Your Tax Deadlines for May 2026
07 May – PAYE submissions and payments
07 May – PAYE submissions and payments
"Only accountants can save the world — through peace, goodwill, and reconciliations." (Unknown)
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." (Peter Drucker, Author of “The Effective Executive”, 1966)
"Don’t put all your eggs in one basket." (Idiom)
“A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in.” (Nicole Snow)
Boards are operating under increased scrutiny, with stronger regulatory enforcement, rising stakeholder expectations, and greater personal accountability for directors. In this environment, it is no longer sufficient to rely on high-level commitments. Boards are expected to demonstrate structured decision-making, clear governance processes, and effective oversight of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks.
The latest Monetary Policy Review from the South African Reserve Bank highlights a more uncertain economic environment, with inflation risks shifting to the upside despite recent progress in stabilising prices.
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is strengthening its approach to statutory compliance, elevating what was often treated as an administrative task into a clear regulatory and reputational risk.
The latest Operation Vulindlela progress report highlights continued momentum in South Africa’s structural reform agenda, with a focus on addressing constraints to growth, investment, and service delivery.
01 April: Start of the 2026/27 Financial Year
The global minimum tax (GMT) – called an “agreement that will really change the world” – will be implemented in South Africa by SARS in 2026/27. While it may not impact your business directly, it should ultimately reduce your share of the tax burden by ensuring all multinational enterprises (MNEs) contribute their fair share of local taxes.
While on the surface they are just a spot of fun, team building exercises are actually a strategic investment in your business culture and performance. Done well, team building strengthens communication, fosters trust, and boosts morale. Done poorly, it feels like a forced afternoon that costs money and delivers little.
The recent increases in the compulsory VAT registration threshold to R2.3 million and in the voluntary registration threshold to R120,000 are widely welcomed. It will certainly ease the administrative burden on small businesses and the strain on their cash flow.
Growth feels like progress. Sales increase, staff numbers rise, and profit improves. Yet each of these shifts changes your tax position.
For many taxpayers, few words inspire as much anxiety as “pay now, argue later”. This long‑standing rule allows the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to collect disputed tax immediately, even while objections or appeals are still pending. But a recent High Court ruling has signalled an important shift, curbing what courts have described as SARS’s “reflexive no” to suspension‑of‑payment requests and reinforcing the growing importance of procedural law and evidence in tax disputes.
The latest global climate summit, COP30, confirmed a shift that South African businesses are already experiencing: climate change is no longer just a policy issue—it is a commercial one. The focus has moved from long‑term targets to implementation, resilience and capital flows, with direct implications for companies of all sizes.
A New Chapter in South African Corporate Governance
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has intensified its enforcement of statutory compliance through a renewed focus on the Compliance Checklist, signalling a firmer regulatory stance toward companies, close corporations, and non‑profit organisations. This initiative forms part of CIPC’s broader mandate to strengthen corporate governance, transparency, and accountability within South Africa’s business environment.
Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu Appointed as New SARS Commissioner
Global markets remained volatile as geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Iran, kept energy prices elevated and heightened inflation concerns. While economic growth is slowing across major regions, persistent cost pressures are limiting central banks’ ability to ease policy. The U.S. shows mixed signals with stable employment but weakening sentiment, Europe and the UK face softening growth, and Asia remains exposed to energy costs and trade tensions. Overall, markets reflect caution as investors balance the risks of slower growth against stubborn inflation. Global markets remained volatile this week. The conflict involving Iran continued to dominate sentiment, with markets reacting to every headline around ceasefire proposals, attacks on energy infrastructure and the prospects for a broader de-escalation. While hopes of diplomatic progress briefly improved sentiment early in the week, those gains proved short-lived as the parties remain far apart on the terms of any…
South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech introduced a series of tax adjustments aimed at maintaining revenue stability while offering targeted relief to households and businesses. While the overall tax framework remains largely unchanged, several thresholds and allowances have been updated, mostly in line with inflation.
South Africa’s 2026 Budget highlights the importance of restoring the financial and operational health of public sector institutions, particularly state-owned companies responsible for delivering critical infrastructure and services.
South Africa’s 2026 Budget outlines a modest but improving economic outlook, reflecting gradual recovery alongside persistent structural challenges in the economy.
South Africa’s 2026 Budget highlights government’s spending priorities over the medium term, emphasising the need to balance fiscal sustainability with continued investment in public services and infrastructure.