In order to assist with alleviating any cash flow burden arising as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, Government proposes the following tax measures for tax compliant small to medium sized businesses, for a limited period of four months, beginning 1st April 2020 and ending on 31st July 2020:

  • Deferral of payment of 20 per cent of the PAYE liability, without SARS imposing administrative penalties and interest for the late payment thereof.
  • The deferred PAYE liability must be paid to SARS in equal instalments over the six month period commencing on 1 August 2020, i.e. the first payment must be made on 7th September 2020.

For the purposes of this proposal, small or medium sized business is defined to mean any business with an annual turnover not exceeding R50 million. The above-mentioned proposals will not apply to an employer or representative employer that:

  • Has failed to submit any return as defined in section 1 of the Tax Administration Act, 2011 (TAA) on the basis required by section 25 of the TAA; or
  • Has any outstanding tax debt as defined in section 1 of the TAA, but excluding a tax debt in respect of which an agreement has been entered into in accordance with section 167 or 204 of the TAA;
  • That has been suspended in terms of section 164 of the TAA; or
  • That does not exceed the amount referred to in section 169(4) of the TAA.

However, interest and penalties will apply if the employer has understated the PAYE liability for any of the four months. The proposed amendments are deemed to have come into operation on 1st April 2020 and end on 31st January 2021.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us for professional advice in this regard.