South African Revenue Services Financial Year, SARS will be migrating to a new electronic services hosting platform in April as part of its plans to upgrade its Information Technology (IT) systems. As a result, clients may experience intermittent downtime from 17:00 on Friday 12 April 2019 to 06:00 on Tuesday 16 April 2019. This will impact the following SARS systems:
- SARS eFiling and SARS eFiling app (including registrations, filing, payment and the functionality to upload supporting documents)
- e@syFile™ Employer
- SARS website.
For any assistance during this time, clients can go to any SARS branch or contact the SARS Contact Centre on 080 000 7277 / +2711 602 2093 (during normal operating hours).
Please note: eFiling payments cannot be made during the downtime, but official alternative payment methods will be available (click here for more info: SARS payment rules).
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your co-operation.
28 January 2019 – Changes applicable to Insolvent Taxpayers (Individuals) and their Insolvent Estates
From 25 January 2019, individual taxpayers that are voluntarily or mandatorily sequestrated must submit income tax returns,
What is it?
Income tax is the normal tax which is paid on your taxable income.
Examples of amounts an individual may receive, and from which the taxable income is determined, include –
- Remuneration (income from employment), such as, salaries, wages, bonuses, overtime pay, taxable (fringe) benefits, allowances and certain lump sum benefits
- Profits or losses from a business or trade
- Income or profits arising from an individual being a beneficiary of a trust
- Director’s fees
- Investment income, such as interest and foreign dividends
- Rental income or losses
- Income from royalties
- Annuities
- Pension income
- Certain capital gains
Who is it for?
You are liable to pay income tax if you earn more than:
For the 2020 year of assessment (1 March 2019 – 29 February 2020) – see changes from last year
- R79 000 if you are younger than 65 years.
- If you are 65 years of age or older, the tax threshold (i.e. the amount above which income tax becomes payable) increases to R122 300.
- For taxpayers aged 75 years and older, this threshold is R136 750
For the 2019 year of assessment (1 March 2018 – 28 February 2019) –
- R78 150 if you are younger than 65 years.
- If you are 65 years of age or older, the tax threshold (i.e. the amount above which income tax becomes payable) increases to R121 000.
- For taxpayers aged 75 years and older, this threshold is R135 300.
For the 2018 year of assessment (1 March 2017 – 28 February 2018)
- R75 750 if you are younger than 65 years.
- If you are 65 years of age or older, the tax threshold (i.e. the amount above which income tax becomes payable) increases to R117 300.
- For taxpayers aged 75 years and older, this threshold is R131 150.