Christopher Renwick, Attorney at Tax Consulting SA investigates the tax implications of making money from cryptocurrency. Although usually behind the global curve, South Africa seems to be keeping pace with the current Bitcoin trend. This is...
Swipe and save
We often complain that we don’t have enough money to save, but it is often the hassle of opening up a savings account and committing to the minimum investment amounts that is the major hurdle. This is especially true for the younger generation who...
Free trial offers: how to avoid getting burnt
Companies sometimes offer free trials in an attempt to entice customers to sign up to a service or to buy a product they’re not familiar with. Trials are prevalent in the services and cosmetics industry where customers are offered free access to...
We have no policy to delay refunds, says SARS
After publishing an article about increased tax audits and delays in refunds by SARS, and telling the story of a taxpayer who was hounded by SARS for 49c, City Press was inundated by responses from readers adding to the complaints against SARS....
Remember its 40 days to the next paycheque!
Use an early salary to pay your bills ahead of time. If you were fortunate enough to get paid early this December, before you start spending that salary remember it needs to last until the next payday which can be up to 40 days away! Listen to Maya...
Beware the potential tax pitfalls of earnings through Airbnb
A brief search on Airbnb reveals over 10 000 property listings in Cape Town alone. If you're not already doing it yourself, you probably know of someone who has hit on the golden solution of renting out their property through this internationally...
How safe is our personal information?
Recently we wrote about what to do if you believe your data or personal information has been hacked. The question we now ask is whether or not companies are doing enough to secure our data, especially after an estimated 70 million identity numbers...
What to do if you’re running late submitting your tax? Tax deadline: 24 November
24 November 2017 is the most important date on the calendar for taxpayers, as this is the deadline for most taxpayers to file their annual tax returns. Each year, more than two million taxpayers leave filing their tax returns to the last minute...
Tax season: your top tax investment questions answered
Confused about how to report on your investments to SARS? With the 2017 tax season in full swing, now is the time to get your documents ready, urges Carla Rossouw of Allan Gray Investment Managers. 1. What documents do I need? When filling out your...
SNAPnSAVE: the shopping app that saves you money
SNAPnSAVE is a cashback shopping app that puts money back into your wallet when you buy certain products – irrespective of where you shop. You download the app, select the products you want to book and then have 48 hours to go shopping and scan...
Previous Articles
Giving up #just1thing could save over R1000 in a month
Sue Torr, a Director at Crue Invest, has conceptualised the #just1thing campaign to show people how sacrificing something small, like a cup of coffee or manicure, can have a meaningful, positive effect on your bank balance. The saying “short-term pain, long-term gain”...
Running your business as a personal piggybank could scuttle future growth
By Gary Palmer, CEO at Paragon Lending Solutions Death and taxes – the two certainties in life. While we spend a good portion of our time working out, eating right and minimising personal risk to avoid the former, getting too clever in avoiding the latter could cost...
Tax tips for freelancers or sole traders
We’re one month into tax filing season, and millions of South Africans are planning to file their annual returns within the given time frame. For many people who have left corporate employment to start a home-based business or join the gig economy, this will be the...
Treasury’s plans for income earned overseas
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has published its proposed amendment to tax the income of South Africans working overseas. If this amendment to the foreign employment income exemption is passed, it may come into effect in 2019. Tertius Troost, tax consultant...
Could tech wearables change our money habits?
For the last few days I have been trying out the Sanlam MNA NAM bracelet which is marketed as a fashion accessory that makes you think about money. There are two aspects to the bracelet which has been designed by top South African fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo. The...
Buy-aid schemes: an alternative to bank rewards programmes
I have to confess that the concept of a buy-aid scheme is new to me, yet it is an industry with a turnover of well over R1 billion and annually pays out in the region of R130 million in bonuses to members. Cape Consumers, which recently re-branded as Bsmart, is the...
Save your windfall
Receiving relevant financial information when you need it is the holy grail of financial education. If you can reach people at a time when they need to make important financial decisions, you can guide them to make the best decision for their future. How many people...
Tax options for freelancers
As a freelancer should you form a company or remain a sole proprietor? During periods of weaker economic growth, companies are more open to using freelancers or contractors to reduce their cost-to-company spend. It also creates employment in an economic environment...
FNB launches new products as part of price review
Last week FNB released its price review for the next year (effective July 1st), with a few tweaks and changes, and two new product offerings. Banking for kids and students FNB has rebranded its youth offering with the launch of FNBy, which I must admit is compelling...
Stash: save as you spend
The no-paperwork, no-sacrifice, no-fee tax-free savings account It’s not often that I’m seriously impressed by a new investment product, particularly when it comes to those offered by large insurance companies. But Liberty gets ten out of ten in my books for its...