Compliance Guides
Plain-language guides on everything South African businesses need to know about COIDA, CIPC, labour and regulatory compliance.
COIDA & the Compensation Fund 26
Registration, Returns of Earnings, Letters of Good Standing, assessments and the disputes that follow.
COIDA Letter of Good Standing: How to Get One Fast When You Need It for a Tender
A COIDA Letter of Good Standing can issue within 24–72 hours once your ROE is submitted and your assessment is paid — so if it is not coming through, one of four blockers is the reason: unsubmitted ROE, unpaid assessment, a wrong payment reference sitting unallocated, or an account hold. The four blockers explained, the fastest 3–7 day path from never-registered, what to do if your LOGS expired today, and how a tender portal can verify it in real time.
Read articleCOIDA Amendment Act 2026: What Changed and What It Means for Your Business
President Ramaphosa gazetted the commencement of the COIDA Amendment Act on 23 January 2026, with provisions phasing in through February and April. Six changes every employer needs to act on: immediate administrative fines replacing criminal prosecution, the injury-claim window extended from 12 months to 3 years, expanded liability for employer-arranged transport, main-employer liability for non-compliant subcontractors, on-the-spot enforcement against household employers, and new rehabilitation duties — plus a six-point action list.
Read articleHow to Dispute a COIDA Assessment You Think Is Wrong
Received a COIDA Notice of Assessment that looks too high? You have 30 calendar days to dispute it. The grounds that qualify (wrong industry tariff, incorrect earnings, non-qualifying workers, earnings above the R633,168 ceiling), how to submit a revision request step by step, whether to pay under protest while it is reviewed, and how to escalate to the Compensation Commissioner if the Fund says no.
Read articleMissed the COIDA Deadline? Here's Exactly What Happens Next (and How to Fix It)
Missed the 30 June COIDA deadline? A 10% penalty is applied automatically the moment the window closes — no grace period, no warning. Here is what it costs you, whether you can still submit (yes), what happens to your Letter of Good Standing, whether the penalty can be disputed, and the exact steps to file your late Return of Earnings and contain the damage.
Read articleCOIDA Tariffs of Assessment 2026/2027: Full Rate Table by Industry Class
COIDA tariffs range from 0.18% (Class A) to 3.34% (Class I) and did NOT change for 2026/2027 — the earnings ceiling did, from R633,168 to R668,000 per employee from 1 March 2026. Full 13-class rate table, both ceilings worked through (your ROE uses both), the R1,621 commercial / R560 domestic minimum, and how to check the class the Fund actually assigned you.
Read articleWhy Your Industry Determines Whether You File Your COIDA Return — The Structural Explanation
72.8% of SA employers have an expired COIDA Letter of Good Standing — but the rate ranges from 85.1% (Agriculture) to 60.0% (Engineering). The structural reason each industry fails (or doesn’t) the COIDA filing test, with the ROE window closing 30 June.
Read articleCOIDA Workplace Injury Reporting: The 7-Day Rule, the 14-Day Rule, and What Changed in 2026
Workplace accidents must be reported to the Compensation Fund within 7 days; occupational diseases within 14 days of diagnosis. The W.Cl.2 form, the CompEasy portal, and the five biggest changes from the 2026 COIDA Amendment Act (PTSD recognised, commuter cover, training injuries covered, 3-year prescription, statutory rehab framework).
Read articleCOIDA Compliance in South Africa 2026: Industry-by-Industry Analysis
ClearComply analysed 188,920 SA employers and found 72.8% have expired COIDA certificates. But the industries you would expect to be worst — mining and construction — are among the best. Here is why.
Read articleLetter of Good Standing Expired? How to Recover Your COIDA Compliance
Your COIDA Letter of Good Standing has lapsed and a tender is closing this week. The recovery sequence, common refusal reasons, and how to handle a multi-year ROE backlog.
Read articleCOIDA for Domestic Workers: Deadline, How to Register, and What You Owe
Since the Mahlangu Constitutional Court ruling, every household that employs a domestic worker is a COIDA employer. The deadline, how to register on the CF-Portal, and what the assessment actually costs (from R560/year).
Read articleCOIDA for Construction Contractors: Why the Principal Contractor Will Refuse You Without a Letter of Good Standing
On a construction site, a lapsed Letter of Good Standing is not an admin problem — it is a Section 89 mandator-liability risk. What the Construction Regulations require of every contractor.
