Name: TaxTrack SA
Availability: InStock
Author: TaxTrack SA

Question 1

What is provisional tax in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Provisional tax is a method of paying income tax in advance. If you earn income that isn't taxed through PAYE (like freelance income, rental income, or business profits), you must register as a provisional taxpayer and make two payments per year to SARS. This ensures you don't face a large tax bill at year-end.

Question 2

Who needs to pay provisional tax?

Accepted Answer

You must pay provisional tax if you receive income other than a salary (like freelance work, rental income, or investment income) that exceeds R30,000 per year, or if you earn a salary plus additional income exceeding R30,000. Salaried employees whose tax is fully deducted through PAYE typically don't need to register.

Question 3

What is the difference between PAYE and provisional tax?

Accepted Answer

PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is tax deducted automatically from your salary by your employer each month. Provisional tax is for income not subject to PAYE - you estimate your annual income and pay tax in two installments (August and February). Many people with both salary and freelance income pay both PAYE and provisional tax.

Question 4

When are the provisional tax deadlines for 2025/2026?

Accepted Answer

For the 2026 tax year (March 2025 - February 2026), the IRP6 provisional tax deadlines are: First payment due by 31 August 2025, and second payment due by 28 February 2026. An optional third 'top-up' payment can be made within 6 months after year-end to avoid interest on underpayment.

Question 5

What happens if I miss a provisional tax deadline?

Accepted Answer

Missing a provisional tax deadline results in penalties and interest from SARS. The penalty is typically 10% of the underpaid tax, plus interest at the prescribed rate (currently around 10.5% per year). It's always better to submit on time, even if your estimate isn't perfect.

Question 6

How do I calculate my provisional tax?

Accepted Answer

Your provisional tax is calculated based on your estimated taxable income for the year. Add up all expected income, subtract allowable deductions (like retirement contributions and medical expenses), apply the SARS tax tables to determine your tax liability, subtract any rebates, and then subtract PAYE already paid. TaxTrack SA automates this calculation for you.

Question 7

What are the current South African tax brackets?

Accepted Answer

For the 2025/2026 tax year, the brackets are: R0-R237,100 at 18%, R237,101-R370,500 at 26%, R370,501-R512,800 at 31%, R512,801-R673,000 at 36%, R673,001-R857,900 at 39%, R857,901-R1,817,000 at 41%, and above R1,817,000 at 45%. These rates apply to taxable income after deductions.

Question 8

What expenses can I deduct as a freelancer?

Accepted Answer

South African freelancers can deduct business expenses including: home office costs (rent, electricity, internet proportional to workspace), equipment and technology, professional services (accountant, legal fees), communication expenses, business travel, education related to your work, professional insurance, and marketing costs. Keep receipts for everything you claim.

Question 9

How do retirement annuity contributions reduce my tax?

Accepted Answer

Retirement annuity (RA) contributions are tax-deductible up to 27.5% of your taxable income, with a maximum of R350,000 per year. For example, if you earn R500,000 and contribute R100,000 to an RA, your taxable income reduces to R400,000, potentially saving you over R30,000 in tax depending on your tax bracket.

Question 10

Is TaxTrack SA affiliated with SARS?

Accepted Answer

No, TaxTrack SA is not affiliated with SARS. We're an independent tool designed to help South African taxpayers track their income, expenses, and estimate their tax liability. Our calculations are based on official SARS tax tables and rates, but you should always verify with SARS or a tax professional for specific advice.

Question 11

Can I use TaxTrack SA for my PAYE tax refund?

Accepted Answer

Yes! TaxTrack SA includes a PAYE refund calculator that estimates potential refunds based on medical expenses, retirement contributions, and other allowable deductions. This is useful for salaried employees who want to understand their potential tax refund before filing their annual return.

Question 12

Is my financial data secure on TaxTrack SA?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We use industry-standard encryption to protect your data. Your information is stored securely on encrypted servers and we never share your financial data with third parties. You can delete your account and all associated data at any time.

Question 13

Is TaxTrack SA free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, TaxTrack SA offers a free plan that includes all core features: income and expense tracking, provisional tax calculation, PAYE refund estimation, and deadline reminders. We believe every South African should have access to simple tax tracking tools. A Pro plan with advanced features like AI statement parsing is coming soon.

Stop guessing your provisional tax.

Import or add transactions

See tax impact instantly

Avoid surprises at SARS

All your tax tools in one app

Provisional tax dashboard

Statement & receipt capture

Live tax impact

Expense analytics

PAYE refund view

SARS deadline awareness

Real-time syncing

Secure by default

Free for South African taxpayers

Free

Frequently asked questions

Ready to stop guessing your tax?