Latest news with #PAYE
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Looming tax deadline and glitches cause frustration
Additional measures were implemented to help taxpayers stay compliant – and if not for the 'procrastinators' the problem 'could have been fixed' by now. The chances of an extension to Friday's deadline are slim. Picture: AdobeStock In the run-up to this year's filing season, employers are battling to meet the deadline for submission of their annual employer reconciliation declarations to the South African Revenue Service (Sars). The deadline is Friday. Employers experienced glitches after Sars released an updated version of e@syFile, the software used to reconcile and validate the payroll data and electronic employee tax certificates submitted to Sars. Employers submit monthly declarations, and the annual declaration (EMP501) reflects all the payments made in terms of employee pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) contributions, and employee tax incentive (ETI) and skills development (SDL) levies. ALSO READ: 'Sars needs to play catch up,' says Kieswetter as tax collector goes digital System issues The system error forced Sars to make additional channels and measures available to enable employers to submit their information on time, says Ettiene Retief, independent tax specialist. The new version created 'unexpected' issues where employers were unable to submit their EMP501 returns. Following complaints from several recognised controlling bodies that represent tax practitioners, Sars acknowledged the problems. It gave employers access to the older version when they could not solve their issues with the new version, and addressed issues through a dedicated email support channel. Retief says the newer version might have been incompatible with specific anti-virus programmes used by employers or tax practitioners. System updates by employer payroll systems may also have caused the incompatibility with e@syFile. 'There are also procrastinators. We have had two months to deal with issues – if people started engaging earlier, the problem could have been fixed already,' he adds. ALSO READ: Sars beats expectations by collecting R1.855 trillion in 2024/25 tax year The go-between The Sars e@syFile software plays 'middleman' in the validation and reconciliation of the employer's payroll system and the validation of the electronic IRP5 tax certificate that is submitted to Sars. This enables Sars to pre-populate the tax returns of almost four million individual taxpayers, and those with more complicated tax affairs can submit their tax returns with correct tax information. According to Sars, the three elements that must reconcile for employer submissions include: Monthly employer declarations submitted (PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI); Payments made (excluding penalty and interest payments); and IRP5/IT3(a)s generated. The chances of an extension of Friday's deadline are slim. Sars only has a month to process the information and start pre-populating tax returns for the start of the July filing season. 'If one deadline moves, it moves everything and that causes its own complications,' says Retief. Another system glitch that frustrated taxpayers and practitioners last month was the inability to upload documentation relating to value-added tax (Vat) returns. 'As far as I am aware the issues were addressed.' ALSO READ: Sars records increase in taxpayers who filed returns Refund delays André Daniels, head of tax controversy and dispute resolution at Tax Consulting SA, says taxpayers and tax practitioners alike are reporting a surge in delayed refunds. Sars is citing 'pending verifications or audits' – but only after a manual status check is performed. 'This is not a procedural glitch – this is a systemic failure with serious financial implications,' Daniels said in a recent statement. In many cases Sars has requested further verification documentation without issuing any formal notification through eFiling or via email. 'Making matters worse, there is often no link available to upload the required documents because no verification or audit letter was ever generated.' Daniels says even if the link is provided and documentation uploaded, additional assessments are subsequently issued, stating that the 'burden of proof' was not discharged. His advice to taxpayers is to act proactively and to confirm whether any verifications or audits have been raised behind the scenes. He also advises taxpayers to use the dispute resolution steps to correct assessments where appropriate. Retief notes that Sars is constantly upgrading, adding and changing its systems and programmes as part of its modernisation and digitalisation drive. It is normal that there will be glitches. Sars is generally alerted to problems and issues through the different representative bodies. 'I know there were issues, but Sars was quick to respond and solve some of it.' This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Fresh blow for Charlotte Dawson as company shuts down with £88k tax bill – after she takes back ‘sexting' fiance
AFTER taking back her 'sexting' fiance, Charlotte Dawson is facing a fresh devastating blow. The stunning reality star, 32, has been has been hit with business troubles after her partner was 6 Charlotte Dawson has faced another devastating blow Credit: Getty 6 The mum of three is facing business troubles as her private company Dawsylicious goes into liquidation Credit: Getty 6 Charlotte has been engaged to Matt Sarsfield since 2020 Credit: charlottedawsy / Instagram 6 The couple share three children with one another Credit: Instagram Charlotte has been engaged to After the sexting scandal emerged last year, Charlotte took Matt back despite being "devastated" by the ordeal. And now the mum of three is facing business troubles as her private company Dawsylicious goes into liquidation. The company has collapsed and now owes a rather large sum of money. Read More about Charlotte Dawsylicious' tax debts comprise £33,500 in VAT, £1,000 in PAYE and NI and £53,500 in corporation tax. This means the company in question owes £88,000 in total to HMRC. All of this has been reported on a statement of affairs filed at Companies House. The document, which was signed off by Charlotte earlier this month, reports that she also owes £200 to Red Dot Chartered Accountants. Most