to SARS for Your Tax Return?
Which Documents Do You Need to Submit to SARS for Your Tax Return? When you submit your tax return and receive an assessment (ITA34), you may also receive a letter from SARS asking you to provide supporting documents. To check if you have been selected for verification, review your ITA34. Look for the “Compliance Information” section, which indicates whether you have been selected for audit or verification with a “Y” (Yes) or “N” (No). If you see an “N,” you can breathe a sigh of relief—SARS likely doesn’t need anything further from you this tax year. However, if there is a “Y,” it means SARS requires evidence or documentation to back up the amounts reported on your tax return. Unfortunately, this is becoming more common. This is why we think you should always put your tax documents together before the tax season starts. From our experience, SARS can request a wide range of documents. The best way to prepare is to review your tax return thoroughly and ensure you have supporting documents for each item reported. The SARS letter will usually specify the documents needed, so read it carefully and make sure you provide everything requested. To simplify the process and ensure you’re well-prepared, we’ve put together a table that outlines the most common expenses and the specific supporting documents SARS might request, tailored to the type of taxpayer you are: Expense Salaried Employee Commission Earner (more than 50% of income from commissions) Sole Proprietor / Freelancer / Independent Contractor Depreciation on Business Assets (e.g., laptop) – Letter from employer stating you can use a personal laptop for work – Proof of purchase (invoice) – Calculation of wear and tear – Letter from employer stating you can use a personal laptop for work – Proof of purchase (invoice) – Calculation of wear and tear – Proof of purchase (invoice) – Calculation showing how wear and tear was calculated and apportioned between business and personal use Medical Costs – Medical Aid Tax Certificate – Invoices from doctor/pharmacy and receipts (POPs) for qualifying expenses not submitted to Medical Aid – Medical Aid Tax Certificate – Invoices from doctor/pharmacy and receipts (POPs) for qualifying expenses not submitted to Medical Aid – Medical Aid Tax Certificate – Invoices from doctor/pharmacy and receipts (POPs) for qualifying expenses not submitted to Medical Aid Uber Costs – Cannot claim – Uber receipt (email) – Uber receipt (email) Home Office – Letter from employer stating you can work from home and % time spent there – Calculation showing apportionment – Supporting invoices – Letter from employer stating you can work from home and % time spent there – Calculation showing apportionment – Supporting invoices – Calculation showing apportionment – Actual invoices supporting claim (electricity, water, rates, bond statement, rental invoice, etc.) Bank Charges – Cannot claim – Bank statement reflecting bank charges for your business account – Bank statement reflecting bank charges for your business account Entertainment – Cannot claim – Schedule of entertainment expenses detailing names of attendees, the purpose of the meeting, etc. – Restaurant invoices/receipts – Schedule of entertainment expenses detailing names of attendees, the purpose of the meeting, etc. – Restaurant invoices/receipts Travel – Logbook with details of business mileage – Vehicle purchase invoice (if applicable) – Fuel, maintenance, license, and insurance invoices (if actual costs are claimed) – Logbook with details of business mileage – Vehicle purchase invoice (if applicable) – Fuel, maintenance, license, insurance invoices – Logbook with details of business mileage – Vehicle purchase invoice (if applicable) – Fuel, maintenance, license, insurance invoices Telephone – Cannot claim – Sample of actual monthly invoices – Calculation showing how total expenses were apportioned between business and personal use – Sample of actual monthly invoices – Calculation showing how total expenses were apportioned between business and personal use Key reminders: SARS does not accept schedules or lists of expenses on their own—you must provide scanned copies of the actual invoices or receipts. Make sure that your supporting documents match the total expenses you’ve claimed on your tax return. Submit all calculations, ensuring they are clear, detailed, and easy for SARS to understand during their review Ready to make tax season stress-free? Let us help you get your documents in order and avoid costly mistakes. Contact us today and get expert guidance on all your tax needs—because your peace of mind is priceless!
What does finalised with changes from SARS mean?
