Compliance · South Africa
Register for VAT with SARS — voluntary or compulsory — filed correctly the first time.
Every South African company that exceeds R 1 million in taxable turnover in any 12-month period must register for Value-Added Tax (VAT) with SARS. Companies with turnover above R 50,000 (or contractual proof of future income) may register voluntarily to claim input VAT and appear more credible to enterprise clients.
SARS has tightened VAT registration in recent years — most applications now require in-person or video verification, proof of trading activity, bank statements, invoices and lease agreements. Rejection rates are high for founders who apply without preparation.
Amashad handles the full SARS eFiling VAT163 application, prepares your supporting document pack, and manages the SARS verification call on your behalf — significantly improving approval odds and turnaround time.
We confirm whether you qualify for voluntary or compulsory VAT and gather turnover evidence.
We compile your supporting pack — invoices, bank statements, lease, ID.
VAT163 filed via eFiling; SARS opens a verification case.
We coach you through the SARS video call. VAT vendor number issued.
The R 1 million VAT threshold is measured over any consecutive 12-month period — not the calendar year. If you're on track to exceed it, you must apply within 21 days of realising you'll hit R 1m, or SARS can backdate the registration and demand VAT on prior sales.
Voluntary VAT registration below R 1m turnover requires proof of at least R 50,000 income (contracts, invoices, deposits) in the preceding 12 months, or reasonable evidence of future income. SARS has been especially strict here to prevent VAT-refund fraud.
Once registered, you must file VAT201 returns every 2 months (Category A or B) or monthly (Category C for large vendors). We provide return-filing guidance or ongoing monthly VAT support as a separate service.
10 to 21 business days is typical, but verification-heavy cases can stretch to 4–6 weeks. We track and escalate stalled applications.
Yes, voluntarily — provided you can show at least R 50,000 in signed contracts, invoices or expected income. SARS will scrutinise the evidence carefully.
No, but you need a fixed South African business address (which can be a virtual business address) and a bank account in the company's name.
You must charge 15% VAT on taxable supplies, file VAT201 returns on time (monthly or bi-monthly), and keep records for 5 years. Late returns attract penalties.
Request a free, no-obligation quote — we respond within one business day.