Why October Is the Right Time to Plan Your Retirement Annuity Top-Up
The s11F deduction — 27.5% of income, capped at R430,000 — resets every 28 February. Freelancers who plan the top-up in October spread the cash flow over five months; those who discover it in February scramble or miss it.
Medical Aid Credits for the Self-Employed: Sections 6A and 6B Explained
Freelancers pay their own medical scheme contributions — and the tax system gives some of that back through two credits that work nothing like deductions. How the s6A and s6B credits are calculated, and why your IRP6 estimates should include them.
The Home Office Deduction: How Freelancers Qualify Under Section 23(b)
For most independent professionals the home office is the single largest recurring deduction — and the most commonly disallowed. The exclusive-use test, the floor-area apportionment, which costs qualify, and the CGT trade-off nobody mentions.
Record-Keeping for Freelancers: What SARS Expects You to Keep for Five Years
Every deduction you claim is only as strong as the record behind it. What the Tax Administration Act actually requires, the documents that decide verifications, and a filing system that takes 15 minutes a month.
The Voluntary Third Provisional Payment: Who Should Top Up Before 30 September
The optional "third" provisional payment for the 2025/26 tax year is due by 30 September 2026. It exists for one reason — stopping section 89quat interest on an underpaid year. How to work out whether topping up saves you money.
Missed the August IRP6 Deadline? Penalties, Interest, and How to Limit the Damage
The 31 August deadline has passed. If your first provisional payment didn't happen — or didn't clear in time — here's exactly what it costs, what to do in the next 48 hours, and when a penalty remission request is worth making.
The Final Stretch: Your 31 August IRP6 Checklist
The first 2026/27 provisional payment is due Monday 31 August. A step-by-step run-through for the final days — estimate, submission, payment clearance, and the proof you keep — so nothing slips on deadline day.
Seven IRP6 Mistakes That Cost Provisional Taxpayers Money
With the 31 August deadline approaching, these are the recurring IRP6 errors we see — from ignoring the pre-populated basic amount's staleness to forgetting PAYE credits — and what each one costs in penalties, interest, or overpaid tax.
How to Estimate Irregular Freelance Income for Your August IRP6
Your first provisional payment for 2026/27 is due 31 August — six months into a year you can't fully see. A practical method for estimating irregular income: annualising the half-year, adjusting for known changes, and documenting the logic.
How to Submit Your IRP6 in South Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide for the August Deadline
A complete step-by-step guide to submitting your IRP6 provisional tax return on SARS eFiling before the August deadline — including how to calculate your estimate and avoid penalties.
Filing Season 2026: What Provisional Taxpayers Need to Know Before Touching Their ITR12
Filing season is open — but if you're a provisional taxpayer, the rules, deadlines, and risks are different. What to gather, why auto-assessments don't apply to you, and how your ITR12 reconciles with the IRP6 payments you've already made.
Vehicle and Travel Expenses: What South African Freelancers Can Actually Claim
Independent contractors can deduct business travel costs under s11(a) — but the deduction lives or dies on a compliant logbook. Two calculation methods, apportionment rules, and common audit triggers explained.
Provisional Tax Calculator South Africa 2026/27: How to Calculate What You Owe SARS
Use South Africa's provisional tax calculator for 2026/27 to estimate your IRP6 payments, apply deductions, and avoid SARS penalties — built for freelancers earning R400k to R1.5m.
Tax Deductions for Freelancers in South Africa: The Complete 2026/27 Guide
Every tax deduction South African freelancers and independent contractors can legally claim — home office, travel, retirement, equipment, and more — with SARS requirements explained.
How to Reduce Your Tax Bill in South Africa: A Practical Guide for Freelancers
Legal, SARS-compliant strategies to reduce your tax liability in South Africa — from retirement contributions to home office deductions for independent professionals.
How to Calculate Your First Provisional Tax Payment
A plain-English guide to your first IRP6 submission — what to include, how to estimate, and how to avoid penalties.
Maximising Retirement Contributions as a Contractor
How independent contractors should calculate their 27.5% limit when taxable income exceeds standard remuneration.
Tax Deductions Salaried Employees Can Actually Claim in South Africa
PAYE does not mean there is nothing to claim. The deductions and credits ordinary South African employees most often qualify for, and the documents SARS expects behind each one.
The R1.8m Threshold: What Changes in 2026/27?
An analysis of the new underestimation penalty brackets and how they impact provisional taxpayers earning above the threshold.
Why Offline-First Matters for Financial Data
Understanding local AES-GCM-256 encryption and why keeping your tax data off cloud servers mitigates risk.