With tax season in full swing, it is critical to ensure that you are in compliance and are aware of your status, especially if your circumstances have changed. South African tax residents are not always required to file a tax return.
“This will most likely apply to regular salaried employees whose sole source of income is their salary,” says Ruan van Jaarsveld, tax manager at Hobbs Sinclair Advisory. If you are under the age of 65, the tax threshold (the amount above which income tax becomes payable) is R87 300 per year; if you are between the ages of 65 and 75, the tax threshold is R135 150; and if you are 75 or older, the tax threshold is R151 100.
- Salary paid from a single source that does not exceed R500 000, with PAYE deducted;
- Profits or losses from tax-free investments;
- Interest income in South Africa (excluding tax-free investments) less than:
a. R23 800 for people aged 65 and under,
b. R34 500 for people aged 65 and up;
- Any dividends if you were a non-resident for the entire fiscal year.
According to Van Jaarsveld, the exemption will not apply if you receive any other form of income, such as taxable interest, rental income, business income, a car or travel allowance, or any fringe benefit, and you are not claiming tax-related deductions or rebates, such as travel and medical expenses, or retirement annuity contributions in excess of your employer’s pension contributions.
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