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Table of Contents

  • Taxes & Accounting

Why Missing the SARS Deadline Could Cost You Money

Missing SARS Tax Returns for your ITR14 submission can be easily avoided with our help

The South African Revenue Service fines thousands of South African businesses yearly for not submitting their IRP6 and IT14 (ITR14) tax returns in accordance with the SARS deadline. If you miss just one date, you could be fined up to 20% of your unpaid tax, plus interest that builds up over time. Even worse, if your business doesn’t follow the rules when it comes to taxes, it might not be able to get bids, loans, or contracts, which could threaten its future.

We make it easy to follow tax rules. Our SAIT and SAIBA registered accountants will take care of your monthly accounting and tax maintenance to make sure you never miss a due date and pay the right amount when submitting your IRP6 and IT14.

Want to stay legal and avoid penalties? Need a tax clearance certificate? Read on.

Which people need to submit an IRP6 and IT14 SARS Tax Return?

  • All listed businesses with a SARS tax number, whether they are trading or not.
  • People who own businesses and their investors.
  • Anyone making more than R30,000 a year from sources other than wages.

Important SARS Deadline (Tax Submission Dates)

  • First IRP6 Tax Return: For the first six months of the tax year, it’s due on 31 August.
  • The second IRP6 Tax Return is due by 28 or 29 February (the end of the tax year).
  • Extra third payment: It’s due within 7 months of the end of the tax year (to avoid interest on underpayment).
  • Annual Tax Return (IT14/ITR14): This form needs to be turned in within twelve months of the end of the company’s fiscal year.
Timeline of Sars Deadline for tax returns in South Africa

What's the Difference Between IT14 and IRP6 Tax Returns?

Provisional Tax or IRP6 – What to note:

  • Your Provisional Tax (IRP6) form needs to be submitted twice a year, in February and August.
  • People and companies both need to file tax returns (IRP6).
  • People and companies can plan ahead and pay some of their income tax to SARS ahead of time under the Provisional Tax system. This makes it easier to keep track of tax responsibilities and keeps you from getting a big tax bill at the end of the fiscal year.
  • Before the end of the year, you need to pay SARS a forecast tax amount based on how much money you think you will make and spend.

The IT14 (ITR14) tax on business income – What to note:

  • You have to file your tax return once a year, no more than one year after the end of the financial year. (Which is usually February).
  • During a fiscal year, a company has to pay corporate income tax on all of its income, whether it was made or received.
  • On an Income Tax Return (ITR14), a business must list its monthly income. To avoid being over- or under-taxed, you must make sure that all of your business’s income and expenses are recorded correctly.
It is highly recommended to have a professional accountant submit your tax returns

Having a financial professional such as an accountant manage your accounting records and tax submissions can save you in the long run by strategically allocating expenses in accordance with SARS regulations and tax laws.

Submitting your IRP6 SARS Tax Return is simple with our professionals

How do you complete your IRP6/IT14 Tax Return?

  1. Sign in to SARS E-filing or visit sarsefiling.co.za to sign up if you are not a registered member yet.
  2. As a SARS Registered Representative of your company, you will be able to access the Tax Returns section.
  3. Select the tax payer (the Organisation) on the home screen
  4. Select Returns in the top menu
  5. Select Returns Issued
  6. Scroll down to Income Tax (ITR14) and select
  7. If the Return is not being displayed you can select “Request Return” near the top right hand corner after selecting the appropriate financial year.
  8. Once you have opened the Return you will be required to answer some questions about the company to populate the ITR14 Return.
  9. You’ll need your company registration document (14.3 or CK1), ID or passport, and a bank letter.
  10. Complete the necessary information.
  11. Review carefully and submit if you are certain everything corresponds to your accounting records
SAIPA registered accountants are perfect to submit your tax returns with SARS

It’s advisable to use SAIT and SAIBA Registered Accountants (like ours) to make sure that your books are up to date before you file your taxes. If you’re not sure if you have outstanding tax, you can check out our Free Tax Backlog Review Service to make sure your taxes and records are up to date.

Company Partners can assist with a free tax backlog review

How much will I be charged if I pay or turn in my IRP6 late?

1. Penalty for late submission (20%)

Did you miss the time to file IRP6? SARS treats it as if you said you had no income and adds a 20% penalty to the amount of tax you owe right away.

So for example:

Sally, who owns a small business, is moving premises and forgets to turn in her IRP6 by 28 February. SARS says her taxable income was R1.6 million, and they are fining her R6,560 for turning in her tax return late.

2. Extra Fee for late payment (10%)

If you don’t pay your IRP6 by the due date, SARS will quickly add a 10% penalty to your tax bill. You now owe R110,000 in taxes, on top of the R100,000 you owed in taxes.

Ben, who owns a deli and forgets to pay his IRP6 by 28 February. Subsequently he has to pay an extra R10,000 to SARS just for being late. Worst of all, the longer you wait, the more the amount becomes. 

If I pay or send in my IT14 late, what are the penalties?

1. Penalty for late submission:

SARS will charge a company an administrative non-compliance penalty if it doesn’t send in its ITR14 by the due date. This fine is a set amount that is added every month that the return is late, for a total of 35 months. The penalty can be anywhere from R250 to R16,000 per month, depending on how much money the company made that was taxed.

A business with a taxable income of R1,250,000 doesn’t turn in its ITR14. SARS charges an R2,000 fine every month for late submissions. The fine would add up to R6,000 if the company delays filing for three months.

2. Fee for late payment:

SARS charges a late payment penalty to companies that send in their ITR14 but don’t pay the tax by the due date. This fine is usually 10% of the amount of tax that hasn’t been paid. Also, the interest on the tax bill keeps going up until it is paid off.

So for instance, when a business turns in its ITR14, it owes R100,000 in taxes, but it doesn’t pay by the due date,  SARS charges a 10% late payment fee, which is R10,000. This means that the company now owes R110,000, not counting any interest that may add up.

Would you rather pay a fine or get help from a professional?

We can assist in the following ways:

  1. We can ensure that you are correctly tax registered.
  2. We take care of your IRP6/IT14 returns, making sure you file on time; you don’t miss any due dates.
  3. If you make correct tax estimates, you can avoid penalties.


Our tax experts have made it easy for thousands of South African businesses to stay in line with SARS rules and get tax clearance certificates over the last decade since 2006.

With us you can consider your ITR14 and IRP6 submissions done

Avoid Costly SARS Penalties

Don’t take chances with SARS and lose your company’s hard-earned money—act now! Rather, let us take care of your IRP6/IT14 tax forms. This way you can stay clear from SARS fines and keep your tax clearance status! Get in touch with us right away to avoid a SARS fine.
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