Scams and Phishing awareness
Be aware
You need to be aware of email scams, and so we’ve created a section of the website where we will post updates of any scams we have heard about. Similarly, we would like you to tell us about any emails you think are scams or phishing. To report or to get more information on phishing, please send an email to phishing@sars.gov.za or call the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870. To see all current SARS surveys, emails and SMSs, click here.
Members of the public are randomly emailed with false “spoofed” emails made to look as if these emails were sent from SARS, but are in fact fraudulent emails aimed at enticing unsuspecting taxpayers to part with personal information such as bank account details. Examples include emails that appear to be from returns@sars.co.za or refunds@sars.co.za indicating that taxpayers are eligible to receive tax refunds. These emails contain links to false forms and fake websites made to look like the “real thing”, but with the aim of fooling people into entering personal information such as bank account details which the criminals then extract and use fraudulently.
Please note these are scams and SARS taxpayers should take note of the following:
Do not open or respond to emails from unknown sources.
Beware of emails that ask for personal, tax, banking and eFiling details (login credentials, passwords, pins, credit / debit card information, etc.).
SARS will never request your banking details in any communication that you receive via post, email, or SMS. However, for the purpose of telephonic engagement and authentication purposes, SARS will verify your personal details. Importantly, SARS will not send you any hyperlinks to other websites – even those of banks.
Beware of false SMSs.
SARS does not send *.htm or *.html attachments.
SARS will never ask for your credit card details.
See our YouTube videos on how to protect yourself from scammers:
Protect yourself from Scams and Phishing
Protect your eFiling login details
Turnover Tax threshold increase
25 February 2026
The Turnover Tax threshold has increased from R1.to R2.3 million as per the Budget Speech, 2026. The tax-free threshold has been adjusted to R600 000. The effective date for the increase is 1 April 2026.
Filing Season for Individuals
Income Tax return filing dates
To be confirmed soon
News Flash
Fines and jail time for tax mistakes
To express the importance of being compliant with SARS we would like to inform you of the detailed list of non-compliance offences that could lead to fines and jail time for taxpayers, refer to the link below.
|https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/482965/why-sars-is-going-after-taxpayers-for-filing-mistakes-kieswetter/
See also the interview done by eNCA with SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter regarding this matter.
https://www.enca.com/news/fines-and-jail-time-tax-mistakes
Should you have any further queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Starting a business and tax
Entrepreneurs who want to start a business need to be aware of the tax obligations of running a business whether it is in the form of a legal entity or in a personal capacity. It is also important to note the various options with regard to reducing some of the administrative requirements to make tax compliance easier as well as the different tax incentives and rates that may apply in certain instances.
The following legal entities are required to register at CIPC and as a taxpayer for corporate income tax purposes:
Listed public companies
Unlisted public companies
Private companies
Close corporations (Note that from 1 May 2011, no new close corporations will be registered)
Co‐operatives
Non-profit companies
State owned companies
Collective investment schemes
Other
In the case of starting a business that is not a legal entity, it can be done in the form of the following:
Sole proprietorship (taxed on profits in an individual capacity)
Partnership (note that each partner is taxed on their share of taxable profits in an individual capacity, as a partnership is not registered separately for income tax purposes)
If you are a close corporation, co-operative or a private company, you may qualify for certain tax incentives and preferential rates in terms of the small business corporation (SBC) incentive. Alternatively, if you are a natural person or a company and you meet specific requirements, you may qualify for the turnover tax system.
VAT Categories and the meaning of each category
Category A
o A vendor is required to submit one return every two calendar months.
o January, March, May, July, September and November
o The commissioner will determine whether a vendor falls within this category.
Category B
o A vendor is required to submit one return every two calendar months.
o February, April, June, August, October and December.
o The commissioner will determine whether a vendor falls within this category.
Category C
o A vendor is required to submit one return for each calendar month.
o January – December (12 months).
o When will one fall within this category:
Total value of taxable supplies has or is likely to exceed R30 million in any consecutive 12 months.
The vendor has applied in writing to be placed in this category.
The vendor repeatedly failed to perform any obligations as required by the VAT legislation.
Category D
o A vendor submits one return every six calendar months.
o February and August.
o This category applies mainly to the following vendors:
Carries in farming activities, where the total value of taxable supplies is less than R1,5 million for a period of 12 consecutive months.
