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CentaTax

As a specialist VAT consulting firm, we are trusted by clients to resolve complex tax challenges with precision and compliance.

VAT IT SA is part of the global VAT IT group which is one of the leading Value-Added Tax (“VAT”) reclaim companies in the world. VAT IT offers to reclaim services to over 13 000 companies in 117 countries globally which include some of the major international banks, mining groups, telecommunication providers, manufacturing, major public entities, insurance groups, and various listed companies. We

are based in Johannesburg South Africa and work together with our international offices to ensure that our clients can rely on our global footprint. Our services are therefore not limited to South African VAT but we also provide our Clients with International Indirect Tax Consulting and Compliance Services. With our extensive experience, we understand the important role of specialist service providers and that each and every opportunity to reduce expenses and/or optimize profitability should be pursued.

14/07/2026

For many businesses, a VAT refund is not just a line item. It is working capital. It funds operations, growth plans, and day-to-day commitments.

When SARS delays a refund, triggers a verification, or requests extensive supporting documentation, the impact on your business is immediate and real. And navigating the SARS process without specialist support often makes it slower, not faster.

CentaTax's VAT team assists businesses with delayed refund resolution, SARS VAT verifications and audits, preparation and submission of objections, and direct liaison with SARS on your behalf. We know the process, we know the requirements, and we know how to move things forward.

We offer a 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟑𝟎-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐀𝐓 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 for businesses currently dealing with a delayed refund, verification, or dispute. No obligation. Just clarity on where you stand and what your options are.

👉 Your VAT refund should not be sitting in a SARS queue. Contact us today to get it moving: www.centatax.com/request-a-online-meeting/

📞 +27 (011) 262 6626
📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://centatax.com/

09/07/2026

Your provisional tax estimate is a legal declaration. SARS is treating it like one.

The days of submitting a rough figure and adjusting on assessment are over. SARS is actively issuing paragraph 19(3) letters, requesting substantiation for estimates it considers unreasonable. Where the estimate is found to be negligent or intentionally understated, the resulting penalty cannot be remitted.

Your estimate must reflect your actual performance. It must be documented. And if SARS comes back with questions, your response must be comprehensive from day one.

CentaTax prepares provisional tax calculations that are accurate, defensible, and aligned with your current financial position. We also draft the responses that protect you when SARS asks the hard questions.

👉 Do not estimate your way into a penalty. Call us.

📞 +27 (011) 262 6626
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.centatax.com/contact-us/

07/07/2026

Received a paragraph 19(3) letter from SARS?

This is not a routine query. It requires a thorough, well-supported response - from the outset.

Under paragraph 19(3) of the Fourth Schedule to the Income Tax Act, 1962, SARS is entitled to call for supporting information where it believes a provisional tax estimate is unreasonable. If not satisfied, SARS can determine a revised taxable income, and that determination sits outside the standard objection and appeal process.

There is also a common misconception worth addressing: using the basic amount (prior year assessed taxable income) does not shield you from scrutiny. SARS can still challenge estimates that do not appropriately reflect current circumstances.

And under paragraph 20(2), where an underestimate is attributed to negligence or intent, any resulting penalty will not be remitted.

The risk is real. The exposure is significant. The window to respond correctly is narrow.

CentaTax assists with the preparation of defensible provisional tax calculations and the drafting of comprehensive, well-supported responses to paragraph 19(3) letters.

👉 If you have received a 19(3) letter, or want to ensure your next submission is bulletproof, contact us today.

📞 +27 (011) 262 6626
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.centatax.com/contact-us/

02/07/2026

SARS is no longer just accepting your provisional tax estimate. They are interrogating it.

We are seeing a growing number of paragraph 19(3) letters being issued to taxpayers following provisional tax submissions. These letters require you to justify your estimate - and if SARS does not consider it reasonable, they can revise your taxable income upward themselves.

Here is the part that catches most people off guard: that revision cannot be disputed through the normal objection and appeal process.

Provisional tax is not a formality. It is a calculation that must reflect your actual financial performance, known changes, and realistic projections for the year. Using the prior year's basic amount as a default, without considering your current circumstances is no longer a safe approach.

If your estimate is found to be understated due to negligence, the underestimation penalty will not be remitted.

👉 Do not wait for the letter. Get your provisional tax estimate right the first time.

📞 +27 (011) 262 6626
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.centatax.com/contact-us/

30/06/2026

The 2026 tax filing season deadlines are officially confirmed. Are you prepared?

Non-provisional individual taxpayers must submit their returns by 23 October 2026, while provisional taxpayers and trusts have until 22 January 2027.

While SARS will once again issue bulk auto-assessments in July, simply accepting the automated calculation without review can be a costly mistake.
Auto-assessments rely purely on third-party data and often miss legitimate deductions, such as the newly increased retirement fund contribution cap of R430,000 or qualifying medical expenses. If you do not actively review and amend an incorrect auto-assessment before the deadline, it becomes final.

