SARS Registrations

Tax Clearance Certificate (Pin)

A certificate to show your company tax status

A Tax clearance Certificate (TCC) is a document issued by SARS confirming that the tax payers tax affairs are in order. TCCs are required for tender applications, for foreign investment, and for emigration purposes.

Import/Export Licence

Get an Import/Export License number

What is an Import/ Export License?
Company or individual is required to have an import export license (also known as a customs code) to import or export cargo which is worth more than R50,000 or if you have made more than 3 imports or exports in a calendar year. It is also called a CNN code.

Why do I need it?
The CNN code or import/export license is needed as it is required to be presented to Customs in order to clear your goods.

Why is a combined Import and Export license better than just one service?
It is the same application, same requirements and same price to apply for both services in one application.

Does an Import/Export license expire?
No, it is a once off registration that does not need to be renewed, nor does it attract any further registration fees or annual dues.

What are the benefits of registering for SADC and EUR1?
If you are exporting goods to Europe or Southern Africa (SADC), we would recommend that you also register for a EUR1 or SADC certificates so that you can benefit from the import duty tax reductions and exemptions. You can apply for these registrations at the same time as your Import/Export license.

Is my Tax Registration Number also my Import/Export license number?
No, Your Tax number is your income tax registration number and different from an Import/Export license which needs to be applied for. An Import/Export license starts with CNN

VAT Registration

Get a company VAT registration number

What is VAT?
VAT stands for Value Added Tax and is an indirect consumption tax levied on goods and services in the economy. It is collected by the vendor (you) on behalf of SARS.

When do I need to register for VAT?
It is compulsory to register for VAT once your turnover has breached R1m in any 12 month consecutive period. You can voluntarily register for VAT but only if you have sales of more than R50,000. For the voluntary VAT registration, a minimum of three invoices which total more than R50,000 are required and these amounts must be reflected in your business bank account.

Can I charge VAT if I am not registered?
No! That is fraudulent as VAT is collected behalf of the government and needs to be paid over to SARS.

How much is VAT?
Currently VAT is levied at 15% of the good and services supplied by the VAT vendor.

Is my Tax Registration Number also my VAT number?
No, Your Tax number is your income tax registration number and different from a VAT registration number which needs to be applied for.

My supplier says I need to be VAT registered but I don’t have the turnover. What now?
Your supplier is misunderstanding how VAT works. They can claim the VAT back from SARS if you are VAT registered. However, you would need to add VAT to current prices thereby increases them 15%. So your supplier is getting the same price without the hassle of claiming the VAT back. They are effectively seeing your price and wanting a 15% discount.

PAYE Registration

Register your company for PAYE

What is PAYE?
PAYE is the acronym for Pay As You Earn and is the tax paid by all employees over the PAYE threshold. It is deducted from the employees salary and paid over to SARS by the employer. It is paid over to SARS before the 7th of the month after it is collected. It is the single biggest contributor to the tax collector making up 38% of total contributions.

Why should I register for PAYE?
An employer must register within 21 days of becoming an employer. The employer is also required to register for UIF at the same time as PAYE.

PAYE and UIF contributions are paid to SARS by the employer after they have been deducted from the employees` salaries.

It is a criminal offence to withhold PAYE from SARS.

What documents and information do you need to register for PAYE?
SARS requires the company name, registration number, income tax number and business description for both PAYE and UIF registrations. A letter from your company bank confirming your banking details is also required.

You will need to estimate the total value of your payroll for the next 12 months as well as the estimated number of employees the payroll will be based on.

What is UIF?
UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) which is managed by the department of Labour. It is intended to give short-term relief to workers who become unemployed or who are unable to work because of maternity, child adoption or illness. It also provides relief to the defendants of a deceased contributor.

The contributions for this fund is collected by SARS but managed by the department of Labour.

Why do I need to register for UIF?
It is the employers responsibility to pay the UIF contributions over to SARS within 7 days after the end of the month. If the last day for payment falls on a public holiday or weekend, the payment must be made on the last business day before the public holiday or weekend or SARS will automatically add a 10% penalty.

What documents and information do you need to register for UIF?
SARS requires the company name, registration number, income tax number and business description for both PAYE and UIF registrations. A letter from your company bank confirming your banking details is also required.

