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In this episode, Delano Abdoll (Legal Manager in Cross-Border Taxation at Tax ConsultingSouth Africa) speaks with Professor Carika Keulder (WITS University) about why #AI frequently gets South African tax residency wrong and the risks taxpayers face when relying on automated interpretations.

If you are a South African expat, remote worker, or taxpayer living abroad, this discussion explains why AI tools cannot replace proper legal interpretation under South African tax law.

This episode offers a detailed look at:

00:00 Why AI explanations of tax residency fall short
01:08 Introduction and framing the discussion
01:58 Why primary legislation must come first
02:47 How tax interpretation develops over time
03:38 Testing legislative boundaries in practice
04:33 How taxpayers are misled by market commentary
05:28 The risks of relying on generalised explanations
06:24 AI’s failure to address the full residency test
08:47 Why critical thinking is essential when using AI
09:58 Does AI understand case law and judicial hierarchy?
11:17 Why legal interpretation remains a human skill
12:41 The gap between theory and SARS’s practical systems
13:34 AI, SARS, and the risk to taxpayer rights
15:25 Closing reflections on AI and tax interpretation

Get tax residency guidance from South Africa’s leading experts: https://bit.ly/3Pme6fh

#TaxResidency #SouthAfricanExpats #aiandtax #ai

Need clarity on your South African tax residency status?

Get guidance from South Africa’s leading cross-border tax experts: https://bit.ly/3Pme6fh

Like, subscribe, and comment if this episode helped clarify the risks of relying on AI for tax advice.

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South African expats face significant tax exposure when foreign income is under-declared or when tax residency status is misunderstood. Junaid Bhayla (Tax Attorney & Team Lead: Tax Debts) and Alex Mahundla (SARS Tax Compliance Specialist) explain the real risks expats face when declaring worldwide income.

This episode unpacks:

00:00 – How SARS Penalties Escalate for Expats
00:20 – | What Tax Residency Really Means
01:24 The Most Common Expat Mistake
02:22 SARS Penalties
03:41 How SARS Knows About Worldwide Income
04:42 Relief Options Available to Expats
05:49 Why Formal Cessation Matters
07:03 | Final Takeaway for Expats

Speak to a tax specialist to ensure your compliance: https://bit.ly/3Pme6fh

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Many assume that simply relocating makes them a non-resident for South African tax purposes, but this is not the case.

The South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) requires a formal process to cease tax residency, and confusion around the three-year rule, five-year rule, and day-count tests can result in costly penalties.

Take control of your tax status and protect your foreign income. By formally ending your South African tax residency and using backdated applications, if necessary, you can prevent penalties, remain compliant, and safeguard the income you earn abroad.

Click the link to learn how to correctly cease your South African tax residency: https://bit.ly/4rDr5tW

Topics Discussed:

00:00 – Intro

01:17 – Importance of Knowing Your Tax Status

03:17 – Distinction Between Non-Residency and Deregistration

06:07 – Ceasing Tax Residency: Myths Debunked

10:02 – Steps towards correcting past non-compliance through backdated financial emigration.

12:27 – Importance of Timely Action and Offshore Assets

17:02 – Third-Party Reporting and Global Information Exchange

#CeaseTaxResidency #SATaxResidencyRules #HiddenTaxRisks

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If you have been told that leaving South Africa for 330 days automatically ends your tax residency, think again.

Spending a certain number of days outside South Africa or relying on a double taxation agreement does not automatically change your tax residency. SARS treats tax residency as an ongoing assessment, so your South African tax residency status must be formally reviewed and confirmed.

Click the link to review and formalise your South African tax residency: Non-Resident Confirmation Letter: https://bit.ly/43S810W

Topics covered:

00:00 – Being outside South Africa for 330 days ≠ automatic non-residency.

00:56 – Ceasing residency requires a formal SARS application.

02:56 – How the physical presence test is often misunderstood.

