Common Wealth-Planning Mistakes
In his poem The Mistake, James Fenton talks about the sad truth in making mistakes. He beautifully describes that even with blatant warnings that are ignored or subtle hints that have gone unnoticed, we sometimes go about our lives not knowing about the mistakes we are making – and how they will impact our loved […]
Claiming Foreign Tax Credits
Back in the day when I was still running my tax practice full-time, I was called upon by a client to assist with the tax and accounting treatment of taxes withheld by a foreign country from income earned in that country—in this particular case, Botswana. The client’s query centred on the following two issues: Claiming […]
Handling Payroll for Freelance Workers in South Africa
Managing payroll for freelance workers involves a few key points, including understanding legal requirements, setting clear payment structures, and using the right tools. Here’s a practical overview to help businesses handle freelance payroll effectively. Legal Obligations Freelancers are generally considered independent contractors, but businesses still have some legal responsibilities. 1. Tax Obligations Freelancers are responsible […]
Long-term goals, or short-term gains?
More than a million applications have already been lodged with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to pull funds out of their savings. Given that this amounts to R21.4 billion, that’s a frightening amount of money for a country that doesn’t have a savings culture. What with more people withdrawing cash under the Two Pot […]
Common tactics fraudsters use in insurance
Insurance fraud costs the global economy billions annually, and South Africa has not been immune to this issue. In fact, in 2024 alone, South Africa’s insurance industry lost an estimated R8 billion due to fraudulent claims, according to the South African Insurance Crime Bureau (SAICB). Understanding the red flags associated with insurance fraud, and staying […]
Every contract has a tax consequence
When drafting a contract, ignoring tax will often be to your peril. Every single contract in terms of which money or property changes hands has tax consequences for the parties involved. These consequences have been plainly evident in cases where people bought their fixed property in a Close Corporation or private company, thinking that because […]
Capital Gains Tax considerations for retiring small business owners
Retirement for small business owners is not simply a case of handing in your resignation letter and having a big party at which the company presents you with a gold watch. It often involves the not inconsiderable task of selling your business particularly if there is no ‘heir apparent’ to take over the reins. And […]
A couple’s guide to managing your finances
Seven simple tips for positively managing your finances together with your partner. The subject of ‘finances’ may seem as though it’s the antithesis of romance, since we all know that financial problems can act to the detriment of relationships However, working to manage your finances effectively together is often vital to building and maintaining a […]
Tax and retrenchment: A potential minefield
Retrenchment can be extremely taxing … in more ways than one! Being retrenched is a traumatic experience regardless of your place on the corporate totem pole. However, the stakes tend to be higher for more senior employees not only in terms of the larger sums involved when it comes to separation packages, but also the […]
Five expensive payroll errors
These common PAYE errors could cost you dearly with SARS. With SARS continually seeking to increase its revenues however it can, organisations with misconceptions about how certain payroll elements should be taxed may unknowingly be exposing themselves financially. We often come across the following top five payroll errors that organisations need to question and correct […]