What does finalised with changes from SARS mean? A SARS “Verification Finalised with Changes” letter typically means that SARS has completed the verification process of your tax return and found discrepancies or issues that required adjustments. Here’s a breakdown of what this could mean for you: Verification Process Complete: SARS has reviewed the information and documentation you submitted to verify the accuracy of your tax return. Changes Made: During this review, SARS identified errors, omissions, or discrepancies in your return. They have made adjustments to correct these issues. Impact on Tax Liability: The changes may affect your tax liability or reduce your refund. This means you might owe additional taxes, be entitled to a refund, or have a change in the amount of the refund you were expecting. Next Steps: The letter should outline the specific changes made and any actions you need to take. This might include paying additional taxes, receiving a refund, or providing further documentation. Appeal Process: If you disagree with the changes, the letter will usually provide information on how to dispute the findings or request a review. What does finalised without changes mean from SARS? A SARS “Verification Finalised without Changes” letter typically means that SARS has completed the verification process of your tax return and found no discrepancies or issues that required adjustments. In other words, this means all went well and SARS is happy with the documents you submitted. if you have a refund due, it should be processed within 72 hours. Sometimes, it takes up to 10 business days for it to reflect in your account What to expect when verification is completed: You will receive a completion letter notifying you of the verification outcome. If all goes well, this letter will normally notify you that no adjustments have been made. In that case, SARS will not be making adjustments to their assessments. If you are due for a refund, it should be paid out in 10 working days (provided you have no tax debt due or outstanding tax returns from prior years). If you were the one owing SARS, the amount due will remain payable. What does a completion letter from SARS mean? This means that SARS has completed the verification process and is happy with the supporting documents you have provided them with. If you have a refund it should be processed within 72 hours or 10 business days. You will need to ensure that your bank details are correct and updated for the refund to be processed without delay. You can contact us for: Tax submission Help with Objection to assessments Help with the interpretation of your assessment Help with the interpretation of your statement of account Tax return submission (corrections or new submissions) Leave a message/get a quote Subscribe now:
How to get a SARS refund quickly; Essential Preparation Guide for Faster Tax Refunds
How to get a SARS refund quickly? We are reaching out early to ensure you’re fully prepared for the upcoming tax season. Once it opens, you’ll be ready to submit your tax return and potentially receive your refund sooner. Why wait? What do you need to get ready? You will need: Necessary documentation for submission. To address any administrative issues. Information on auto-assessments. Knowledge of basic deductions you can utilize. Documentation: The responsibility for proving entries on a tax return lies with the taxpayer. It’s crucial to compile documents throughout the year as you receive them. If you haven’t started, now’s the time to gather: IRP5s issued by your employer. If not received, request them politely. Medical aid and retirement annuity tax certificates are typically available via provider apps. Profit and loss statements if you run a business or are a sole proprietor. Details of rental income and expenses. Invoices supporting business and rental expenses. Home office expense details and corresponding invoices. Investment certificates for interest, dividends, and capital gains. Section 18A certificates for any donations made. Travel logbook for business travel claims. Details of non-personal use assets sold during the tax year. Any additional documents supporting your tax return. Admin Issues: Ensure your eFiling login details are handy and functional. Verify and update your bank details with SARS to avoid delays in receiving refunds. Auto-Assessments: SARS may issue an auto-assessment using data from third parties like medical aids or retirement funds. If you agree with the assessment, no action is needed. If you disagree, you have 40 working days to file a correction. If you miss the deadline, you can request an extension within 21 additional working days. Basic Deductions You Can Claim: Understand the deductions available to legally reduce your tax liability, such as: Medical aid tax credits. Retirement annuity contributions. Donations. Home office expenses. Tax-free savings. Foreign income exemption. Interest exemption. Travel expenses. Wear and tear. Business expenses. Capital gains exclusion. Frequently Asked Questions: How to get a SARS refund quickly? To get a SARS refund quickly, ensure you submit a complete and accurate tax return as soon as the tax season opens. Gather all necessary documentation beforehand, resolve any administrative issues, and verify that your bank details are up to date with SARS. Not having the correct and updated bank details may unnecessarily delay your refund. How quickly does SARS pay a refund? SARS typically processes refunds within 21 business days after a tax return has been submitted and assessed. However, this can vary depending on the accuracy of your submission and if any additional reviews are needed. Can you get your refund instantly? In some instances, SARS refunds within a few days, even a few hours especially where all is in order and there are no audits or verifications needed. While you cannot get your SARS refund instantly, ensuring that your tax return is accurate, complete, and submitted early can help expedite the process. Make sure all your documentation is in order to avoid delays. How to get a SARS refund quickly? You can speed up your SARS refund by promptly submitting a complete and accurate tax return with all required documentation. Regularly check your SARS eFiling profile for any updates or additional requests for information and respond quickly to any additional requests from SARS. What’s the fastest I can get my tax refund? The fastest way to get your tax refund from SARS is to file your return as early as possible, ensure all details are correct, and have all supporting documents ready. Typically, refunds are processed within 21 business days, but early and accurate submissions can help avoid delays. We encourage you to submit your tax return as soon as the tax season opens and to do so accurately and completely. Additionally, do not delay sending supporting documents to SARS as may be required. Why was my tax refund reversed by SARS? I do not understand why the refund that was due to me disappeared from my Sars statement. The refund was reversed for the following most likely reasons: – There is a special stopper on your account; – You have two valid bank accounts reflecting on your registered details and/or – You do not have valid bank details registered with SARS – Also, check if they issued a “verification completed with changes letter” How we may help: We are eager to assist you with your tax affairs, including tax return submission, interpreting assessments, and objections to issued assessments. Feel free to reach out for any help or information. Leave a message/get a quote Subscribe now:
What are the tax implications of trading or buying shares?
