How to Achieve Tax Compliance Throughout 2024
By BVK Group | 31 Jan 2024
How to Achieve Tax Compliance Throughout 2024
“SARS is willing and ready to assist taxpayers who want to be compliant. Where taxpayers willfully and intentionally ignore their legal obligations, SARS will act sternly.” (SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter)
Businesses are often required to share their tax compliance status, for example for a tender application, bidding process or pre-qualification as a supplier; to confirm that their tax affairs are in order with SARS; to receive payment; or for foreign investment allowances.
This is because proof of tax compliance is accepted as an indicator of how well a company is managed and its good standing in terms of its legal obligations. Tax compliance also saves time and money.
SARS provides clear advice to owners of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) on how to achieve tax compliance, both in the business and in their personal capacity, including a recommendation to seek the advice of an accountant.
Which tax types apply to you and your business?
This handy table from SARS details the tax types that generally apply to SMME businesses and their owners.
Tax Type | Submission Frequency | Tax Form | Explanatory Notes |
Company Income Tax (CIT) | Once a year as per company’s financial year end | ITR14 | The company has 12 months to submit the ITR14 after the financial year end. The financial year end is indicated on the company registration certificate from CIPC. |
Personal Income Tax (for self-employed individuals) | Once a year as announced by SARS during filing season | ITR12 | Sole traders, partners in a partnership and self-employed individuals must declare their business income on their ITR12. |
VAT | Every two (2) months before the 25th | VAT201 | The period will be allocated at registration and some companies may be required to submit every month. |
PAYE | Monthly on or before the 7th | EMP201 | The submission is due within seven (7) days after the month the tax was deducted from the employee. |
Provisional Tax | Twice a year | IRP6 | For companies: The first submission is due six (6) months from the start of the financial year. The second submission is due at the end of your financial year. For individuals: The first submission is due 30th August and second submission is due 28/9 February of each year. |
Turnover Tax | Once a year | TT03 | The Submission of turnover tax returns is done once a year in line with the company’s financial year-end or submission of the annual income tax returns, between 1 July and 31 January of the following year for individuals. |
Employer Reconciliation | End of October and end of May | EMP501 | First interim submission is due at the end of October and final submission end of May. |
Source: SARS
Compliance life cycle
The “compliance life cycle” as SARS calls it, applies to each one of the tax types for which the business and the owner are liable.
It involves completing these steps in your tax relationship with SARS from beginning to end:
Registration on SARS’ system for each tax type applicable;
Timely and correct declarations or returns for each tax type, including submitting relevant supporting documents;
Timely payments where a tax liability exists; and
Deregistration from tax types if the business is liquidated or closed.
To meet these requirements consistently across all the relevant tax types over the tax year, in an always-changing tax landscape, taxpayers should consider professional assistance.
Consequences of non-compliance
Non-compliance is a costly choice, generally involving penalties and interest, as well as additional fees to rectify, and potentially further losses, such as losing a business opportunity or the confidence of clients, stakeholders and investors, or suffering reputation damage.
In addition, not registering for a tax type to evade paying taxes, as well as the non-submission of tax returns are criminal offenses, which may result in a fine, imprisonment or both.
Outstanding returns will also negatively affect tax compliance status, and administrative penalties that will attract interest may be incurred for non-submission.
Where tax liabilities have not been paid, and no payment arrangement has been made, penalties and interest will also apply, tax compliance status will be affected, and SARS may appoint third parties, such as a registered bank, to recover the outstanding tax.
Ensuring compliance
Human errors and simple mistakes are common given the complex tax types, rules and strict deadlines. Nevertheless, a taxpayer can be found guilty of an offense without SARS having to show that the taxpayer committed it willfully, deliberately and knowingly. It means that even unintentional or administrative errors can be penalized with a maximum penalty and, in some cases, criminal sanctions.
This makes it essential to rely on your accountant, who is not only well-versed in the requirements and deadlines of the various tax types applicable to your business but is also up to date with the latest rules and processes, and how it affects your tax compliance.
“Employing an accountant, tax practitioner, or other tax professional to complete returns, or from whom to obtain advice before completing a return with entries that are not understood or adopting a position with tax implications” is among SARS’ recommended ways to ensure reasonable care has been taken by a taxpayer.
It is our best advice too for tax compliance throughout 2024.
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