Read articleCOIDA Return of Earnings 2026: Deadline, Calculator and Step-by-Step Guide
The 2026 COIDA ROE window runs 1 April to 30 June. Miss it and you lose your Letter of Good Standing. What to submit, how to calculate your fee, and what the new penalties mean.
Read articleCOIDA Registration: How to Register and Get Your Letter of Good Standing
Register with the Compensation Fund within 7 days of hiring. W.As.2 form, Return of Earnings, the R633,168 earnings cap, and step-by-step Letter of Good Standing process.
Read articleCOIDA: What South African Employers Owe and How to Stay Compliant in 2026
Every employer must register with the Compensation Fund under COIDA. Registration, Return of Earnings, Letter of Good Standing, assessment fees, and the 2026 amendments explained.
Read articleSeven Days: The COIDA Changes You Have To Report, and What It Costs When You Do Not
Section 80(3) of COIDA gives employers seven days to notify the commissioner of any change in the particulars they registered with. What counts as a change, why a stale address turns into an estimated assessment, and why each business must be registered separately.
Read articleCOIDA Estimated Assessments: Where That Number Came From, and How to Fix It
The Compensation Fund assessed you on earnings you never declared. Section 83(6) explains why, why the 10% is a ceiling rather than a flat levy, how interest and the separate non-payment fine work, and the order to fix them in.
Read articleYou Paid the Compensation Fund and It Still Says You Owe: COIDA Payment Allocation Explained
A payment that is never allocated to an assessment leaves the account in arrears and the Letter of Good Standing blocked — while interest runs on money already paid. The five causes, how to get it reconciled, and why reallocation without an interest recalculation leaves you paying for the Fund’s filing.
Read articleCOIDA Payment Arrangement: How an Instalment Plan Restores Your Letter of Good Standing
You do not have to settle a COIDA assessment in full to be in good standing. Section 86 allows instalments approved by the commissioner, and an approved arrangement is one of the three things a Letter of Good Standing is issued on.
Read articleCOIDA Deregistration: Why Closing Down Does Not Stop the Assessments
Stop trading and the Compensation Fund keeps assessing you. What deregistration requires, the CF-1C form, why it cannot be done online, and how estimated assessments pile up on a dormant company.
Read articleWhat Counts as Earnings for COIDA — and the Subcontractor Rule That Makes You Liable
COIDA earnings are not your payroll total. Who must be declared, the per-employee ceiling for 2025/26 and 2026/27, and why an uncovered subcontractor’s staff are treated as yours.
Read articleCOIDA Nature of Business Change: What the Fund Requires, and Why the Date You Send It Matters
Your COIDA assessment tariff comes from your nature of business. What the Compensation Fund requires to reclassify you, the affidavit rule that catches most employers, and why the change is never backdated.
Read articleCOIDA Audit: What the Compensation Fund Asks For and How to Close One Out
The Compensation Fund is auditing employers on their premises. What triggers an audit, the records they ask for, why it holds up your Letter of Good Standing, and how to close one out.
Read articleCOIDA Audit Block G 55347: What It Means for South African Employers with Outstanding Returns of Earnings in 2026
Employers blocked under COIDA Audit G 55347 face serious operational consequences. Find out who is affected, what the penalties are, and what to do now.
Read articleEskom Tenders Require a Valid COIDA Letter of Good Standing in 2025 — Are You Covered?
Eskom's RFP for Riggers demands a valid COIDA Letter of Good Standing. Without it, your bid fails. Here's what SA businesses must do now.
Read articleCOIDA Compliance in 2025: What South African Employers Must Know Before It's Too Late
COIDA non-compliance can cost your business far more than you think. Here's what SA employers need to know and do right now to stay compliant in 2025.
Read articleCOIDA Compliance Risk Assessments in 2025: What South African Employers Must Do Before COIDA Tariffs Catch Them Out
Failing a COIDA compliance risk assessment can cost your business dearly. Learn what South African employers must do now to avoid COIDA penalties.
Read articleCIPC & company records 30
Annual returns, beneficial ownership, deregistration and reinstatement, directors and company details.
CIPC Annual Return Fees 2026: What You Pay On Time, What You Pay Late
The full 2026 schedule from CIPC’s own FAQ: R100 to R3,000 on time, R150 to R4,000 late, charged for every missed year. Close corporations, dormant companies, reinstatement, and why CIPC cannot waive the fee.
Read articleWhat Happens to Directors When a Company Is Deregistered in South Africa?
