Author Archives: Primorial Solutions

The Department of Small Business Development’s Lifelines to Suffocating SMMEs

“It’s been said that government doesn’t create jobs, business does. For the most part, this [...]

New National Minimum Wage and Earnings Thresholds From 1 March 2021

(N.B. The increases highlighted below are extracted from the Employment and Labour Minister’s announcement of [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for March 2021

5 March – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 March – VAT manual submissions and [...]

Provisional Income Tax Due 26 February: Do’s and Don’ts for Companies

“The only thing that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having [an [...]

Sales Reps Are the Lifeblood of Your Business – 10 Interview Questions To Ask

“Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman – not the attitude of the [...]

Independent Non-Executive Directors: A Value-Add for Your SME?

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are owned and managed by the founder(s), sometimes with [...]

How to Find and Secure Tenders for Your Small Business – 5 Expert Tips

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for February 2021

5 February – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 February – VAT manual submissions and [...]

Companies: How to Manage Your Greater Tax Risk in 2021

“If you think compliance is expensive – try non-compliance.” (Paul McNulty, former US Deputy Attorney [...]

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Investing Offshore

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” (Benjamin Franklin) It can be tempting to [...]

What Should You Do If a Creditor Tries to Liquidate Your Business?

Due to the recession, there are a rising number of local companies in financial distress [...]

The Way Forward: More Virtual Meetings?

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” (Arthur C. Clarke, English science writer and [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for January 2021

7 January – PAYE submissions and payments 25 January – VAT manual submissions and payments [...]

A Remote Working Danger: Independent Contractor or Employee?

The prevalence of remote working since the start of the national lockdown in March has [...]

Accounting Tips for SMMEs in a Rocketing Tax Future

“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward”: John Maynard [...]

6 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Tax-Free Savings Account

“He said that there was death and taxes, and taxes was worse, because at least [...]

Employees Working Abroad: How to Avoid Double Tax

“Every advantage has its tax.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) The purpose of the foreign remuneration exemption, [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for December 2020

  7 December – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 24 December – VAT manual submissions [...]

Leaving a Legacy: Ensure Your Business Survival with a Succession Plan

“A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.” (John C. Maxwell)  Succession planning is preparing [...]

Six Tips for More Effective Online Meetings

“Meetings should be like salt – a spice sprinkled carefully to enhance a dish, not [...]

SMMEs: Preparing for the Second Wave

“Forewarned is forearmed” (Samuel Shellabarger, Prince of Foxes) The daily Covid-19 infection rate has decreased [...]

The Five Most Common Tax Pitfalls That Small Business Owners Should Avoid

There are five common tax pitfalls that owners of small businesses should look out for [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for November 2020

6 November – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 16 November – D-date for taxpayers filing [...]

Employee Health and Wellbeing: A Strategic Priority for COVID-19 and Beyond

“It goes without saying that no company, small or large, can win over the long run [...]

Your SME and the Economy – Prepare for the Long Way Back

The South African economy could take as long as seven years to get back to [...]

How to Protect Yourself and Your Company after the Experian Data Leak

“Cyber-Security is much more than a matter of IT.” (Stéphane Nappo, 2018 Global Chief Information [...]

The Feasibility of a Freelancing Business in Uncertain Times

Business start-up planning has been extensively covered over the past twenty years and longer, and [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for October 2020

7 October – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments  22 October – D-day for Branch filing [...]

Tax Incentives to Invest in Small Business: The Clock is Ticking

“Creating an environment in which SMMEs can thrive is inextricably linked to creating conditions in [...]

How Chaos Sparks Business Innovation

“All great changes are preceded by chaos. The disruption we see in the world is [...]

Tips and Ideas to Retain Your Best Staff and Skills During COVID-19

Small businesses across South Africa face the challenge of keeping their best staff and skills [...]

Six Important Business Lessons From The Coronavirus Pandemic

“Given the nature of the crisis, all hands should be on deck, all available tools [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for September 2020

1 September – Starting date for online filing 1 September – Branch filing – Taxpayers [...]

Employees Working from Home: What Tax Deductions Can You Claim?

“We like to give people the freedom to work where they want, safe in the [...]

