A practical review of tax invoices, supporting records and VAT201 figures can help South African VAT vendors reduce avoidable errors before submitting their next return.
A practical insight for South African businesses on protecting SARS eFiling access, verifying suspicious messages and keeping security contact details current.
SARS has amended the customs rules for accredited clients, extending a key period from six to 18 calendar months with retrospective effect from 1 September 2025. Importers and exporters should review affected applications, records and internal compliance calendars.
Businesses that submit third-party data to SARS have until 31 October 2026 to report information for the period ended 31 August. Accurate data matters because SARS uses it to pre-populate and assess tax returns.
A recent SARS investigation into alleged VAT refund fraud is a timely reminder for South African businesses to strengthen VAT records, approval controls and supporting-document checks.
SARS now allows taxpayers, registered representatives and tax practitioners to request the unmerging of incorrectly combined entity records directly on eFiling. Businesses should review their profiles before submitting tax returns or making payments.
SARS has introduced several changes to the 2026 trust income-tax return process. Trustees and tax representatives should review their records now, rather than waiting until the 22 January 2027 filing deadline.
SARS is consulting on a proposed digital VAT model involving e-invoicing, secure data exchange and e-reporting. No mandatory implementation date has been confirmed, but South African VAT vendors should begin assessing their systems before the consultation closes on 16 October 2026.
SARS has announced amendments to the rules governing accredited customs clients, with retrospective effect from 1 September 2025. Importers should monitor the final Government Gazette notice and review supporting records, authorisations and customs-control procedures.
CIPC has introduced geolocation functionality for company and close corporation address changes, requiring businesses to confirm physical locations more accurately when updating their registered information.
SARS is seeking stakeholder input on a proposed digital VAT model. VAT vendors should review the consultation paper and assess how e-invoicing, e-reporting and system integration could affect their processes.