Deregistration ends the company, not the directors’ exposure. What section 83 of the Companies Act keeps alive, four situations that put directors personally at risk, and what to do if your company is in the process or already off the register.
Read articleThe 2026 South African Compliance Report: What Public Records Show About SA Businesses
1,408,003 companies on CIPC’s Beneficial Ownership list, seven in ten registered since 2024, two in three COIDA letters not renewed weeks after expiry, and most business websites missing the POPIA basics. The findings from our free 22-page report.
Read articleCIPC’s September 2026 Beneficial Ownership Non-Compliance List: How to Check If Your Company Is On It
The new list names 1,408,003 companies and close corporations across six spreadsheets, and the file labels are not a reliable index. 91% are recorded as trading and 70% were registered since 2024. How to search it without missing your company, what being on it blocks, and what to do if you filed and still appear.
Read articleSA Non-Compliance Penalty Calculator 2026
Enter your turnover and see the statutory maximum exposure across CIPC, COIDA, SARS and POPIA, updating as you type. Plus what actually happens first — a blocked tender, a frozen account, personal liability for directors — which arrives long before any maximum fine does.
Read articleBeneficial Ownership Non-Compliance: The Penalties South African Companies Are Facing in 2026
CIPC’s September 2026 non-compliance list holds 1,408,003 entities. The R1 million or 10%-of-turnover fine is real but it is a ceiling reached through a compliance notice, not an automatic invoice — the consequence almost everyone meets first is a hard stop on the annual return, and two years of that starts deregistration. Where directors and trustees carry personal exposure, and what filing now does and does not fix.
Read articleHow Much Does Beneficial Ownership Filing Cost in South Africa? (2026)
CIPC charges R0 to file a Beneficial Ownership declaration — every rand you might spend buys help, not the filing. DIY, guided, and done-for-you compared side by side with real prices, plus what not filing actually costs: a blocked annual return and a deregistration that is far dearer to reverse.
Read articleMore South African Businesses Are Choosing to Close — CIPC’s Own Gazettes Show It
ClearComply analysed every voluntary deregistration list CIPC gazetted since June 2023 — 29,458 companies, each counted once. Closures per gazette list doubled from ~1,700 in 2023 to ~3,500 in 2024 and 2025, and the median company choosing to close was registered in 2018 — businesses that survived lockdown and load-shedding, winding up anyway. The full trend, who is closing, and how it compares to being struck off for unfiled annual returns.
Read articleThe CIPC Compliance Checklist Explained: All 24 Questions in Plain English
Mandatory since 5 March 2020, the CIPC Compliance Checklist makes companies with audited or independently reviewed financials declare their compliance with 24 sections of the Companies Act each year — but CIPC never explains what the sections mean. Here is what all 24 questions actually require, in plain language, who must complete it, the anniversary-based deadline, and the criminal liability for answering falsely. Includes a free plain-English self-assessment.
Read articleWhat Happens When South African Businesses Ignore Compliance: Real Consequences, Real Numbers
From CIPC’s bulk deregistrations to R5 million POPIA fines — here is what actually happened to businesses that missed their compliance obligations, and what it cost them.
Read articleDirector Duties and Personal Liability Under the Companies Act
The Companies Act creates personal liability for directors who trade recklessly or breach their fiduciary duties. What the law says, how liability is triggered, and how to protect yourself.
Read articleHow to Wind Up or Deregister a Company in South Africa
Voluntary deregistration vs voluntary liquidation vs court-ordered winding up. Step-by-step processes, costs, timelines, and which route fits your situation.
Read articleWhat Is a Public Interest Score — and Does Your Company Need an Audit?
Every SA company must calculate a Public Interest Score annually. Your score determines whether you need an audit, independent review, or compilation. Here is how to calculate yours.
Read articleHow to Reinstate a Deregistered Company in South Africa — Step-by-Step CIPC Guide
Your company has been deregistered by CIPC. Whether reinstatement is possible, the documents you need, the R200 fee, the 30-day filing window, and how long it takes.
Read articleHow to Register a Company in South Africa — Complete CIPC Guide 2026
Which structure to choose, how to reserve a name, how to register on BizPortal or CIPC eServices, what it costs (R175), and what you must do after registration.
Read articleHow to Change Company Directors at CIPC — CoR39 Step-by-Step Guide
Appointing, resigning, or removing a director must be filed within 10 business days. The OTP process, what happens to the departing director, and common mistakes.
Read articleHow to Change Your Company Name at CIPC — Step-by-Step Guide
Name reservation (R50), special resolution, CoR15.2 application (R250), and everything you must update after CIPC approves the change.