Is a micro business that is registered in terms of the sixth schedule to the income tax.
Category E
o A vendor is required to submit one return for every twelve months, ending on the last day of the vendor’s year of assessment.
o This category applies to a vendor that is a company or trust fund.
RECORD KEEPING
How long do you need to keep documents?How to keep records?
PART 1: Individuals
Records must be kept
-in their original form;
-in the form, including electronic, prescribed by the Commissioner by public notice; or
-in the case of a request by a specific taxpayer to retain records or documents in a different but acceptable form, the form authorised by a senior SARS official;
-in an orderly fashion;
-in a safe place; and
-open for inspection, audit or investigation by SARS or other relevant body.
How long must records be kept?
A person who has submitted a return
Five years: counting from the date of submission of a return until the last day of the period
A person required to submit a return but has not complied
Five years: After the end of the five years period, indefinitely until the return is submitted
A person who is not required to submit a return, but has during a tax period, received income, has a capital gain or loss or engaged in any other activity that is subject to tax or would be subject to tax but for the application of a threshold or exemption
Five years or until the audit is concluded, whichever occurs first
A person who has lodged an objection or appeal against an assessment or decision under the Tax Administration Act
Five years or until the disputed assessment or decision becomes final, whichever occurs first
A person who has been notified or is aware that the records are subject to an audit or investigation
Until the audit or the investigation is concluded
RECORD KEEPING
How long do you need to keep documents?How to keep records?
PART 2 – CLOSE CORPORATIONS
CLOSE CORPORATIONS
Accounting records, including supporting schedules to accounting records and ancillary accounting records –15 years
Amended Founding Statements (CK2 and CK2) –Indefinite
Annual financial statements, including annual accounts and the report of the accounting officer –15 years
Founding statement (CK1) –Indefinite
Minutes books as well as resolution passed at meetings –Indefinite
RECORD KEEPING
How long do you need to keep documents?How to keep records?
PART 3 – COMPANIES
Company records: Any documents, accounts, books, writing, records or other information that a company is required to keep in terms of the Act and other public regulations
7 years or longer
Notice of Incorporation
Indefinite
Memorandum of Incorporation and any amendments made thereon Rules
Indefinite
Register of company secretary and auditors
Indefinite
Notice and minutes of all shareholders meetings including, resolutions adopted and documents made available to holders of securities
7 years
Copies of reports of annual general meetings of the company
7 years
Copies of annual financial statements
7 years
Copies of accounting records
7 years
Record of directors and past directors, after the director has retired from the company
7 years
Written communication to holders of securities
7 years
Minutes and resolutions of directors’ meetings, audit committee and directors’ committees
7 years
Securities register and uncertificated securities register (Shares)
Indefinite
RECORD KEEPING
How long do you need to keep documents?How to keep records?
PART 4 – Health and Safety, Insolvency and Liquidation
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Register or other record of the earning and other prescribed particulars of all the employees
4 years after the date of the last entry in that register or record
An employer shall keep at a workplace, a record of all incidents which he or she is required to report and also of any other incident which resulted in a person concerned having had to receive medical treatment other than first aid
3 years
INSOLVENCY AND LIQUIDATION
Insolvent estates which have been finally liquidated or in course of liquidation and only with permission of the Master, the trustee may destroy all books and records in his possession relating to the estate
6 months from the confirmation by the Master of the final trustees’ account
Insolvent estates which have been finally liquidated, all record sin his office relating to the estate of that insolvent
After 5 years have lapsed from the rehabilitation of an insolvent
RECORD KEEPING
How long do you need to keep documents?How to keep records?
PART 5 – Labour relations, Body Corporate & Home owners associations
LABOUR RELATIONS
Written particulars of employee must be kept after termination of employment
3 years after the termination of employment
Employee name and occupation
3 years from the date of the last entry in the record
Time worked by each employee
Remuneration paid to each employee
Date of birth of any employee under 18 years of age
Any other prescribed information
Employer must keep records for each employee specifying the nature of any disciplinary transgressions, the actions taken by the employer and the reasons for the actions
Indefinite
SECTIONAL TITLE SCHEMES – Body Corporates / Home Owners Associations
Must ensure that all books of account and financial records are retained
Six years after completion of the transactions, acts or operations to which they relate