Via VDP often.
Post-verification.
Typical SARS deadline.
With proper proof.
Critical Problems We Solve
Effective financial management isn't just about balancing books; it's about removing the friction points that stall your business growth.
Blocked VAT refunds impacting cash flow
Additional assessments raised unfairly by SARS
Stress of dealing with aggressive auditors
Risk of criminal prosecution for past errors
Penalties for non-compliance
Surviving a SARS VAT Audit
Receiving a notification of a VAT audit can be intimidating. SARS auditors are tasked with finding errors and underpayments. They will scrutinise your invoices, bank statements, and calculations. If your records are disorganised or incomplete, they will likely raise an 'Additional Assessment'—essentially a bill for tax they believe you owe, plus penalties.
We act as your shield during this process. We review your data *before* submission, organise it into the format SARS prefers, and answer the auditor's questions directly. This professional approach often resolves audits quickly and without unexpected tax bills.
- Pre-submission review of all documents
- Organised 'Audit Pack' creation
- Direct communication with SARS auditors
- Prevention of unfair assessments
Unlocking Delayed Refunds
For many businesses, a VAT refund is a critical cash flow injection. When SARS withholds a refund for months due to 'verification', it can cripple operations. Often, these delays are caused by simple administrative issues—a missing bank letter, an unlinked tax type, or a single missing invoice.
We diagnose the root cause of the delay. We don't just 'wait and see'; we actively follow up, escalate via the SARS Service Manager system if necessary, and ensure that every requirement for release is met.
- Root cause analysis of refund blocks
- Escalation strategies for stalled cases
- Verification of bank details
- Clearing of 'special stoppers' on accounts
Correcting Past Mistakes (VDP)
If you realise you have under-declared output tax or over-claimed input tax in the past, the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) is your safety net. If you approach SARS *before* they select you for an audit, you can correct the error, pay the tax, and have the understatement penalties (which can be up to 200%) and criminal sanctions waived.
We guide you through the VDP process, calculating the correct liability and drafting the application to ensure you get the full benefit of the amnesty.
- Amnesty from criminal prosecution
- Waiver of understatement penalties
- Regularisation of tax affairs
- Clean slate for future compliance
Who Is This For?
- Businesses under SARS audit or verification
- Companies with disallowed input tax claims
- Vendors with long-outstanding VAT refunds
- Businesses needing to correct past errors (VDP)
Engagement Requirements
- SARS correspondence (letters/notifications)
- Access to eFiling profile
- Relevant supporting documents for the period
- History of the dispute (if any)
Deliverables & Results
- Preparation of audit packs for SARS verification
- Reconstruction of missing records for compliance
- Submission of Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) applications
- Dispute resolution and lodging of objections (NOO)
- Follow-up on delayed refunds
- Review of past returns for errors
- Liaison with SARS auditors on your behalf
South African Compliance Context
"Creations transformed how we handle SARS. No more compliance anxiety."
Trusted Resources
Our Operational Methodology
A structured, 5-step approach designed for precision and clarity.
We analyse the SARS correspondence and your records to understand the issue.
We gather the necessary evidence and structure your response to SARS.
We submit the response and handle all communication with the SARS auditor.
We ensure the audit is finalised and any refunds or assessments are correct.
Professional Insights
The way you present your documents to SARS matters as much as the documents themselves; a messy submission often leads to rejection.
SARS has strict timelines (usually 21 days) to respond to verification requests; missing this deadline triggers an automatic assessment.
You have the right to object to a SARS assessment, but you must pay the 'disputed' amount first unless you apply for a suspension of payment.
Common Questions
Everything you need to know about our vat compliance support services in south africa service.