Read articleWhat Is a Close Corporation — and Can You Still Register One?
No new CCs since May 2011, but existing ones are still legal. CC vs (Pty) Ltd differences, whether to convert, and compliance obligations for CC owners.
Read articleWhat Is a Company Anniversary Date — and Why It Determines Your CIPC Deadline
Your CIPC annual return deadline is tied to your incorporation date, not the financial year-end. How to find yours and why this confusion causes most missed filings.
Read articleCIPC Annual Returns South Africa: Everything You Need to Know in 2026
Deadlines based on your anniversary date, filing fees by turnover, the BO block, step-by-step filing guide, and the real cost of missing your return.
Read articleWhat is CIPC Deregistration? What It Means for Your South African Business
What triggers CIPC deregistration, what happens to directors personally, and how to stop it before it’s too late.
Read articleHow to Check Your CIPC Compliance Status
Two ways to check: the official CIPC method across three separate portals, or the 30-second ClearComply method. Here’s how both work.
Read articleHow to File Your Beneficial Ownership Declaration with CIPC — 2026 Guide
1,408,003 companies are on CIPC’s September 2026 non-compliance list. Who must file, what documents you need, the Optimised pathway, and step-by-step instructions.
Read articleAnnual Returns in South Africa: Everything You Need to Know
Deadlines based on your anniversary date, filing fees by turnover bracket, the BO block, and the real cost of missing your filing.
Read articleWhat is a CIPC Gazette Notice? What It Means and What to Do Right Now
If your company appeared in a CIPC Government Gazette notice, you have a limited window to act before final deregistration. Here’s exactly what it means and what to do today.
Read articleCIPC Notice 44 of 2026: Beneficial Ownership Declarations Can Get Your Company Deregistered
CIPC Notice 44 of 2026 puts SA companies at risk of deregistration for failing to file Beneficial Ownership declarations. Find out if your company is at risk.
Read articleCIPC Beneficial Ownership Compliance Inspections Are Live: What Every SA Business Owner Must Do in 2025
CIPC is actively conducting BO filing compliance inspections. SA business owners face deregistration risk. Find out what's required and check your status now.
Read articleSARS Urges Schools to Apply for VAT Deregistration in 2026 — What This Means for Your Institution
SARS is calling on South African Schools Act schools registered as VAT vendors to deregister. Find out if your school is affected and what to do now.
Read articleCIPC Is Conducting Beneficial Ownership Compliance Inspections in 2026 — Is Your Company Ready?
CIPC inspectors are visiting companies right now to verify Beneficial Ownership filings. Here's what non-compliance costs you and what to do today.
Read articleCIPC Changes How It Confirms Business Rescue Proceedings: What South African Companies Must Know in 2025
CIPC no longer stamps COR123.1, COR125.2 and COR125.3 applications. Find out what the new confirmation process means for your business rescue compliance.
Read articleLabour & UIF 14
Employer obligations under the BCEA, UIF registration and declarations, skills levies and workplace safety.
Only 9% of South African Employers Are Compliant — And 10,000 New Inspectors Are Coming for the Rest
Only 9% of employers inspected passed Employment Equity checks in 2025/26 — and 10,000 new labour inspectors are being deployed under Project 20,000, with 3,800 already in the field by April, 3,500 from end-May, and another 2,700 by end-June 2026. What inspectors check in a combined EE / OHS / BCEA / UIF / COIDA visit, and the four obligations most at risk right now.
Read articleBCEA Earnings Threshold 2026: What the New R269,600.90 Figure Means for South African Employers
The BCEA earnings threshold rose to R269,600.90 per annum from 1 May 2026 (~R22,466.74/month). The nine BCEA sections that switch off above the threshold, the two groups of employees most affected by the adjustment, what counts as "earnings", and the LRA/EEA knock-on effects for fixed-term and labour-broker employees.
Read articleNational Minimum Wage South Africa 2026: Current Rates, Who It Applies To, and What Happens If You Don’t Comply
The NMW rose to R30.23 per hour on 1 March 2026 — up from R28.79. Full breakdown of sector rates (security, retail, cleaning, road freight), what counts as part of the wage, the BCEA earnings threshold change from 1 May, and the two-track enforcement mechanism if you underpay.