read in Showbiz Her firm had £15,000 in assets with which to help pay its debts, reducing its estimated deficit to £73,300. It is estimated that assets comprising a share of the £88,000 in monies owed to the business by debtors. Charlotte set the business up in May 2020. Charlotte Dawson gives birth to baby girl as she welcomes third child with Matthew Sarsfield It is a creditors voluntary liquidation, liquidator Richard Williamson appointed on May 19. The 2023 accounts and 2024 confirmation statement are both overdue on Companies House. Three strike off notices have been issued against it over overdue documents. The first was issued in 2021, and the most recent in April of 2024. Charlotte Dawson - relationship statement in FULL CHARLOTTE Dawson has been left "humiliated Here is her emotional statement in full. In a message posted on Instagram she said: "I've had loads of messages regarding mine and Matthew's relationship and I wanted to just be honest with all of you as I navigate through this. "I was in complete shock and devastated. "Whilst so many of you have been kind and caring, there have been a number of people that have said I've sold this story for money. "This is completely fales and I would never do this to my family or myself. "The story was sold by the girl and I have no idea who she is. "I'm extremely hurt, upset and disappointed about the situation. "It's hard enough going through something like this in private, let alone publicly. "My only focus right now is on my beautiful boys as they are my main priority. "Thank you to everyone who has shared their love and support. It doesn't go unnoticed." Charlotte, 31, has been engaged to her Dawsylicious is Charlotte's only limited company listed on Companies House. The nature of her now liquidated business is reported as wholesale of clothing and footwear. She has a tanning business, which is unrelated to Dawsylicious. Charlotte also co-owns and co-directs the business with fiance Matt. The company she shared with Matt has filed two sets of accounts at Companies House. Filed in October 2022 figures for the year ended May 31 2022 reported retained earnings at £4,699. Charlotte's firm holding £40,152 in assets as at the date of the accounts, including £14,490 in cash. Bills due within the year were reported at £35,353 - including £32,852 in taxation and social security. Both Charlotte and Matt owed the firm money - Charlotte at £7,422, and Matt at £7,421. 6 Charlotte and her husband-to-be Matt were embroiled in a sexting scandal last year Credit: Instagram 6 Matt was texting another woman Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Fresh blow for Charlotte Dawson as company shuts down with £88k tax bill – after she takes back ‘sexting' fiance
This comes after she took back her fiance following a 'sexting' scandal DAWSY DOWNER Fresh blow for Charlotte Dawson as company shuts down with £88k tax bill – after she takes back 'sexting' fiance Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AFTER taking back her 'sexting' fiance, Charlotte Dawson is facing a fresh devastating blow. The stunning reality star, 32, has been has been hit with business troubles after her partner was caught sexting another woman. 6 Charlotte Dawson has faced another devastating blow Credit: Getty 6 The mum of three is facing business troubles as her private company Dawsylicious goes into liquidation Credit: Getty 6 Charlotte has been engaged to Matt Sarsfield since 2020 Credit: charlottedawsy / Instagram 6 The couple share three children with one another Credit: Instagram Charlotte has been engaged to Matt Sarsfield since 2020, and together they share two sons and a baby daughter. After the sexting scandal emerged last year, Charlotte took Matt back despite being "devastated" by the ordeal. And now the mum of three is facing business troubles as her private company Dawsylicious goes into liquidation. The company has collapsed and now owes a rather large sum of money. Dawsylicious' tax debts comprise £33,500 in VAT, £1,000 in PAYE and NI and £53,500 in corporation tax. This means the company in question owes £88,000 in total to HMRC. All of this has been reported on a statement of affairs filed at Companies House. The document, which was signed off by Charlotte earlier this month, reports that she also owes £200 to Red Dot Chartered Accountants. Her firm had £15,000 in assets with which to help pay its debts, reducing its estimated deficit to £73,300. It is estimated that assets comprising a share of the £88,000 in monies owed to the business by debtors. Charlotte set the business up in May 2020. Charlotte Dawson gives birth to baby girl as she welcomes third child with Matthew Sarsfield It is a creditors voluntary liquidation, liquidator Richard Williamson appointed on May 19. The 2023 accounts and 2024 confirmation statement are both overdue on Companies House. Three strike off notices have been issued against it over overdue documents. The first was issued in 2021, and the most recent in April of 2024. Charlotte Dawson - relationship statement in FULL CHARLOTTE Dawson has been left "humiliated Here is her emotional statement in full. In a message posted on Instagram she said: "I've had loads of messages regarding mine and Matthew's relationship and I wanted to just be honest with all of you as I navigate through this. "I was in complete shock and devastated. "Whilst so many of you have been kind and caring, there have been a number of people that have said I've sold this story for money. "This is completely fales and I would never do this to my family or myself. "The story was sold by the girl and I have no idea who she is. "I'm extremely hurt, upset and disappointed about the situation. "It's hard enough going through something like this in private, let alone publicly. "My only focus right now is on my beautiful boys as they are my main priority. "Thank you to everyone who has shared their love and support. It doesn't go unnoticed." Charlotte, 31, has been engaged to her partner Matt Sarsfield since September 2020. Dawsylicious is Charlotte's only limited company listed on Companies House. The nature of her now liquidated business is reported as wholesale of clothing and footwear. She has a tanning business, which is unrelated to Dawsylicious. Charlotte also co-owns and co-directs the business with fiance Matt. The company she shared with Matt has filed two sets of accounts at Companies House. Filed in October 2022 figures for the year ended May 31 2022 reported retained earnings at £4,699. Charlotte's firm holding £40,152 in assets as at the date of the accounts, including £14,490 in cash. Bills due within the year were reported at £35,353 - including £32,852 in taxation and social security. Both Charlotte and Matt owed the firm money - Charlotte at £7,422, and Matt at £7,421. 6 Charlotte and her husband-to-be Matt were embroiled in a sexting scandal last year Credit: Instagram