What are the tax implications of trading or buying shares? The tax implication for having shares boil down to two things, whether your gain is income in nature or capital (gain) in nature. Let’s start by defining these two things: Income: Shares held as trading stock are bought mainly for resale at a profit. In other words, any shares held for speculative purposes normally fall under this category. The profits or any gain or loss made on the disposal of such shares (held for-profit/speculative) purposes will be of a revenue nature and will not be subject to capital gains. Gains of a revenue nature are subject to tax at marginal tax rates that vary between 18% and 45% depending on the circumstances of the taxpayer after taking into account all his/her other income (such as salary, rent, business income e.t.c.) The taxpayer can also deduct expenses directly related to the trading of these shares such as broker fees, transaction fees, subscription to broker news, tools and platforms and any such costs directly related to the trading of these shares. Capital: On the other end of the spectrum, for shares held as a capital asset (that is as a long-term dividend producing investment,) any gains or losses arising from such shares (held for investment/dividend earning) upon disposal will be of a capital nature. Gains that are of a capital nature are subject to capital gains and at a lower tax rate than gains of a revenue nature. Firstly, you get an exclusion of R40 000 as an individual on your gains. This means that you start paying capital gains tax if your gains exceed R40 000 for a tax year (year of assessment.) This is known as the annual exclusion. For natural persons dying during or after the 2020 tax year of assessment, the exclusion is R300 000. In addition to the annual exclusion, 40% of the gains are included in taxable income and then taxed as the normal marginal tax rates that apply to your salaries or other income. This 40% is known as the inclusion rate. Assuming that your marginal tax rate is 45% (the highest tax bracket,) the maximum you pay on capital gains is 18% (0.4 x 0.45 = 0.18.) Yes, you guessed it right, there can be 0% tax on your capital gains when: The sum of capital gain and losses does not exceed the annual exclusion; The sum of capital gain is less than or equal to the sum of capital losses (which means your gains set off against your gains); or Taxable income falls below the level at which normal tax becomes payable, that is if your combined income plus gains fall under the tax-free threshold. The effective rate (of 18%) we spoke about earlier applies if you fall in the highest tax bracket as an individual taxpayer. The rate is different from that which applies to companies or trusts. Companies and trusts, other than special trusts, pay a higher CGT than natural persons. They do not qualify for the annual exclusion and must include the capital gain at 80% of the gain into their taxable income. These are the effective tax rates: Companies are at an effective rate of 22.4% which is derived from the 80% inclusion rate and the 28% normal taxes for companies (0.28 x 0.8.) A trust that is not a special trust si at 36% effective tax rate for capital gains (0.45 x 0.8) What we have done above is the simplest way to look at share-holding. Are things that simple? Not always. The line between gains/losses of a revenue nature or gains of a capital nature can be a bit blurry. Capital vs revenue: When computing your tax liability, the first step is to determine if your gains are capital or revenue in nature. Apart from the three-year rule according to Section 9C (that basically says you must own a share for at least 3 years for your gains to be treated as capital in nature,) the Tax Act itself does not provide objective rules to distinguish between gains of revenue and capital nature. This task has always been left to the courts, which over the years have established some rules for this distinction. So, the onus is on you as the taxpayer to prove that your gains are of a capital or revenue nature. The most important factor in establishing the nature of your gains is the intention. This is not always an easy task since you can have more than one intention at a time and since intention can change over time. But, the courts have established that the taxpayer evidence as to intention must be tested against the surrounding circumstances of the case. These may include, the frequency of transactions, method of funding and reasons for selling. These may help establish your intention when you bought or sold the shares (Elandsheuwel Farming (Edms) Bpk v SBI.) “If they (the shares) were bought as a long-term investment to produce dividend income, the profit is likely to be of a capital nature. But if the shares were bought for resale at a profit, the profit will be of a revenue nature.” In SIR v The Trust Bank of Africa Ltd it was established that for a profit to be of a capital nature, “the slightest contemplation of a profitable resale need not be excluded. Where there were mixed intentions, the dominating intention is the one that establishes intention (COT v Levy.) Some general guidelines/Principles (source, the SARS guide on tax implications on shares:) Any profit or loss on disposal of shares will be of a revenue nature if they were purchased for resale as part of a scheme of profit-making (Californian Copper Syndicate (Limited and Reduced) v Harris (Surveyor of Taxes) A profit on the sale of shares is more likely to be of a revenue nature if it was not fortuitous, but designedly sought for and worked for (CIR v Pick ’n Pay Employee Share Purchase
Tax season deductions: Basic deductions you can use to save on tax (how to get a tax refund)