Read articleThe Employment Equity Targets Are Now Law: What Three Court Losses Mean for South African Employers
Three courts have upheld SA’s Employment Equity sectoral targets. Employers with 50+ staff must comply by 2030 or face penalties up to 10% of annual turnover. What the rulings actually require, and the five practical steps for employers who have done nothing yet.
Read articleSouth Africa Is Expanding OHS Compliance to Include Stress, Workload, and Mental Health — What Employers Need to Know
The Department of Employment and Labour has signalled that psychosocial workplace risks — workload, stress, management conduct, exploitative employment — are now firmly inside the OHS compliance framework. The three obligations this creates for South African employers.
Read articleThe Hawks, a School Closure, and a Warehouse Collapse: What South Africa’s 2026 Labour Enforcement Surge Means for Your Business
R27M TERS fraud arrests, a primary school shut by prohibition notice, and a warehouse-collapse Section 31 investigation — three Department of Employment and Labour actions in five months and what they signal for every SA employer.
Read articleWhat Is a Labour Inspection in South Africa — And What Happens If You Fail?
A South African labour inspector can walk into your business unannounced. Exactly what they check across OHS, BCEA, UIF and COIDA in a single visit — and what a contravention notice, prohibition notice, or prosecution actually means.
Read article73% of South African Workplaces Are Failing OHS Inspections — Here’s What Labour Inspectors Actually Check
The Department of Employment and Labour found 73% OHS non-compliance in a 2026 inspection sweep across five industries. Here is the full inspector checklist — and what a contravention notice actually costs.
Read articleUIF for Domestic Workers: What Every South African Household Employer Must Do
Domestic workers, gardeners, and childminders who work more than 24 hours a month trigger the UIF obligation. How to register on uFiling, what to contribute, and how to regularise a long-standing arrangement.
Read articleEmployment Equity Reporting South Africa 2026: Who Must Submit, New Sector Targets Explained
The 2025 amendments introduced sector-specific targets, a new compliance certificate, and narrowed the designated employer definition to 50+ employees. Here is what changed.
Read articleSkills Development Levy South Africa 2026: How to Claim Your 20% Grant Back Before 30 April
If your payroll exceeds R500,000 you pay SDL every month. Here’s how to claim back 20% of it.
Read articleUIF for Employers: What South African Businesses Owe and How to Register
Every South African employer must register for UIF and pay monthly contributions. Who must register, how much you owe, the SARS vs uFiling distinction, and what happens if you don’t comply.
Read articleNational Minimum Wage South Africa 2025: What Every Employer Must Know Now
President Ramaphosa signed the National Minimum Wage into law. South African employers who miss this face fines and back-pay claims. Know your obligations now.
Read articleNew Employment Equity Rules for Businesses Employing More Than 50 People in South Africa (2025)
The Department of Employment and Labour has gazetted new employment equity rules. If your business employs 50+ people, here's what you must do now.
Read articlePOPIA & PAIA 13
Data protection duties, the Information Regulator, Information Officers and access-to-information manuals.
PAIA Manual for South African Businesses: What It Must Contain and Where to Publish It (2026)
Every business has needed a PAIA manual since the small-business exemption ended in 2021. What section 51 says it must contain, where it must be available, how it differs from a privacy policy, and how to get one drafted.
Read articlePAIA and POPIA Compliance for South African Businesses: The Complete 2026/2027 Guide
PAIA and POPIA are enforced by the same regulator and assessed together — an inspection of one examines the other. The four PAIA obligations and the five POPIA ones, what inspectors actually check (outdated Form A, incomplete section 17 registers, stale manuals), and the year-round calendar rather than the June scramble.
Read articleMissed the PAIA Annual Report Deadline? Here’s What Happens Next
The window closed on 30 June 2026. Missing it does not trigger an automatic fine — it triggers an own-initiative assessment, which can include a physical inspection and an enforcement notice. Both R5 million POPIA fines to date were for ignoring an enforcement notice, not the original breach. What to do with the months before 1 April 2027.
Read articleHas Anyone Actually Been Fined Under POPIA? Real Cases in South Africa
Yes — and twice for R5 million. The Information Regulator fined the Department of Justice in 2023 after a ransomware breach, and the Department of Basic Education in December 2024 for publishing matric results without consent; WhatsApp received a formal enforcement notice in April 2025. The pattern in every case is the same: the breach was never the trigger, ignoring the enforcement notice was. Breach notifications rose more than 40% year-on-year to over 2,000, and the R10 million ceiling is still double anything issued so far.
Read articleWe Scanned 157 South African Business Websites for POPIA. 95% Fail the Same Check.
