Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) in South Africa
How South Africa's TFSA works in 2026: the new R46 000 annual limit, R500 000 lifetime cap, tax-free returns, and which products grow wealth most effectively.
Read articleVAT, Business & Cross-Border Tax Writer
Priya Govender
Priya Govender covers VAT, small-business obligations, and the cross-border questions that affect South Africans working or investing abroad. Her guides break down VAT registration and returns, capital gains tax, estate duty, dividends tax, and the tax-residency tests, always pointing readers back to the controlling SARS or National Treasury source so they can confirm the current position before they act.
Areas of focus
- Value-Added Tax (VAT)
- VAT registration and returns
- Small business tax
- Tax residency and expatriates
- Capital gains tax
- Estate duty and dividends tax
All guides by Priya are checked against official SARS and National Treasury sources before publication and reviewed by the South African Tax Help Hub editorial team. This site publishes general tax education, not personalised tax advice — verify your own position with SARS or a qualified practitioner before acting.
Guides by Priya Govender (29)
Physical Presence Test in South Africa: Day Counts
South African physical presence test guide with the 91/91/915 day rules, ordinary residence contrast, 330-day break rule, treaty checks, and records.
Read articleLiving Annuity vs Life Annuity: South Africa
How South Africa's two main retirement income products compare on tax, flexibility, death benefits, and risk — with the 2026 rule changes explained.
Read articleInheritance and Donations Tax in South Africa
South Africa taxes estates, not heirs. How estate duty works, the R3.5M abatement, what donations tax costs, and which transfers are completely exempt.
Read articleForeign Tax Credit Examples for SA Expats
Learn how South Africans abroad can claim foreign tax credit relief under section 6quat, and how it differs from the foreign employment income exemption.
Read articleExport Tax Compliance in South Africa: VAT, Customs, and Records
A South African exporter checklist covering VAT zero-rating, customs declarations, proof of export, foreign-currency records, and tax risks.
Read articleCorporate Tax Rates in South Africa: Companies, SBCs, Trusts
South African corporate tax rate guide for 2026/2027, including the 27% company rate, SBC tables, trusts, dividends tax, CGT, and assessed-loss checks.
Read articleSARS VAT Audit Preparation Checklist for South African Vendors
Prepare for a SARS VAT verification or audit with a VAT201 reconciliation checklist, invoice controls, export proof, and upload workflow.
Read articleDigital Economy Tax in South Africa: E-Commerce, Platforms, and VAT
South African digital economy tax guide for online sellers, creators, platforms, and SaaS businesses covering income tax, VAT, PAYE, and records.
Read articleTransfer Pricing in South Africa: Rules, Risks, and Records
South African transfer pricing guide for businesses with cross-border related-party transactions: section 31, arm's length pricing, records, and SARS checks.
Read articleCeasing Tax Residency in South Africa: What It Means
Ceasing South African tax residency triggers s9H deemed disposal and a CGT liability. It is not automatic on departure or financial emigration.
Read articleExit Tax in South Africa: What to Check Before Leaving
When a South African ceases tax residency, s9H deems worldwide assets disposed at market value, triggering CGT. Here is what is affected and what to prepare.
Read articleDouble Taxation Agreements Explained for South Africans
How South African double taxation agreements work, when DTAs matter for cross-border income, what they cannot do automatically, and which SARS pages to check.
Read articlePersonal Tax Planning in South Africa: Legal Ways to Reduce Your Tax
Legal tax planning for South Africans: retirement contributions to R350,000/year, medical credits, CGT timing, and section 18A donation deductions.
Read articleSouth African Tax Residency: What It Means and How to Determine It
South African tax residency: ordinarily resident (intent-based) or physical presence test (91-day/915-day count). Residents pay tax on worldwide income.
Read articleCapital Gains Tax in South Africa: How It Works
South African CGT: 40% inclusion rate, R40,000 annual exclusion, R2 million primary residence exemption. Plain-English guide to how the calculation works.
Read articleRetirement Fund Contributions: Tax Deduction Guide for South Africa
South African retirement fund deductions are capped at 27.5% of income, up to R350,000/year. Learn limits, carry-forward rules, and what SARS expects.
Read articleTransfer Duty in South Africa: What Home Buyers Need to Know
Transfer duty is the buyer's cost on South African property transactions. Properties below R1.1 million are exempt. Where VAT applies, transfer duty does not.
Read articleBusiness Tax Deductions in South Africa: What Your Business Can Claim
South African businesses deduct under s11(a): actually incurred, in the production of income, not capital in nature. Capital assets use s11(e) allowances.
Read articleSouth African Expat Tax: What Residents Working Abroad Must Know
South African residents working abroad face a R1.25 million foreign income exemption cap under s10(1)(o)(ii), with provisional tax and credit obligations.
Read articleInput VAT vs Output VAT in South Africa: How the VAT System Works
Input VAT and output VAT in South Africa explained: how they offset each other and how VAT vendors calculate what they owe or are owed by SARS.
Read articleHow to Submit Your VAT Return on SARS eFiling (VAT201)
VAT201 returns due the 25th of the following month. eFilers get until the last business day. Late payment attracts a 10% penalty regardless of return filing.
Read articleVAT Invoice Requirements in South Africa: Full and Abridged
A valid tax invoice is required to claim input VAT in South Africa. Full invoices needed above R5,000. Missing fields can allow SARS to disallow the claim.
Read articleVoluntary vs Compulsory VAT Registration in South Africa
Compulsory VAT registration applies above R2.3 million in taxable supplies (from April 2026). Voluntary registration above R120,000 is a commercial decision.
Read articleVAT Registration Threshold 2026: South Africa R2.3m Limit
From April 2026, South Africa's compulsory VAT registration threshold is R2.3 million. Voluntary registration remains available above R120,000.
Read articleHow to Register for VAT in South Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to register for VAT on SARS eFiling, what documents you need, the effective date rules, and what to do once your VAT registration is active.
Read articleEstate Duty in South Africa: What Happens to Your Estate When You Die
Estate duty applies above the R3.5 million abatement at 20% (25% over R30M). Spouse bequests are exempt. CGT also arises on deemed disposal at death.
Read articleDividend Tax in South Africa: How It Works for Shareholders
South African dividends tax is withheld at 20% before you receive payment. Exemptions apply to retirement funds, TFSAs, and SA resident companies.
Read articleRental Income Tax in South Africa: What Landlords Need to Know
Rental income is taxed at your marginal rate in South Africa. Bond interest, rates, levies, and repairs are deductible. Provisional tax usually applies.
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