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
HMRC warning issued as Brits waiting months for payouts which used to take weeks
In response to a request submitted in March, HMRC said that it would reply in August. In the message, the department said it was "currently processing requests received on 10 December 2024" A warning has been issued as HMRC is taking up to four months to process tax refunds, compared to only a few weeks previously. The issue was first flagged by York-based accountancy firm Equilibrium Accountants earlier this month. The firm's managing director Nikki Ainscough reported that some of her clients had been advised to wait more than four months for refunds of overpaid tax or national insurance. Processes which previously only took between four and six weeks. In response to a request submitted in March, HMRC said that it would reply in August. In the message, the department said it was "currently processing requests received on 10 December 2024". She told the Guardian: "I've never experienced this … Why has it jumped so significantly?' 'If the backlog is that big, it suggests a high volume of claims and a potentially substantial sum of money that is owing to small businesses and individuals at a time when cashflows are critical.' According to reports, the worst delays appear to be affecting refunds for employers' PAYE bills and the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). The CIS is a scheme that applies if you work for a contractor in construction on a self-employed basis. If you fall under this scheme, the contractor must withhold tax on its payment to you. This means you could end up overpaying if you're on a low income or claim tax relief on trade expenses. It is understood that some of the staff working on PAYE and CIS refunds have been taking part in industrial action. HMRC has not provided a figure on how many people may have been affected by the delays, but confirmed that self-assessment refunds had not been affected. The tax department has not yet provided an official update on the issues since they first came to light. On the delays, a HMRC spokesperson said: "We're tackling response times for these refund claims by allocating extra staff to work on them. We've made significant improvements to our customer service overall. Customer satisfaction stands at around 80% and the funding settlement we've received means we'll be able to meet our service standards in 2025-26." Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. If you pay more tax than you need to, then you will receive a tax repayment from HMRC. The main reason overpayments was due to people being on the wrong tax code. This can happen in a variety of ways, including starting a new job, receiving a redundancy payment, and only working for part of the tax year. In the majority of cases, HMRC calculates overpaid tax automatically and sends a P800 form to explain how to claim that money back. These are sent out at the end of the tax year, usually in the summer months. If this hasn't happened and you think you're owed a refund, you can apply for a tax refund online through the HMRC website. You'll be asked what you paid too much tax on, before being taken through a series of questions to find out a bit more about your circumstances. If you've requested a tax refund already, you can use HMRC's "Where's My Reply" tool to find out how long you can expect to wait. You'll need to provide some information about your request, including how and when you submitted it. The tool gives you a date for when you can expect a reply. It also tells you when the claims that are currently being processed were submitted. Some refund requests may require additional checks, which can take up to 12 weeks.
The South African
4 days ago
- Business
- The South African
SARS cracks down on PAYE, what it means for you
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is focusing on PAYE compliance. This is not just a routine check. Employers across the country must make sure their PAYE submissions are accurate and current, or they will face serious consequences. SARS is focusing more on improving revenue collection as the country deals with financial challenges. PAYE is now a top priority for recovery and enforcement. SARS is hiring 500 new staff members to help with its campaign. They plan to add a total of 2,000 people. Their goal is to raise R70 billion in extra revenue over the next three years. Most of this money is expected to come from addressing unpaid PAYE taxes. SARS PAYE compliance crackdown: The issue of accountability According to Business Tech, the issue of employer responsibility is very important right now. SARS has made it clear that there will be no tolerance for delays or mistakes with PAYE. Companies that do not comply could face penalties, audits, and even legal action. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that the government will cut spending if SARS does not meet its revenue targets. As a result, collections from PAYE have become very important to help avoid these cuts. SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has emphasised that this effort is not just about collecting revenue; it's also about rebuilding trust and improving the tax agency's systems. By focusing on SARS PAYE, they want to enhance transparency, accountability, and long-term financial stability. What does this mean for employers? SARS is serious about collecting PAYE, and this is not just a short-term effort. Employers must urgently check their payroll systems and make any needed corrections to stay compliant. SARS now has the resources and systems to enforce these rules effectively. Do you think SARS is doing enough to make sure employers follow the rules for PAYE? Or is this effort to enforce compliance overdue? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
