Contracts, tax legislation and other Acts relating to your business can be complicated and getting an attorney to help may be very costly. Of course, there is also the question of whether you even know what your legal obligations are. LawUnlocked provides an online tool that may be able to help you assess what your legal obligations are with regards to various aspects of running your business.

Whether your business is registered as a Sole Proprietorship or Private Company, there are various tax requirements you have to meet, and one of these could be value-added tax (VAT). VAT is an indirect system of taxation (currently levied at 15%) on the value of all goods and services supplied by vendors. Here is a broad explanation of what VAT is and how to meet your tax obligations as a small business.

“Who here loves the VAT man?” That is a question that I ask on a regular basis. Sadly though, more often than not, mine is the only hand that goes up. It is definitely a mind set that needs to be changed if we are to make the best use of the concessions that SARS gives us. It is about what you know and how you use it that will allow you to make the most of your relationship with SARS. Here are a few more instances and situations that many folk don’t know about, where you can claim VAT back if the product/service has been used for business purposes.

“Who here loves the VAT man?” That is a question that I ask on a regular basis. Sadly though, more often than not, mine is the only hand that goes up. It is definitely a mind set that needs to be changed if we are to make the best use of the concessions that SARS gives us. It is about what you know and how you use it that will allow you to make the most of your relationship with SARS. That said, here are a few more tips in terms of what must be done regarding the VAT requirements.

“Who here loves the VAT man?” That is a question that I ask on a regular basis. Sadly though, more often than not, mine is the only hand that goes up. It is definitely a mind set that needs to be changed if we are to make the best use of the concessions that SARS gives us. It is about what you know and how you use it that will allow you to make the most of your relationship with SARS. That said, here are a few tips in terms of what must be done regarding the VAT requirements.

Turnover tax is a simplified tax system aimed at micro businesses (with a qualifying turnover of R1 million or less), making it easier for micro businesses to comply with their tax obligations. It replaces Income Tax, VAT, Provisional Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Dividends Tax. A micro business that is registered for turnover tax can, however, choose to remain in the VAT system. Find out more about the relationship between turnover tax and small businesses.

Every year, when personal tax season draws near, everyone has numbers on the brain. And while you may be a pro at manoeuvring personal tax loopholes, did you know that there are just as many sneaky tax breaks on the company side of things? It's never too early to start thinking about how you'll navigate tax season. You'll be surprised by how much you can save with these three useful tax tips!

With the many challenges small business owners face on a daily basis, trying to understand the complexities of the tax returns process can be draining. Filing your tax return is probably something you don’t look forward to. Figuring out how much you owe and when to submit your tax return does not have to be a pain, especially with so many free online tax tools at your disposal. Here are a few tax tips for SMEs to help you file your tax return with confidence.

With tax season currently underway, small business owners need to ensure their companies are tax compliant. Many SMEs struggle to understand and deal with SARS’ practices and requirements. The following article offers small business owners advice on how to make the necessary tax provisions to avoid penalties. Keep reading to make sure you're adequately prepared for this tax season.

When dealing with your company's taxes, you may feel you need a dictionary for the tax-speak, and explanations for the explanations. This confusion can make the process of getting your taxes in order more daunting than it needs to be. Before you try to get your taxes in order, it's important be familiar with the technical jargon you're about to be bombarded with. This glossary of tax terms can help you get to grips with that complicated language called Tax.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the nation’s tax collecting authority. Established in terms of the South African Revenue Service Act 34 of 1997 as an autonomous agency, we are responsible for administering the South African tax system and customs service. We are heedful of the role of taxation in nation-building and therefore deem the tax system as an asset that belongs to the nation.

To assist employers, tax professionals and companies to meet their tax commitments, SARS has made available a free software package called e@syFile, which can be downloaded from the SARS website or collected on CD from any SARS office. The e@syFile software has been created and provided in an attempt to ensure greater accuracy and allow all IRP5, IT3 (a) and EMP501 returns to be submitted electronically or on a CD delivered to a SARS office. It is also aimed to encourage small business to move from manual to automated payroll systems.

When you're setting up your business, one of the first decisions you'll have to make is what kind of legal entity to register. Each business entity has its own pros and cons, so don't make the decision in a hurry or without having all your facts. If yours is a medium-sized enterprise, you may think about registering a private company.

Printing Pain* is a home based family business. There were no employees besides the married couple, the Spenders*, who were the owner managers. The annual turnover and net profit of the business before owner’s salaries and company income tax were R1, 4 million and R440, 000 respectively. The business accounting records were also not updated regularly. It was impossible to exercise proper financial control or take informed business decisions. This article uses the Printing Pain case study to explore guidelines for separating business and personal finances.

The words tax, tax man, Receiver and SARS are known to strike fear into the hearts of many an entrepreneur. This is not only because it implies that you have to part with your money, but because the tax process can be a daunting one. A good place to start when getting your taxes in order is by keeping accurate records. That being said, accurate and up-to-date record-keeping is not only about making life easier when you file your taxes. It can also protect your business's cash flow and enable to run a tight ship.

GoLegal is South Africa’s most trusted legal information portal. Its page on tax law provides insights into tax law from South Africa’s leading tax lawyers and other tax professionals, examining tax legislation and case law. Find the latest articles and legal opinions with regards to SARS’ conduct, the taxation of local and foreign entities and assets, and the tax consequences of individual and corporate activities, ranging from loans, trusts, share buybacks, REITS, import and export, and more.

Finding and choosing the right accountant for your business can mean the difference between success and failure. All accountants are not created equal. You need the right match for your exact needs. Unfortunately, once you've selected an accountant, it's often a hassle to switch due to the detailed knowledge that person gains of your business. Therefore it pays, when selecting an accountant, to 'get it right the first time'.

If your business is facing a VAT audit by SARS, it is important that you have these 10 financial records on hand. Namely, VAT return totals, VAT control account, VAT interest and penalties, tax invoices, debtors, trade, previous audits, taxable supplies, VAT refunds, as well as assets and liabilities.

In order to comply with VAT regulations, for any sale of more than R50, you have to issue a tax invoice, with the word "tax invoice" printed on it. This is the most important document in the VAT system. The VAT Act prescribes that a tax invoice must contain certain details about the taxable supply as well as the parties to the transaction. This includes the value of the goods/services excluding VAT, and the VAT amount (calculated at 14% of the above amount), among others.

A business owner or professional person often uses part of his or her primary residence for business (non-residential) purposes. When the residence is sold, a special Capital Gains Tax (CGT) treatment applies. It is important that a business or professional person is aware of the existence of the complexities of CGT and seeks expert CGT advice when a sale of the dual-use residence is anticipated.