Tax season deductions – what you should know The tax season is offically coming to an end for non-provisional taxpayers in the next few days. But, even if you are planning for the next tax season, this article is for you as it will consider a few options/deductions that you can use to reduce your tax liability. Let’s consider these: Medical aid credits: Taxpayers can claim deductions (or tax credits) for medical aid schemes they contribute to. This can be applied where you contribute as a principal member or where you are not a principal member but pay for and on behalf of someone like a close family member. The credits depend on the number of beneficiaries of the medical aid. The more the beneficiaries the more the credits one can get. For the taxpayer or the first beneficiary, the tax credit is R332 for the 2022 tax year (R319 – 2021), R664 for the taxpayer and one dependant (2022 or 638 for the 2021 tax year and R224 for any additional beneficiary (215 for the 2021 tax year.) Retirement annuity: If you make contributions towards a pension, provident fund or retirement annuity, you can also claim deductions on taxable income. Taxpayers are allowed to deduct up to, from their taxable income, 27.5% of their remuneration of taxable income, whichever is greater, up to a maximum of R350 000 per tax year if they contributed to a retirement annuity fund, pension or provident fund. Therefore, it is important that the taxpayer examines and calculate their annual contribution in order to fully take advantage of this tax benefit. However, there is no tax benefit once you withdraw from this fund (we will talk about withdrawals in another publication.) Donations: The taxpayer can also claim donations against his/her taxable income. There is a catch though. The deduction is limited to 10% of the taxpayer’s taxable income before claiming donations as a deduction (so, if the taxable income is R300 000, the claim cannot be more than R30 000.) The charitable organisation the taxpayer gives a donation to must also furnish the taxpayer with a Section 18A certificate, not just a receipt. Home office expenses. We have previously written about home expenses here. So, if you need a more detailed guide, please refer to that article. However, let’s cover a few things here too. Certain expenses that a taxpayer incur as a result of working from home can be claimed as a deduction against taxable income provided certain conditions are met: The employer must allow the taxpayer to work from home. So, you can’t just work from home because you want to. Your employer must give you express permission to work from home. The taxpayer must spend more than half (50%) of their total working hours working from their home office. The part of the home in respect of which a claim is submitted must be occupied for purposes of a “trade”, as defined in section 1. So, in essence, there should be a specific part of the home that is used exclusively for this purpose. As an example, a specific set aside office must be kept aside for the trade. A taxpayer meeting with a client in the bar area of their home may not qualify for these deductions. Building from the point above, the part that is so occupied must be specifically equipped for purposes of the trade. So, it is important that the space/office must be specially fitted with the relevant instruments, tools and equipment required for the taxpayer to perform their work. The part must be regularly and exclusively used for purposes of the trade. As an example, taxpayers who earn a commission but who spend the majority of their time on the road visiting clients and performing their work at the client’s premises do not qualify for home office expense deduction. Refer to our previous article on home office expenses for further details and examples of expenses that a taxpayer can get as a deduction for working from home. Tax-free investments: These accounts are offered by various financial institutions. The tax benefit is that any income (interest, dividends, REIT payments and capital gains) accrued or received from these funds are exempt from tax. For example, interest income earned is fully exempt from tax as opposed to interest earned elsewhere, which can be exempt only up to certain amounts as per the Act. Though the income is exempt, this must still be included on the taxpayer’s tax return. Contributions to these funds should not exceed R33 000 annually and a lifetime agreement of R500 000. Any contribution above these amounts triggers a tax on the income earned. Foreign income: Ever heard f the 183 days rule? Individuals working overseas for a 183-day term could claim back tax deductions on income earned for the period there were outside the Republic. After 1 March 2020, the exemption is the first R1.25 million of foreign employment income earned by a resident will qualify for an exemption for tax years commencing on or after 1 March 2020. Travel claim: If you use your vehicle for work purposes and you are able to prove to SARS that you used your vehicle for work purposes, then you can claim a deduction on it. The catch, keep a travel logbook. Do not “manufacture one!” Wear and tear: The world is changing and often employees will use their own tools and equipment to carry out their work. If you are using goods/tools that you bought with your money for work purposes you are entitled to claim depreciation on these tools/assets. These can be computers or laptops. The catch, the cost of the assets must be written off over a time stipulated by SARS and you must be able to prove that the asset/tool was used for work purposes. For example, computers are written off over a period of 3 years. Assets that cost less than R7000 can be written off in full in the
Effective Steps to Successfully Close a Business in South Africa (Guide)