Original data: an automated POPIA scan of 157 live South African business websites returned an average score of 33/100. 95% publish no Information Officer contact, 90% have no PAIA manual, 89% run a GDPR template instead of a POPIA notice, 59% have no privacy notice at all, and 40% load tracking pixels with no consent platform. Every single site enforced HTTPS — full results and methodology.
Read articlePOPIA Information Officer Registration: What It Is, Who Must Do It, and How to Register in 2026
Every SA business that handles personal information must register an Information Officer with the Information Regulator. By default that is the CEO — whether you have registered or not. Step-by-step online and manual registration, plus the four follow-on POPIA obligations once you are registered.
Read articlePOPIA Compliance for Small Businesses: What You Must Do
The eight conditions for lawful processing, the Information Officer, seven practical compliance steps, and penalties up to R10 million — in plain language for SMEs.
Read articlePAIA Annual Report 2026: What Every SA Business Must Do Before 30 June
The submission window opens 1 April and closes 30 June 2026. Every company must submit — even with zero information requests. Here’s exactly how.
Read articlePOPIA Supplier Notices and Consent Forms: What Every SA Business Must Know in 2025
Suppliers doing business with government must comply with POPIA consent requirements. Here's what the law demands and what happens if you ignore it.
Read articleMunicipal Tenders and POPIA Compliance: What the NDZ Opening-Closing Register 2026-2027 Means for SA Businesses
NDZ Municipality's 2026-2027 tender register is open. If you supply government, POPIA compliance and tax status can disqualify you. Act now.
Read articleDFFE Is Hiring POPIA Enforcement Officers in 2026: What This Means for Your Business
The government is building dedicated POPIA enforcement capacity. Here's what SA businesses need to know and do before inspectors come knocking.
Read articlePAIA & POPIA Compliance in 2025: What Every South African Organisation Must Know
Ignoring PAIA & POPIA compliance risks fines up to R10 million. Learn what South African organisations must do now to meet their legal obligations.
Read articlePOPIA and Driver's Licence Copying at Security Gates: What South African Businesses Must Know in 2025
Security guards copying driver's licences at access points may be breaking POPIA. Here's what SA businesses and estate managers must do now.
Read articleSARS & tax 40
Background reading on tax obligations. ClearComply does not file SARS returns — we match this work to an accountant.
SARS Is Running a Secret Enforcement Operation and Most South African Business Owners Have No Idea
SARS launched Project AmaBillions — 1,500 new debt collectors targeting R518.2bn in undisputed tax debt, paired with SARS 3.0 AI-driven risk profiling. 330+ employers are in an active ETI court case. The four employer-specific risks in the crosshairs (ETI abuse, misclassified contractors, fringe benefits, travel claims), plus how third-party appointment notices let SARS debit your bank account without a court order.
Read articleVAT Registration Threshold 2026: South Africa Raises Limit to R2.3 Million From Today
From 1 April 2026, the compulsory VAT registration threshold increases from R1 million to R2.3 million. Whether you should deregister, the deemed output tax trap, and the Turnover Tax connection.
Read articleTax Compliance Status PIN: What Replaced the Tax Clearance Certificate in South Africa
The physical tax clearance certificate no longer exists. Here is how to apply for a TCS PIN on eFiling, what SARS checks, and what to do if your profile is red.
Read articleSmall Business Corporation Tax Rates 2026: How to Qualify and Save
SBC tax rates start at 0% on the first R95,750. Qualifying criteria, the full rate table, SBC vs Turnover Tax, and the risks that cost you SBC status.
Read articleHow to Register for VAT in South Africa 2026: Voluntary vs Compulsory Explained
The compulsory threshold is now R2.3 million, voluntary registration opens at R120,000. How to register on eFiling, what documents you need, and whether voluntary registration makes sense.
Read articleSARS eFiling: How to Register and Set Up Your Profile for a Company
How to register on eFiling, add the correct tax types, appoint a public officer, and file your first ITR14 — step by step.
Read articleProvisional Tax for South African Small Businesses: A Plain-Language Guide for 2026
Provisional tax is not a separate tax — it is a system for paying income tax in advance. Who must pay, the 2026/2027 deadlines, how to calculate it, and how to avoid SARS penalties.
Read articleSARS IT3(BO): What South African Partnerships Must Do Now to Stay Compliant in 2026
SARS has launched the IT3(BO) eFiling form for partnerships. Miss the annual submission and your partners can't file their ITR12. Act now.
