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Astrotax CC

Straight answers on tax, accounting and payroll for individuals and small businesses in Gauteng.

15/10/2026

VAT appears on the invoice. Does that mean your business can automatically claim it?
Not necessarily.

Before including input VAT in a return, check that the purchase relates to making taxable supplies, that you have the required supporting document and that the tax invoice contains the prescribed information.

That can include the supplier's details and VAT registration number, the invoice number and date, a clear description of the transaction, and the value and VAT amounts. Recipient details are required in certain cases.

An invoice can look professional and still be missing information needed to support the claim. Proof of payment alone does not automatically settle the VAT question.

Check invoices when you receive them. It is easier to request a correction immediately than to discover the problem when the VAT return is due.

Need help with your VAT records? Astrotax can assist:
https://astrotax.co.za/services/

08/10/2026

"My bank feed is connected. Aren't my books done?"
Not quite.

Accounting software can import transactions, issue invoices, capture expenses and produce reports. What it cannot always do is understand what each transaction means.

Was it a business expense or a private one? An expense or an asset? A loan, a transfer or actual income? Is the VAT claimable?

Those decisions need context, supporting documents and the correct accounting treatment. Someone still needs to check the classifications, reconcile the accounts and identify anything that is missing.

A connected bank feed is useful. It is not the same thing as completed bookkeeping.

Need help keeping your small-business records clear? See how Astrotax can assist:
https://astrotax.co.za/services/

05/10/2026

Two October tax deadlines are approaching, but they do not apply to everyone in the same way.

23 October 2026 is the filing deadline for non-provisional individuals who still need to submit an income tax return.

31 October 2026 is the deadline for employers to submit the EMP501 interim reconciliation.

The EMP501 covers payroll from 1 March to 31 August 2026 and reconciles PAYE, UIF and SDL information, payments and employee tax certificate details. It is the interim reconciliation, not the annual one.

If you are both an employer and an individual who still needs to file, both deadlines may apply.

Need help confirming what must be submitted? Contact Astrotax:
https://astrotax.co.za/contact/

23/09/2026

Paying out more than you receive does not automatically mean your rental property has made a tax loss.

Your bank account looks at every amount that came in and every amount that went out. The tax calculation is different. It starts with the rental income and subtracts the expenses that qualify for deduction.

One of the biggest differences is the bond payment. The interest portion and the capital repayment are not treated in the same way.

Other costs such as rates and taxes, levies, agent fees, and qualifying repairs and maintenance may also need to be considered. The records behind each expense matter.

This is how the same property can feel cash-flow negative while still showing taxable rental income.

Keep your rental statements, bond records, invoices and proof of payment together. Do not rely on the bank balance alone.

Need help understanding your rental figures? Contact Astrotax:
https://astrotax.co.za/contact/

17/09/2026

I have a full-time job and a side hustle. Do I really need to tell SARS?
Money earned from freelance work, weekend jobs, online services or a small side business generally still
needs to be declared.

That does not mean every rand received is automatically the amount on which tax is calculated. Legitimate expenses connected to earning that income may need to be considered.

The additional income may also affect whether provisional tax applies.
The safest approach is to keep proper records from the start:
• Income received
• Invoices issued
• Relevant expenses
• Proof of payment

If you have a salary and a side hustle, do not wait until filing time to work out what should have been recorded.

Unsure how your additional income should be handled? Speak to Astrotax:
https://astrotax.co.za/contact/

10/09/2026

Is the R3 000 actually missing, or has it simply not been reconciled?

The amount recorded as sales and the amount that reaches the bank will not always match exactly.

Processing fees, refunds, chargebacks and settlement timing can all create a difference.

The important part is being able to trace it.

A proper reconciliation connects the bank deposit to the invoices or sales report, the fees charged, the refunds processed and any amount still waiting to settle.

That is how you spot the difference between an expected gap, a recording error and money that is still owed to the business.

Your bank statement shows what arrived. Your accounting records should explain why.

Need help keeping your small-business bookkeeping and reconciliations clear?

See how Astrotax can assist:
https://astrotax.co.za/services/

03/09/2026

If R25 000 appeared on your bank statement, would your records show exactly what it was?

Not every deposit is taxable income. It could be business income, a loan, a transfer between accounts or money received from selling an asset. Each has a different story and potentially different tax treatment.

SARS already receives certain financial information from banks and other third parties. If something on your return needs to be checked, you may be asked for supporting records.

That is why the paper trail matters. Keep the invoice, agreement, proof of transfer or sale documents that explain where the money came from.

The deposit itself may not be the problem. Being unable to explain it clearly can be.

If your records need sorting before your next tax return, Astrotax can help.
https://astrotax.co.za/services/

26/08/2026

Does your card payout match your actual sales?
It might not.

Card-payment providers may deduct transaction fees, refunds, chargebacks, or other adjustments before transferring the final payout to your bank account.

That means your records should show more than the amount that arrived in the bank.

A proper reconciliation should compare total card sales, refunds or reversals, processing fees, chargebacks, and the final amount deposited.

Recording only the net payout can understate your sales and hide the real cost of accepting card payments.

Need help keeping your bookkeeping accurate? Visit www.astrotax.co.za to see how Astrotax can help.

19/08/2026

Before you spend the full sale amount, have you checked the VAT portion?

For a VAT-registered business making a standard-rated sale, a R1 150 sale does not mean R1 150 is available to spend.

It is made up of:
R1 000 selling value
● R150 output VAT

The final VAT amount payable may be reduced by allowable input tax, but the VAT portion still needs to be identified and recorded properly.

Treating every rand received as ordinary spending money can leave your business short when the VAT return is due.

Need help keeping your VAT admin organised? Visit www.astrotax.co.za to see how Astrotax can help.

13/08/2026

Want to check if your SARS refund was correct?
A refund can feel like confirmation that everything is in order, but that is not always the case.

Your auto-assessment is based on information SARS receives from third parties, such as employers, banks, medical schemes, retirement funds, insurers, and other institutions.

Before moving on, check that your assessment includes all income, retirement annuity contributions, medical scheme information, qualifying medical expenses, correct third-party certificates, and any additional deductions supported by records.

If something is missing or incorrect, the return should be updated and submitted before the applicable deadline.

A refund is good news. A correct assessment is better.

Not sure what to look for? Visit www.astrotax.co.za and speak to the professionals at Astrotax.

Address

Unit 9, Roriama Centre, Elspark
Germiston
1428

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 16:30
Tuesday	08:00 - 16:30
Wednesday	08:00 - 16:30
Thursday	08:00 - 16:30
Friday	08:00 - 15:00

Website

http://www.astrotax.co.za/

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