Posts Tagged ‘SMME’

eFiling for SMMEs

November 16, 2021

Tax information for small businesses from the South African Revenue Service

#Your Tax Matters

We continue our focus on Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). This month, we are exploring the functionalities available for SMMEs on eFiling and how to register a representative.

  1. Registering for eFiling

If you are not yet registered as an eFiler, you can register by:

  • Visiting the SARS eFiling website www.sarsefiling.co.za and clicking on REGISTER; or
  • Downloading the MobiApp and tapping on REGISTER

As a registered taxpayer, you can sign up to use the SARS eFiling service, which allows you not only to file a return, make payments to SARS or request a tax clearance certificate, but also gives you access to many other benefits via an electronic platform.

For further guidance, please watch the SARS TV on YouTube.

  • eFiling Service Offerings available to SMMEs

The following services and functionalities are available on eFiling:

  • Enquire on the outstanding debt and make a payment
  • Enquire on the outstanding returns
  • Request your Tax Compliance Status
  • Notice of Registration
  • Filing your Income Tax Return
  • Update personal details (including bank details)
  • Request Statement of Account
  • Register for Income Tax
  • Submission of Supporting Documents for an audit case
  • Lodge a Dispute Tax Product Registration (incl. Tax Number Registration)
  • Tax Directive Management
  • Lodge a complaint
  • Refund status
  • Audit status
  • Username Retrieval and Password Reset
  • Registered Representative

Registering a representative

A registered representative is a person who is appointed with full rights to act on behalf of another legal entity (e.g. Companies/Company director, Trust/Trustee etc). A registered representative can set up an eFiling profile of the company, and has full rights to act on behalf of the company.

Requirements:

  • One official representative must be appointed to represent the company on all tax products registered with SARS.
  • Registered representatives must be registered with SARS.
  • Individuals, in a practitioner capacity, are not permitted to be registered representatives.

Registration Process and Tax Type Activation

Supporting documents needed for registration to become a registered representative of a company:

  • Certificate of Incorporation / Registration (CoR14.1)
  • Letter of authority signed by a Director or a Board resolution approving appointment (not older than 3 months).
  • Copy of a valid identity document or drivers licence/ Passport or temporary ID of representative.
  • Selfie or image of representative holding his/her identity document with note that reads “Update my details”.
  • Proof of residential address, not older than 3 months, of the representative.

Note: Turnaround time for registration is 21 working days, provided all required documents were submitted.

Common errors that you should avoid because they can delay the updating of the registered representative:

  • Registration documents not signed.
  • Selfie of representative holding his/her identity document not attached.
  • Letter of appointment not signed by directors/members etc.
  • Practitioners should not apply to be the registered representative.
  • Submitted documents not legible.
  • Company name or registration number differs from attached documents.
  • What’s new: Enhanced Notice of Registration functionality

The Notice of Registration functionality on eFiling was enhanced. The current Notice of Registration functionality for PIT and VAT has now been extended to include CIT, PAYE and Trusts. eFilers can now access their Notices of Registration for all tax types online by following these easy steps:

Organisations:

Step 1: Login to eFiling: http://www.sarsefiling.co.za

Step 2: Go to Organisations main menu

Step 3:Click SARS Registered details on the side menu

Step 4: Select Notice of Registration

Step 5: Select the relevant tax type: VAT or CIT or PAYE or Trusts

Regional News

  • Taxpayers are reminded that the Filing Season for Individuals ends on 23 November 2021. If you have received an auto-assessment SMS from SARS, you need to either accept the auto-assessment, or edit it by filing a tax return. If you fail to do so, an estimated assessment based on the data at our disposal will be issued by SARS. Any tax return filed after 23 November 2021 will be subject to a penalty for late submission.
  • Don’t forget, if you want to visit a SARS branch, you need to make a booking. You can call 0800 00 7277 and choose the “0” (zero) option, or SMS 47277 with the word “Booking” followed by a space then your ID number/Passport number/ Asylum Seeker number.

This column is supplied by the South African Revenue Service and is published unaltered.

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Tax filing for SMMEs

October 22, 2021

#Your Tax Matters

Earlier this year we published a couple of columns focusing on Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). This month we are again focusing on this sector.