Protecting your Company’s Reputation When Staff Work from Home

“It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in [...]

What Happens if your Driver’s Licence Expires During the Pandemic and You Have an Accident?

Driving licence test centres were closed during the lockdown and even prior to that centres [...]

POPIA (The Protection of Personal Information Act) is Now Law and the Clock is Ticking

Globally, governments are responding to the vast amounts of information flooding into the public domain [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for August 2020

7 August – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 August – VAT manual submissions and [...]

Tax Season 2020 will be Easier Thanks to SARS’ New Approach!

“Death, taxes, and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them” (Margaret Mitchell, [...]

Giving is Good – Just Know Who You are Giving To

There is usually an upsurge in giving when there is a severe crisis. COVID-19 is [...]

Who will Emerge as Winners and Losers in the Post Covid-19 Marketplace?

Many trends that emerged in the lockdown period will almost certainly continue post Covid-19. Technology, [...]

Fraudsters are Everywhere: Cybercrime up 667% since Lockdown

There has been a surge in internet scams over the past three months – from [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for July 2020

7 July – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 24 July – VAT manual submissions and [...]

Technology, COVID-19 and How the World Will Change

“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen” (Vladimir Lenin, [...]

Tax Freedom Day: How Many Days Did You Work for The Taxman in 2020?

“I Have Bad News and – No, Actually I Just Have Bad News” (Rick Riordan) [...]

Life Made Easier (and Safer) For Non-eFilers

When SARS have requested documentation from taxpayers who do not use eFiling, the taxpayers have [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for June 2020

5 June – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 June – VAT manual submissions and [...]

COVID-19 and Directors: Your Duties and Liabilities in the Coronavirus Crisis

There are significant obligations placed on directors by the Companies Act and personal and criminal [...]

Tips for Managing your Staff Working from Home

In this brave new world of COVID-19, many people are working from home. Even after [...]

How Different Will Our Landscape Be Post-Coronavirus?

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future” (Niels Bohr) Pandemics kill more [...]

Be Ready for a SARS Lifestyle Audit

We read about Eskom staff having to undergo lifestyle audits so that corruption can be [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for May 2020

7 May – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 May – VAT manual submissions and [...]

COVID-19 Lockdown: Relief Programs for Businesses and SMMEs

The President, telling the nation that “We will prioritise the lives and livelihoods of our [...]

Businesses: How to Survive the Coronavirus Panic

“Never let a good crisis go to waste” (Winston Churchill) Globally, the COVID-19 coronavirus has [...]

Is Passwordless Authentication the Next Big Step?

Consider these facts: Over 80% of hacking is password related. In the first world the [...]

On a Lighter Note – Some Entertaining Tax Stories

UK Revenue officials recently released some entertaining excuses from taxpayers: One taxpayer claimed their mother-in [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for April 2020

7 April – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 24 April – VAT manual submissions and [...]

Budget 2020: Some Tax Relief!

Taxpayers were preparing for once again being squeezed in 2020, but we have been pleasantly [...]

Budget 2020: Will it Please Moody’s?

“Baby, baby, baby you’re out of time” (The Rolling Stones) Over the past several years [...]

Directors: “Knowing” Is A Potentially Career-Threatening Word for You

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” (Benjamin Franklin) The Companies Act 2008 places [...]

Your Selection of Budget 2020 Tax Calculators

How long will you work for the taxman today? Input your salary into the 2020 Tax [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for March 2020

6 March – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 March – VAT manual submissions and [...]

Take Advantage of the Venture Capital Company Allowance While You Can

“There are two systems of taxation in our country: one for the informed and one [...]

Small Businesses: How to Survive and Thrive

“Why do approximately 70% – 80% of small businesses fail within five years? Why are [...]

Directors: Be Careful, You Will Be Held More Accountable In 2020

The past few years have seen scandals emerging in both the private and public sectors. [...]

Lying About Qualifications – Prison Time for Employees on the Horizon

An issue that has been around for a while has been employees misrepresenting their qualifications [...]

Budget 2020: Tips for Tito – Make Your Voice Count!

