Self-assessment
Income Tax Self-Assessment (Business)
12 yes/no questions on a small business's income tax duties: registering, returns, provisional tax, employees' tax (PAYE), records and the small business concessions. You get a score for each area and a list of gaps with what to do about each one.
1. Registration and standing
1. Is your business registered with SARS for income tax, and do you have the correct tax reference number on file?
(Income Tax Act, Tax Administration Act)
2. If you employ people, are you registered as an employer for PAYE, UIF and the skills levy?
(Fourth Schedule)
3. Is your tax compliance status in good standing, so that you can get a tax clearance for tenders and customers?
(Tax Administration Act s256)
4. Do you tell SARS when your details change, such as your address, banking details, directors or tax year-end?
(Tax Administration Act)
2. Returns and payments
1. Do you file your annual income tax return (for a company, the ITR14) by the due date for your year-end, with the financial statements it needs?
Check the due date for your year-end on the SARS filing calendar. The 2026 company rate was reported as 27% for years of assessment ending between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. (Income Tax Act s66)
2. If you are a provisional taxpayer (companies always are), do you submit your provisional tax returns and pay the instalments on time, with a fair estimate of your taxable income?
(Fourth Schedule)
3. Do you pay your employees' tax and other deductions over to SARS with a monthly EMP201 declaration by the seventh of the next month, and reconcile twice a year (the EMP501)?
(Fourth Schedule)
4. Do you issue employee tax certificates (IRP5 or IT3(a)) and keep your PAYE and payroll records in agreement?
(Fourth Schedule)
3. Records, deductions and concessions
1. Do you keep records and documents that support your income and deductions for at least five years?
(Tax Administration Act s29)
2. Do you claim only deductions that are for your business, supported by documents, and avoid private expenses?
(Income Tax Act s11(a), s23)
3. If you qualify as a small business corporation or for turnover tax, have you confirmed the conditions and the current thresholds with SARS or your accountant?
Reports say the turnover tax limit was raised to R2.3 million from 1 April 2026, and that small business corporation bands start at 0% up to R99,000 for 2026/27. Confirm these on the SARS site. (Income Tax Act s12E, Sixth Schedule)
4. If you pay people outside the PAYE system (contractors), have you checked whether they are really independent, and kept their tax details?
(Fourth Schedule)
Sources
Turn these gaps into tracked tasks
Assign owners and due dates, keep the evidence, and show your progress to clients and auditors.