  1. Employer Filing Season

The Employer Interim Reconciliation Declaration (EMP501) submission period closes on 31 October 2021. Employers with less than 50 employees can use either SARS eFiling or e@syFile™ Employer to submit their reconciliation documents. e@syFile™. We would like to advise Employers to ensure that they submit on or before the deadline to avoid late penalties. An employer who files their EMP501 late will be penalised under the provisions of paragraph 14(6) of the Fourth Schedule to the Income Tax Act.  The penalty will equal 1% of the year’s PAYE, for each month that the return is late, up to 10% of the year’s PAYE. It is very important for employers to file accurate and complete EMP501’s. SARS uses the information we receive through your submission of an EMP501 to populate auto-assessments and income tax returns on behalf of your employees.  Incomplete or inaccurate information will negatively affect your employees’ ability to meet their tax obligations.  In practise, your incomplete or inaccurate information may result in significant delays of refunds to your employees when due. 

  • Debt Management Payment Arrangement Request

Until recently, taxpayers could only make payment arrangements during engagement with a SARS agent, in person at a SARS branch, utilising the debt management regional emails, or on their My Compliance Profile (MCP) on eFiling. This changed from 10 September 2021.  SARS has now implemented an enhanced debt management process to enable taxpayers with outstanding debt to initiate a Request for Payment Arrangement via eFiling for four tax types: personal and corporate income tax, value-added tax (VAT) and Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE). Administrative penalties can also be settled through this channel. This is a positive stride towards making it easier for taxpayers to fulfil their tax obligations.

Taxpayers are now able to initiate a payment arrangement request for outstanding debt on eFiling from the following sources: Statement of Account (SOA); SOA admin penalties; Return Work Page; Notice of Assessment; Notice of Assessment for administrative penalties; My Compliance Profile (MCP) functionality; Final demand letter; and Final demand reminder letter. The September 10 enhancements of the payment arrangement process on eFiling will enable taxpayers to:

•     Initiate a payment arrangement, with an instalment plan of up to 36 months

•     Supply the reason for the request and preferred method of payment

•     Attach mandatory supporting documents where required

•     Submit the request if they meet qualifying criteria.

  • Self-help platform:

SMMEs are reminded about our easy-to-use online self-help platform/query system accessible via the SARS website (click on the “Online Services” icon on the www.sars.gov.za home page} to raise queries/perform various functions without having to go into a SARS branch. To use the self-help/query system, taxpayers simply need to complete the online form by selecting a Query Type, complete a set of required information fields, attach supporting documentation where necessary, and submit the data to SARS for processing and review. You can use the online platform to:

  • Request a tax number
  • Submit supporting documents
  • Submit a payment allocation
  • Report new estate cases
  • Register a tax representative
  • Make tax compliance status requests
  • Verify your tax compliance status.
  • Tax Relief Measures 

SARS introduced a number of relief measures to assist businesses affected both by the Covid-19 lockdown and the unrest earlier this year. To unlock the tax relief the taxpayers must maintain their compliance status. For more info on these, go to the SARS website www.sars.gov.za, search for the “Small Businesses” page and click on the 2021 Tax Relief Measures leaflet.

We will continue to bring you useful information about SMMEs in future columns.

Regional News

Filing Season update:

  • The Gauteng South area has set up a number of “pop-up branches” to assist taxpayers away from SARS branches. These include the following:
  • Greenstone Mall, Edenvale: Operating hours Monday to Friday10:00 to 17:00,  Saturdays (as of 25/9) 9:00am to 14:00
  • Alberton City Mall, New Redruth, Alberton: Operating hours 9:00 to 16:30 hours weekdays
  • The Glen Shopping Centre, Oakdene: Operating hours Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00
  • Heidelberg Mall, Heidelberg: Fridays from 9:00 to 15:00
  • Carletonville Civic Centre: Wednesdays to Fridays at 9:00am to 15:00 hours

For more info on SARS’ outreach activities, click here: https://www.sars.gov.za/individuals/who-pays-tax/how-do-i-learn-about-taxes/

  • Filing Season for Individuals closes on 23 November 2021. You are urged to make use of one of our online channels to submit your returns. However, if you need help in a branch, you are reminded that you first need to book an appointment – even though we are now on Level 1 lockdown. You can find out more about this by going to www.sars.gov.za and clicking on the “Tax Season” or “Book an Appointment” icons on the home page. Remember, if you don’t submit your income tax return on time, you may be liable for penalties.

  • This column is supplied by the South African Revenue Service and is published here unedited.

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