Do not leave your tax position to chance or automation. Ensure you claim every deduction you are legally entitled to.

Need assistance navigating the 2026 filing season? Let our compliance experts handle your personal and provisional tax returns with precision.

🌐 www.centatax.com | 📞 +27 (011) 262 6626

25/06/2026

SARS can instruct your employer to deduct money from your salary. But there are rules - and they matter.

An AA88 third-party appointment allows SARS to recover outstanding tax debt by going directly to your employer. Before they can do this, SARS is legally required to issue you a final demand at least ten business days in advance. That window exists for a reason: to give you the opportunity to verify the debt, settle it, or challenge it.

In practice, many employees only discover the deduction when it appears on their payslip. By then, the process is already in motion.

If you have received a SARS final demand, or if deductions have started appearing on your payslip that you do not recognise or believe are incorrect, you have options. The debt may be disputed, misallocated, or based on an outdated assessment.

CentaTax can help you understand exactly where you stand and engage with SARS on your behalf before the situation escalates further.

Do not assume the deduction is correct. Get clarity first.

📧 [email protected] | 🌐 www.centatax.com

23/06/2026

If your employee owes SARS, your payroll could be next.

Under section 179 of the Tax Administration Act, SARS has the power to issue an AA88 third-party appointment - effectively instructing you, as the employer, to deduct outstanding tax debt directly from an employee's salary and pay it over to SARS.

Here is what most employers do not realise: if you fail to implement the instruction correctly, you can be held personally liable for the amount not deducted. And yet, SARS does not give you access to the underlying assessments or confirmation that the required final demand was even issued to the employee.

On 30 April 2026, SARS issued an updated AA88 Employer Guide to address system and processing issues within e@syFile. The legal framework has not changed - but the administrative complexity has not gone away either.

CentaTax has successfully assisted employers in building a structured, compliant approach to managing AA88 appointments, from employee communication and training to direct engagement with SARS officials.

Received an AA88 instruction? Do not navigate it alone.

📞 +27 (011) 262 6626 | 🌐 www.centatax.com

18/06/2026

Global tax transparency is tightening. Are your offshore structures secure?

SARS is intensifying its focus on high-net-worth individuals and their foreign holdings. With the publication of the draft Capital Flow Management Regulations in 2026, scrutiny on offshore bank accounts, foreign trusts, and international investments is set to increase further.

If you are a South African tax resident, you are taxed on your worldwide income. Holding assets outside the country therefore requires meticulous structuring and precise annual disclosures. The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) ensures that SARS automatically receives financial data from foreign jurisdictions, meaning undeclared offshore wealth is now increasingly visible.

Managing wealth across borders requires more than just a basic tax return; it demands a robust, defensible strategy that aligns with both local and international tax laws

📞 +27 (011) 262 6626 | 🌐 www.centatax.com

16/06/2026

Thinking of deregistering for VAT under the new R2.3 million threshold? Proceed with caution.

The recent 2026 Budget increase of the compulsory VAT registration threshold from R1 million to R2.3 million offers welcome administrative relief for many growing businesses. However, opting to deregister is not as simple as submitting a form.

When you cease to be a VAT vendor, SARS requires you to account for "deemed exit VAT". This means you must declare output tax on the lesser of the cost or open market value of all enterprise assets and trading stock on hand where input tax was previously claimed. For asset-heavy businesses, this sudden VAT liability can create a severe cash flow crisis.

Before making a move, it is crucial to weigh the long-term benefits of reduced administration against the immediate financial impact of exit taxes and your clients' preference to trade with registered vendors.

Make the right strategic choice for your business. Contact CentaTax for a comprehensive VAT deregistration impact assessment.

📧 [email protected] | 🌐 www.centatax.com

11/06/2026

The era of invisible crypto assets has come to an end in South Africa.

With the implementation of the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) on 1 March 2026, taxpayer uncertainty is high, but the SARS mandate is clear. Crypto-Asset Service Providers are now required to collect user information and transaction data, reporting it to SARS in an internationally aligned format.

SARS treats cryptocurrency as an intangible asset, meaning your transactions are fully taxable under either normal income tax rules or Capital Gains Tax (CGT), depending on your trading behaviour. With data collection underway and global reporting systems now active, failing to declare crypto profits or holdings is a significant risk that could lead to audits and severe penalties.

Whether you are a casual investor or managing a large digital portfolio, your crypto activities must be accurately integrated into your broader tax strategy.

Do not let crypto complexities trigger a SARS audit. Speak to our tax professionals for clear guidance on digital asset compliance.

🌐 www.centatax.com/contact-us/
📞 +27 (011) 262 6626

Address

12 Pongola Crescent Kramervile
Johannesburg
2196

Opening Hours

Monday	07:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	07:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	07:00 - 16:00
Thursday	07:00 - 16:00
Friday	07:00 - 15:00

Website

https://www.centatax.com/

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