Tax season can feel overwhelming, but with the right preparation it’s a smooth and stress-free process. Here’s a practical checklist to help South African individuals and small business owners get ready for their annual income tax return.

For Individual Taxpayers (Employees)

• IRP5/IT3(a) certificate from your employer — this reflects your salary and PAYE deducted
• Medical aid tax certificate (IT3(b) from your medical aid provider)
• Retirement annuity (RA) contributions certificate
• Travel logbook if you claimed a travel allowance
• Home office expense records (if working from home)
• Rental income and expense details (if applicable)

For Small Business Owners / Sole Proprietors

• Full annual bank statements for all business accounts
• All sales invoices and receipts (income records)
• All business expense receipts and supplier invoices
• Payroll records and employees’ IRP5 details (if you have staff)
• Asset register for depreciation (SARS Wear & Tear)
• Provisional tax payment history (IRP6 returns)
• Previous year’s tax return and assessment

Key Deadlines to Know

SARS typically opens the tax season in July. Key deadlines are:

• Non-provisional taxpayers (eFiling): Late October
• Provisional taxpayers (eFiling): Late January (following year)
• Companies: 12 months after financial year-end

Missing deadlines results in administrative penalties — and SARS has become increasingly efficient at enforcing these.

Let Us Handle It For You

At Incise Services, we prepare and submit tax returns for both individuals and businesses. We ensure every allowable deduction is claimed, all information is accurate, and your return is filed well before deadline.

Don’t leave it to the last minute — contact Odette on 083 414 8414 today.