January may begin with resolutions for the year ahead – but March begins with Tax Resolutions for the next tax year. We promise ourselves to be a little more organised, a little more prudent and try to minimise our contributions the next time around.<\/p>\n
BusinessTech<\/em> recently said that with the many challenges small business owners face every day, being tax compliant is often not at the top of the list and tax deadlines often come and go in the struggle of trying to keep the business afloat.<\/p>\n The single, sole proprietor often goes it alone, not realising that business tax returns are far more complicated than individual returns.<\/p>\n Research conducted by TaxTim<\/em> shows that 58% of small businesses do not get professional help<\/strong> when submitting their annual tax returns. In fact, only 13% handed the role over to an outsourced professional.<\/p>\n Marc Sevitz, co-founder and CFO of the online tax return tool TaxTim, says that SMEs do not have one standard deadline for submission to SARS. SMEs must complete their annual tax returns within 12 months of the end of their financial year, which can be any time from January to December.<\/p>\n If this is ringing a familiar bell with you, then here are some top tax tips!<\/p>\n Use the correct rates for depreciation<\/strong><\/p>\n If your business owns assets that devalue over time, be sure to use the correct wear and tear rate from SARS\u2019 list of different asset types. For example, computers depreciate at a different rate to vehicles. Also, check whether your business qualifies for the Small Business Corporation or Section 12C Manufacturing Assets special wear and tear allowance.<\/p>\n Know all the allowed deductions<\/strong><\/p>\n There are numerous deductions and allowances available to SMEs. It is in your best interest to familiarise yourself with them to ensure you never pay more tax for your business than necessary. For example, a business can claim an allowance for a building that it owns, or special tax deductions for leased assets.<\/p>\n Provide properly for provisions<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember that accounting provisions are treated differently for tax purposes. Ensure you reverse the Provision for Leave Pay and Provision for Employee Bonuses in your business\u2019s tax calculation as these are only deductible for tax once they\u2019ve been paid.<\/p>\n Record every cent earned or spent<\/strong><\/p>\n Whilst it may sound like an administrative headache, keeping an accurate and up-to-date record of your business\u2019s income and expenses, allocated to their various categories, is critical to ensuring a smooth tax return. The nature and size of your business will determine whether you\u2019d want to look at investing in an accounting software or package, or if a basic spreadsheet record will suffice.<\/p>\n