Read articleSARS Trust Tax Penalties Start 4 May 2026: What Every Trustee Must Do Now
SARS imposes admin penalties on trusts from 4 May 2026 for outstanding ITR12T returns. Here's what trustees must do before the deadline hits.
Read articleSARS eFiling Registration in 2026: What Every South African Business Owner Must Do Now
Not registered on SARS eFiling? You can't request a Tax Compliance Certificate or pay SARS electronically. Here's exactly what to do in 2026.
Read articleR4.7m VAT Fraud Conviction: What South African Business Owners Must Know in 2026
A Gqeberha businessman pleaded guilty to R4.7m VAT fraud via SARS eFiling. South African SMEs must understand the real consequences of non-compliance.
Read articleSARS Digital VAT Model 2026: What South African Businesses Must Know Before October
SARS is redesigning VAT administration with e-Invoicing and real-time reporting. Here's what SA businesses must know before the 16 October 2026 deadline.
Read article2026 Draft Tax Amendment Bills: What South African SMEs Must Know Now
SARS and National Treasury released the 2026 Draft TLAB. Here's what South African SME owners must understand — and do — before these changes bite.
Read articleYour SARS Tax Compliance Status Can Cost You a Government Contract in KwaZulu-Natal (2026)
KZN Health suppliers must show a valid SARS PIN or lose the contract. Here's what tax compliance status means for SA SMEs bidding on government work.
Read articleSARS Is Changing the Rules for Non-Compliant Taxpayers in South Africa — What SMEs Must Know in 2025
SARS is drafting new rules to help non-compliant taxpayers fix customs and excise defaults. Here's what South African SMEs need to do before the window closes.
Read article2026 Draft Tax Amendment Bills: What South African SMEs Must Know Before the Changes Take Effect
SARS and National Treasury have published the 2026 Draft TLAB. Here's what South African SMEs must know and do before these tax changes take effect.
Read articleSARS Can Now Freeze Your Bank Account: What South African Business Owners Must Know in 2025
New tax laws give SARS power to freeze your bank account without warning. Here's what South African SMEs must do right now to stay protected.
Read articleSARS Small Business Tax Registration in South Africa: What Every SME Must Know in 2026
Unregistered with SARS? South African SMEs face penalties and lost contracts. Learn the exact steps to register, comply, and stay ahead in 2026.
Read articleSARS Filing Season 2026: What Government Employers and Partnerships Must Do Now
SARS Filing Season 2026 is open. Miss the EMP501 deadline or botch your Beneficial Owner Register and SARS will make non-compliance hard and costly. Act now.
Read articleSARS Small Business Tax Compliance in South Africa: What Every SME Must Do in 2026
SARS is tightening the net on small business tax compliance in 2026. Here's what every South African SME must do to avoid penalties and stay compliant.
Read articleSARS Tax Practitioner Registration 2026: What SMEs and Practitioners Must Know Now
SARS is tightening tax practitioner registration in 2026. Risk-based verification, new IT3(BO) forms and deregistration risks explained for SA SMEs.
Read articleIgnore SARS at Your Peril: What Late Tax Filing Can Cost Your Business in 2026
Missing a SARS filing deadline can cost you up to R16,000 per month for 35 months. Here's what South African SMEs need to know about 2026 tax season penalties.
Read articleSARS Auto-Assessment 2026: What Happens If You Ignore Your Auto-Assessment
SARS auto-assessed over 1.9 million taxpayers for 2026. Ignoring your auto-assessment could cost you penalties and interest. Here's what to do now.
Read articleSARS Auto-Assessment 2025: Why Ignoring Your Pre-Filled Tax Return Could Cost You
SARS is auto-assessing 6 million taxpayers from 1–12 July. Accepting without checking could cost you. Here's what to verify before the deadline.
Read articleSARS Launches New Waiting Room for Auto Assessments 2025: What South African Taxpayers Must Know
SARS has launched a new online Waiting Room for auto assessments. Find out how it affects your tax compliance and what to do before tax season 2025.
Read articleFake SARS Emails and SMS Scams Are Surging in 2025 — Here's How to Protect Your Business
Fraudsters are impersonating SARS with fake emails and SMS messages. Learn how to spot scams, avoid penalties, and protect your business this tax season.
Read articleSARS 2026 Phased Filing Season: What South African Taxpayers and SMEs Must Know Now
SARS has launched its 2026 phased filing season. Miss your window or file out of turn and face penalties. Here's what SA businesses must do now.