On 26 February 2020 the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, will be making his annual [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for February 2020

7 February – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 February – VAT manual submissions and [...]

What Will The Next Decade Bring Us?

“If we can win the Rugby World Cup three times, surely it is not asking [...]

Your Tax Returns Are Due: Make Sure You Fill In Your Return Correctly

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax”  (Albert Einstein) Provisional [...]

How To Detect and Dodge Financial Scams

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” (wise old adage) In [...]

Junk Status Is Not The End – It Can Get A Lot Worse!

It is now widely expected that sometime in the next year or so Moody’s will [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for January 2020

 January – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 24 January – VAT manual submissions and payments [...]

Sometimes the Best Management Is To Take a Back Seat

“When the best leader’s work is done the people say‘We did it ourselves’” (Lao Tzu) [...]

How to Prepare Your Business Plan

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” (Benjamin Franklin) Previously we discussed why a [...]

The CIPC to Intensify Compliance Enforcement from January

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has announced new requirements for companies and close [...]

Important: SA’s Rankings on the Ease of Doing Business Index, and an Exciting New Business Registration Platform

In his recent State of the Nation Addresses, President Ramaphosa vowed to speed up economic [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for December 2019

4 December – Tax Season 2019 eFiling closes for Individuals (if you are a provisional [...]

Crunch Time for SA – The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and What it Means to You

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads [...]

Businesses: Think Strategically When Cost Cutting

We all know times are tough and many companies are embarking on cost cutting exercises. [...]

Cut Your Electricity Bills!

Electricity has become a bane in our lives – not only does it increase in [...]

5 Reasons To Never Overlook Your Business Plan

“How can I be so stupid?” (John Cleese recalling when he pitched the BBC to [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for November 2019

Deadlines this month are – 7 November – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 November [...]

A Tip for Anyone with Too Much Debt – Try the ‘Snowball Method’

Note: Even if you yourself are financially secure, please consider passing this article on to [...]

A Break for Taxpayers on Interest Received From SARS

Until last year taxpayers had to accrue interest owed to them by SARS. This proved [...]

Businesses: Let’s All Practice Corporate Sustainability to Remain Competitive and Successful

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability [...]

Our Economic Outlook: Good News or Bad?

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future” (Niels Bohr, theoretical physicist and [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for October 2019

Deadlines this month are – 7 October – Monthly PAYE submissions and payments 25 October [...]

Be Ready For SARS Employee Audits

“Forewarned is forearmed” (Wise old saying) SARS is having trouble meeting its revenue targets and [...]

Communicate with Candour – the “Oracle of Omaha” Speaks

“The CEO who misleads others in public may eventually mislead himself in private” (Warren Buffett) [...]

Your Shareholder Agreement versus Your Memorandum of Incorporation – There Is Only One Winner

Shareholder agreements usually form the backbone of shareholder relationships as they govern, for example, how [...]

Spying On Employees Is Becoming A Big Industry

Note: As always, our employment laws being complex and the penalties for getting them wrong [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for September, and an Update on Tax Season 2018/19

Your third provisional payment for the 2018/2019 tax year is due on or by 30 [...]

Don’t Let a Death or Disablement Destroy Your Business

The greatest need in many small businesses is for cash flow. Picture this scenario:  Three [...]

If Artificial Intelligence Is Not That Intelligent, Should We Be Worried About Our Jobs?

“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time” (Terry Pratchett) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being rolled [...]

The Big Mac Index Says the Rand is Way Undervalued

“Our results indicate that the Big Mac Index is surprisingly accurate in tracking exchange rates [...]

SARS: Changes to the Employer Statement of Account

This form is designed so that employers can easily reconcile their payroll taxes (PAYE, UIF [...]

Your Tax Deadlines for August 2019

Individual provisional taxpayers need to submit their first provisional form and payment by or on [...]

How Tax Returns Will Be Easier This Year, and Should You File if You Earn Under R500,000?

“Death and taxes may be inevitable but they shouldn’t be related” (J.C. Watts Jr)” Tax [...]

Business Rescue Options: Going the Informal Route v the Companies Act Route

The business rescue provisions in the Companies Act are regarded as progressive and world class [...]