Effective Steps to Successfully Close a Business in South Africa Who should be reading this article? Anyone whose business is no longer trading and wishes to wind it down Anyone who wants to liquidate their business Anyone who has lost interest in their registered business and now wishes to discontinue it KEY TAKE AWAY POINTS: Pay all outstanding creditors Collect from all debtors if any Cancel all contracts (ensuring that all the conditions and terms of doing so are understood and taken care of) Inform all employees and customers of the intention to close down the business Sell your business assets (including the cars) and stock (if any) or write off any assets or inventory no longer – S0, basically liquidate the business The last step would be to distribute any cash or assets that remain in the business Deregistering at the CIPC Deregistering with SARS (all tax numbers) Why may you consider closing a business? There are many reasons for this. But, you may consider closing off your business because of any of the following reasons (not limited to this list:) The business was negatively affected by COVID and there is no possibility of the business doing well again in the future The business has become unprofitable and it no longer makes sense to continue operating Your focus or passion has changed and you would like to focus on something else The project for which the business was designed has ended and will not be resuming again in the future The most profitable clients of the business have left and you do not see the business attracting any new clients Changes in technology that drive your product or business out of the market You no longer have the cash flow or working capital to keep the business going If you are considering closing down your business, the following steps and considerations are important: 1. Have an exit strategy: Truly speaking, this should happen before there is a need to close down a business. This is because we will all exit from our business one way or the other. Some of the exit reasons are what we have already highlighted above. But, it could also be due to health reasons, death, new investors, a merger or sale of the business or part of the business. Whatever the reason, every business should have an exit and succession plan in place. Your goal here is to formulate a plan of how you will close down the business or exit from the business. Without a plan, things usually go wrong and you may be caught unaware along the way. 2. Notify your employees: After your customers, your employees are an important asset to the business. Besides, they have families to feed and lives to live. Leaving it until late may place an unnecessary mental burden on them and leave them with little time to look for alternative employment. As an alternative, use your relationships to find then alternative employment. But, the important point here is to keep the employees in the loop, not in the dark, about what is going on. Also, decide on who will handle the communications with the employees. It is also important to decide and communicate their terminal benefits and how these will be paid. 3. Notify your clients It is important to notify your clients in time so that they have time to look for alternative suppliers. Also, you may need to collect anything that they still owe you. It is important that you decide how you will collect and how they will be notified. 4. Collect your outstanding debts Plan your business closure around your existing collection policies and avoid giving new credit lines to existing or new clients. You also want to collect any outstanding debts before you close the business because it may become difficult to get payments once you have already closed off the business. Some businesses’ financial policies do not allow payments to individuals. Avoid announcing that you want to close off your business before you collect outstanding debts because some clients may just stall on payments hoping it will all go away. You can offer settlement discounts to encourage customers to settle their accounts. An alternative is selling these accounts to a collecting agency. 5. Notify your creditors and pay outstanding debts Inform your creditors of your decision to close and ensure you have a plan to handle the outstanding debts. SARS may be one of those creditors. Ensure that you have filed all your returns and that every return is paid for. If you are unable to pay them, there are processes you can follow to ask for a compromise or a repayment plan (Click here to read more about compromises and repayment plans here.) There may be specific laws on how you may pay your creditors. Ensure you are familiar with these and follow them in settling your creditors. If you are not sure, enlist the services of a lawyer. 6. Sell your business and operating assets If you can, package some of the cash-generating units that are still functional and profitable and sell these to interested parties. If this is not possible, you may want to sell the assets in the business including all the inventory, vehicles and other operating assets you may still have if there is a market available for them. 7. Deregister the business Once you are satisfied that all processes are complete, it is now time to deregister your business with the CIPC. This is to inform the CIPC that your business is no longer in existence. After this is done, inform SARS that you have deregistered the business. Also, apply to have all tax types (numbers) deregistered. This is to clear you of future tax compliance burden since your business is no longer in existence. Frequently asked questions: How do I shut down a business in South Africa? Start by submitting all outstanding SARS tax returns Obtain a tax