How is UIF calculated?
The total UIF contribution to SARS is 2% of the employee’s salary. However, this amount is shared equally between the employer and employee who each pay 1%. This means that only a 1% deduction will be seen on the employee’s payslip. There is a salary ceiling of R14872 pm which means that the maximum UIF contribution per month per employee is capped at R148.72

UIF Registration

Register your company for UIF

The employer is also required to register for UIF at the same time as PAYE.

PAYE and UIF contributions are paid to SARS by the employer after they have been deducted from the employees` salaries.

What is UIF?
UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) which is managed by the department of Labour. It is intended to give short-term relief to workers who become unemployed or who are unable to work because of maternity, child adoption or illness. It also provides relief to the defendants of a deceased contributor.

The contributions for this fund is collected by SARS but managed by the department of Labour.

Why do I need to register for UIF?
It is the employers responsibility to pay the UIF contributions over to SARS within 7 days after the end of the month. If the last day for payment falls on a public holiday or weekend, the payment must be made on the last business day before the public holiday or weekend or SARS will automatically add a 10% penalty.

What documents and information do you need to register for UIF?
SARS requires the company name, registration number, income tax number and business description for both PAYE and UIF registrations. A letter from your company bank confirming your banking details is also required.

How is UIF calculated?
The total UIF contribution to SARS is 2% of the employee’s salary. However, this amount is shared equally between the employer and employee who each pay 1%. This means that only a 1% deduction will be seen on the employee’s payslip. There is a salary ceiling of R14872 pm which means that the maximum UIF contribution per month per employee is capped at R148.72

Company Tax Returns

File your company tax returns at SARS

What is an Annual Return
An annual return is a small yearly fee, paid to the Registrar of Companies, to make certain that your company is still active and to keep it registered. 

Time it takes?
Annual returns are completed within one business day after receiving payment.

Costs
Our fees are R350 + the CIPC Fees for an Annual Return. Past years that remain unpaid are R100 per year.

SARS Registered Representative

Add/Update Your SARS Registered Representative.

What is a Public Officer?
The Public Officer for a company is the company’s representative for SARS and the person who is responsible for all matters relating to SARS. From May 2021, SARS introduced tighter measures for companies interacting with SARS and now require all companies to have a Public Officer appointed to the company in order to access their services.

Why do I need one?
Without a Public Officer you will not be able to access any of the SARS services such as Tax Clearance, VAT Registration, Import and Export License application to name but a few.

Isn’t the Company Director the Public Officer?
Although company’s Public Officer is often a company Director, SARS still requires the person to formally accept that appointment. This is most likely to mitigate for people who may be appointed as Public Officer without their knowledge and then bear the responsibility for the company with the tax authority.

What does the Public Officer do?
The Public Officer carries out actions on behalf of the company which are then deemed to have done by the company. This can be anything such as applying for Tax Clearance for the company to VAT registration or applying for an Import and Export License.

How is the Public Officer appointed?
We apply to SARS on the Company’s behalf and require the person’s ID, a letter of consent and a proof of address document.

 

Skills Development Levy REGISTRATION

We register Companies for SDL

What is SDL?
SDL (Skills Development Levy) and is a compulsory tax paid by employers whose staff bill exceeds R500 000 per year. It is aimed at established businesses so fortunately start-ups do not have to register for SDL.

What documents and information do you need to register for SDL?
SARS requires the company name, registration number, income tax number and business description. A letter from your company bank confirming your banking details is also required.

You will also need to estimate the total amount of your payroll for the next 12 months as well as the estimated number of employees the payroll will be based on.

How is SDL calculated?
The amount is 1% of the total monthly salary bill paid each month to SARS. The total salary bill includes overtime payments, leave pay, bonuses, commissions and lumpsum payments.

When does SDL get paid to SARS?
SDL must be paid together within 7 days after the end of the month. If the last day for payment falls on a public holiday or weekend, the payment must be made on the last business day before the public holiday or weekend.

Is my Tax Registration Number also my SDL registration number?
No, Your Tax number is your income tax registration number and different from your SDL registration number and need to be applied for separately.