Effective 1 March 2023: New Earnings Threshold and National Minimum Wage

News, March 2023 /

Employers and their employees should take note of the increases from 1 March 2023 in both the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the “Earnings Threshold” provided for in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). The threshold also impacts on employee protections in the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and in the Employment Equity Act (EEA).

We set out the increases and, for those employing domestic workers, point you to an online “living wage” calculator to help you check that you are in fact paying your domestic worker enough to cover a household’s “minimum need”.

We also summarise the employee protections that will no longer be available to those employees now earning above the adjusted earnings threshold.

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Five Essential Bookkeeping Tips for Small Businesses

News, March 2023 /

Entrepreneurs have a lot to deal with on a daily basis. From managing customers to ordering stock, handling marketing and networking – the days aren’t short of obligations. As a result, it can be difficult to find time to draw up spreadsheets and analyse finances. The problem is that managing your books and keeping finances organised is critical to the success of a company, and failing to do so is a sure way to financial ruin.

The good news is that no one need become a bookkeeper overnight, and organising your finances is not as daunting as it seems. Here are five simple tips that will ensure you come to the end of the year with your finances intact and your stress levels in check.

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Budget 2023: Your Tax Tables and Tax Calculator

News, March 2023 /

The big Budget Speech 2023 tax news was the introduction of tax incentives for investing in rooftop solar and renewable energy. The Budget also detailed tax relief in the form of adjusted tables for tax and rebates for individual taxpayers, adjusted tables for retirement tax and transfer duty, and the expected increases in ‘sin’ taxes. How will these changes affect you directly?
To better understand the impact of the Budget on you and your business, here is a selection of official SARS Tax Tables, then follow the link to Fin 24’s Budget Calculator to do your own calculation.

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Budget 2023: How It Affects You and Your Business

March 2023, News /

Budget 2023 focussed firmly on the energy State of Disaster. The most prominent announcement was that government would take over R254 billion of Eskom’s debt, while two tax relief measures totalling R9 billion were introduced to assist individuals and businesses to invest in solar and renewable alternatives.
As a result of this and an improvement in revenue, there were no major tax proposals in this Budget. The respite from tax increases and the tax relief from adjusted tax brackets and rebates for individual taxpayers was welcomed, while the increases in sin taxes were expected. Here is a brief overview of the most pertinent announcements for individuals and businesses, that serve to highlight the need for professional tax advice.

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Ignoring an Online Review Could be Catastrophic for Your Business

News, February 2023 /

With so many choices available for almost every service, online reviews are starting to play an increasing role in every customer’s decision as to where they shop and what they buy. Sites like Yelp, Facebook and TripAdvisor, which allow customers to give feedback, have seen their popularity boom as people lean increasingly heavily on the advice of strangers. A recent report found that 93% of all customers check reviews before committing to buying anything, with 91% of all 18 to 34-year-olds saying they trust these online reviews as much as a recommendation from a friend. Positive Google Reviews are often critical when it comes to customers making buying decisions.

Why then does it appear as though so many companies simply neglect their online reviews? The truth is that ignoring these reviews could be catastrophically damaging to your business and how you deal with them could be the difference between success and failure. So, what should you do with an online review?

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Maximise Your Business Travel Tax Deduction

News, February 2023 /

With both fuel and vehicle ownership costs at historic highs, it is more crucial than ever for taxpayers to keep accurate, up-to-date and securely stored logs of all business travel as well as proof of related travel costs. This is because expenses related to business travel can be deducted from taxable income – but only if a logbook that complies with SARS requirements is kept current for each vehicle and stored as per the regulations.
There are also several other tax implications relating to travel expenses, travel allowances and reimbursements for business travel. To maximise the tax benefits related to business travel for both a business and its employees, speak to your accountant to fully understand the tax implications for all concerned.

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Loadshedding: Survival Tips for Small Businesses

February 2023, News /

From damaged equipment, and staff and machinery sitting unproductive for hours, to numerous missed deadlines, there is no doubt that constant loadshedding is taking a heavy toll on South Africa’s small to medium businesses. With no short-term solution in sight, it’s clear that to survive and hopefully thrive South Africa’s entrepreneurs are going to have to dig deep and come up with some novel solutions.

While all businesses are unique and will have to develop their own individual plans for coping with loadshedding in the long term, we have put together a few tips that can be generally applied by small businesses to try and take some of the sting from the daily blackouts. Here are our five top suggestions for surviving loadshedding as a small business.

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How the New Assessed Loss Tax Limitation Works

February 2023 /

Previously, company losses could (subject to certain requirements) be offset against 100% of taxable income in the following year, with any balance rolling over to subsequent years. Under the new rules, an assessed loss can now only be set off against 80% of taxable income or R1 million – whichever is higher – in the relevant tax year, with the remaining balance still rolling over.
Some companies, like those with taxable incomes under R1 million, are unaffected, but for others, it means that even if their assessed loss balance far exceeds their taxable income, they will from now pay tax on up to 20% of taxable income. There are other complexities involved, including wording still to be clarified, so read on for more detail…

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