04:36 – Residency is assessed annually, and simply leaving South Africa does not end it.

06:38 – A SARS non-resident confirmation letter stating the qualifying basis is essential; without it, you remain a resident.07:31 – Do not self-assess; SARS verification with expert guidance ensures correct filing.

#TaxResidency #SARSCompliance #ExpatTaxTips

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South Africans are facing a hidden tax increase known as bracket creep, where rising salaries push earners into higher tax brackets because the tax tables have not been adjusted for inflation.

In this Moneyweb Now interview, Tanya Tosen, Tax and Remuneration Specialist at Tax Consulting South Africa, explains how SARS is projected to collect an additional R19.5 billion this year (R18 billion from income tax and R1.5 billion from medical aid tax credits) without changing the official tax rates.

Key Highlights

What bracket creep is and why unadjusted tax tables create it

How higher salary increases can push you into a higher tax bracket

The impact on take-home pay and cost of living

Why both employees and freelancers must monitor their own tax compliance]


#SARS #BracketCreep #IncomeTax

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What really happens when you step from the classroom into South Africa’s leading tax practice?

During a KayaFM interview, Rendani Makatu, Tax Intern & Expatriate Tax Support Specialist at Tax Consulting South Africa, shares the lessons no textbook could prepare him for. From the realities of tax law changes to the traps South Africans face when moving abroad, Rendani explains what every listener needs to know.

During this interview, you will hear:

Why young professionals must stay sharp with SARS updates.

The truth about tax residency if you plan to live or work abroad.

How the “golden letter” from SARS protects expats.

Why hiding income from SARS isn’t an option.

If you are considering emigration or already abroad, do not leave loose ends with SARS. Contact us today so our team can help you get compliant, file correctly, and protect your income: https://bit.ly/46zrC6o 

#ExpatriateTax #DoubleTaxAgreement #TaxResidency

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Ensure that all your income is fully compliant. Learn how to manage your taxes and avoid penalties: https://bit.ly/47AvDcV 

Join Jashwin Baijoo, Associate Director and Head of Strategic Engagement & Compliance as he discusses SARS’s latest focus on social media influencers and content creators during his SAfm interview with Jimmy Moyaha.

Learn what income must be declared, how SARS tracks worldwide earnings, and practical steps for influencers to stay compliant.

#SARSCompliance #InfluencerTax #DigitalEconomy

What You Will Learn:  

00:00 – Introduction
00:15 – SARS targets social media influencers and digital content creators
01:12 – Definition of gross income and worldwide income obligations
02:12 – Practical implications for South African residents working abroad
03:11 – Importance of tax advisors and record-keeping
04:10 – Educational resources and webinars available for influencers
05:08 – How brand deals, sponsored content, and non-cash income are treated
06:53 – Global information exchange and tracking foreign income
07:16 – Closing insights and recommendations

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Read the full article and contact our team today: https://bit.ly/4n7naD5

In a recent vodcast, Chrispos Seete (SARS Tax Compliance Specialist) and Alex Mahundla (SARS Tax Compliance Specialist) from Tax Consulting South Africa explain how a Tax Diagnostic Report provides a non-triggering SARS health check across your entire profile.

Key Highlights

00:00–02:00 Why paying penalties without filing results in recurring charges
02:00–04:30 What a Tax Diagnostic Report covers and why it is non-triggering
04:30–07:00 Handling missing or inactive tax numbers and SARS appointments
07:00–09:30 Checking historic returns and deemed Capital Gains Tax
09:30–12:00 Using the report before withdrawing retirement funds or applying for an Approval for International Transfer (AIT) PIN
12:00–14:30 CIPC directorship checks and the need for deregistration
14:30–17:00 Filing as resident or non-resident and common flagged returns
17:00–20:00 Why ceasing tax residency needs formal confirmation and professional help

#SARS #TaxDiagnostics #ExpatTax

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