Once a year, your employer must issue you with an IRP5 tax certificate that shows the total wages that you earned and the total tax that was deducted. If you earn more than R91 250 per year, you have to pay income tax (the income amount is higher for older people). These figures apply for 202022/2023

If you earn more you qualify for tax and usually it is deducted by your employer and paid over to SARS.

If you earn less than R500 000 a year, you will not have to submit a tax return provided certain criteria are met. Check the SARS website for more information www.sars.gov.za

If you earn more than R500 000 a year the SARS does an assessment of your earnings when you fill in a ‘tax return’. You fill in a tax return form and send it with the IRP5 to the SARS.

Assessment means checking up on the tax you pay to make sure you haven’t paid too much or too little tax.