Read articleSARS Tax Compliance Status: What Every South African SME Must Know in 2026
SARS is actively checking tax compliance status. Non-compliant SMEs face blocked tenders, banking issues and penalties. Find out what to do now.
Read articleSARS Tax Season 2026 Launches Next Week: Check Your Banking Details Now or Risk Delayed Refunds
SARS Tax Season 2026 launches next week. Check your banking and contact details now or risk delayed refunds and compliance issues. Act before it's too late.
Read articleSARS Auto-Assessments 2025: Why Accepting Without Checking Could Cost You Thousands
SARS auto-assessments contain errors that reduce refunds or increase tax bills. Here's what South African taxpayers must check before accepting in 2025.
Read articleSARS 2026 Filing Season Is Open: What SMEs Must Know About Auto-Assessments and Penalties
SARS has launched the 2026 Filing Season. Miss a deadline or ignore your auto-assessment and face steep penalties. Here's what SA taxpayers must do now.
Read articleSARS 2026 Filing Season: What Every South African Taxpayer Must Know Before 1 July
SARS has confirmed the 2026 Filing Season opens 1 July with a phased structure — miss your phase deadline and administrative penalties compound monthly. Here is what every South African taxpayer must know before the season begins.
Read articleSARS VAT Threshold Doubles to R2.3 Million: What Every South African SME Must Do Now (2026)
SARS raised the VAT registration threshold to R2.3 million from 1 April 2026. Find out what this means for your SME and whether you need to act now.
Read articleSARS AI Has Already Blocked R100 Million in Improper Outflows — And It's Coming for Non-Compliant Taxpayers Next (2026)
SARS AI has blocked R100m+ in improper outflows and is expanding. Here's what it means for your business and how to stay compliant in 2026.
Read articleSARS Tax Season 2026: What South African SMEs Must Do Before Filing Opens
SARS is changing how tax season works in 2026. Find out what South African SMEs must do now to avoid penalties and filing delays. Read the full breakdown.
Read articleSARS 2026 Tax Filing Dates: What SMEs Without Automatic Assessments Must Know
SARS has confirmed July to October 2026 filing dates for taxpayers without automatic assessments. Miss the deadline and face penalties. Act now.
Read articleSARS Narrows the 'Honest Mistake' Defence: What the 2026 Understatement Penalty Changes Mean for Your Business
SARS has tightened the bona fide inadvertent error defence in 2026. Find out what the understatement penalty changes mean for SA taxpayers and SMEs now.
Read articleSARS May Already Have Calculated Your Tax: What Every South African Business Owner Must Check in 2025
SARS can assess your tax, issue a debt, and start enforcement action before you've logged into eFiling. Here's what every South African business owner must check before the 2025 tax season catches them out.
Read articleGlobal Minimum Tax South Africa: What MNEs Must Do Before 16 March 2026
SARS launches Global Minimum Tax on eFiling from 16 March 2026. MNE groups with €750m+ turnover face new 15% minimum tax obligations. Act now.
Read articleSARS Small Business Tax Changes 2026: New Thresholds, VAT Rules and What SMEs Must Do Now
SARS raised VAT and Turnover Tax thresholds from 1 April 2026. Miss the update and your SME risks penalties. Here's what changed and what to do now.
Read articleB-BBEE & financial crime 4
Empowerment compliance, FICA duties and South Africa’s FATF grey-listing.
UIF Compliance Certificate South Africa: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Get One
A UIF Compliance Certificate is required for every SA government tender — no certificate, no bid evaluation. The fastest route via uFiling (free, immediate if your declarations are current), the email backup, the four most common rejection reasons, and where it sits in the four-document tender compliance chain.
Read articleFICA Compliance for South African Businesses: What It Means and What You Must Do
Who qualifies as an accountable institution, the seven core obligations, the difference between providing FICA documents and being subject to FICA, and penalties up to R50 million.
Read articleB-BBEE for South African SMEs: What You Actually Need and How to Get It
Most SMEs qualify for B-BBEE recognition without a verification agency. EME, QSE, affidavit or certificate — here’s exactly what your business needs based on turnover and ownership.
Read articleFATF Grey Listing Explained: What It Meant for South Africa and What Comes Next
South Africa was grey-listed in February 2023 and removed in October 2025. What grey listing is, why the BO mandate exists, and why the compliance baseline has permanently shifted.
Read articleUsing ClearComply 1
How the platform works and what each plan covers.
ClearComply
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