Word From Our Ceo
Newsletter - FEBRUARY 2026
WORD FROM OUR CEO
As we move into 2026, I would like to highlight the importance of accounting, tax compliance, and business advisory in keeping your business strong and legally sound.
Registered vs non-registered Accountants
Registered accountants bring professional oversight, compliance assurance, and strategic guidance—perfect for businesses needing tax submissions, CIPC work, or long-term growth planning. Non-registered accountants can handle basic bookkeeping at a lower cost, but lack formal oversight, so their role is best for smaller, simpler operations.
Tax Compliance: year-round, not once-off
SARS monitors compliance continuously. Even one missed return or payment can make your profile non-compliant, affecting tax clearance, refunds, and business credibility. Staying compliant requires ongoing monitoring, accurate filings, and timely payments.
CIPC annual returns: protect your company
Filing your annual return within your company’s anniversary month is mandatory. Missing it can lead to deregistration, lost opportunities, and costly restoration. A trusted advisor ensures your returns are submitted on time and your business remains in good standing.
Final Thoughts
Compliance and financial guidance aren’t optional—they’re essential. Partnering with the right professionals lets you focus on growing your business, while we take care of the numbers, compliance, and peace of mind.
Spokazi P Jojo
Founder and CEO: SPJ Accountants & Tax Practitioners
ACCOUNTING
Should you work with a registered or non-registered Accountant? Here’s what to consider
Choosing the right financial partner is one of the most important decisions for any business owner. Whether you're running a startup, a growing business, or managing personal finances, you may wonder: “Do I need a registered accountant, or can I work with a non-registered one?” Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide.
What is a registered Accountant?
A registered Accountant is professionally recognised by a regulatory body such as SAIPA, SAICA, SAIT, or CIMA. They follow strict standards, must complete ongoing training, and are held accountable for the quality of their work.
What is a non-registered Accountant?
A non-registered accountant is someone with accounting knowledge or experience who is not formally registered with a professional body. They may have qualifications or practical experience, but they do not fall under any regulatory oversight.
Pros of working with a registered Accountant:
1. Higher professional standards: they must comply with ethical rules, technical standards, and continuing education.
2. Assured compliance: strong understanding of South African tax, accounting standards, CIPC requirements and other relevant business laws.
3. Accountability and protection: professional bodies offer complaints processes and oversight if and when something goes wrong.
4. Strategic financial expertise: registered accountants are trained to give advice that helps a business grow and remain financially strong.
Cons of working with a registered Accountant:
1. Higher cost: their expertise and responsibilities often come with higher fees.
2. Overqualified for simple work: for small tasks like data capturing, their services may be more than you need.
3. More formal processes: strict compliance standards can sometimes feel rigid for very small, informal businesses.
Pros of working with a non-registered Accountant:
1. Lower cost: non-registered Accountants are typically cheaper, making them attractive for startups or smaller businesses.
2. Flexible arrangements: they can often adapt quickly to your business style, processes, and budget.
3. Good option for basic tasks: for basic bookkeeping, admin tasks, or simple monthly processing.
Cons of working with a non-registered Accountant:
1. No formal oversight: if and when something goes wrong, there’s no governing body to assist or hold the Accountant accountable.
2. Risk of incorrect compliance: without rigorous training and continuing education, they may miss important legal, business or tax updates.
3. Limited authority: certain tasks for example, signing off Annual Financial Statements (AFS) or offering restricted services, require a registered professional.
4. Skill levels vary: since there is no regulating body, expertise can differ widely between practitioners.
So, which one should you choose?
It all depends on your needs:
Choose a registered Accountant if you:
Need tax submissions, CIPC work, or compliance assurance;
Want strategic advisory or financial reporting;
Prefer accountability and professional oversight; and
Want long-term business growth support.
Choose a non-registered Accountant if you:
Need basic bookkeeping or admin support;
Have a small, simple business;
Want an affordable solution; and
Plan to later upgrade to a registered Accountant for advanced needs
Final Word
Both registered and non-registered accountants serve important roles. The key is understanding your business needs, risk levels, and the value you expect from your financial partner. If you’d like help assessing your current accounting setup, our team is happy to assist.
TAXATION
Tax Compliance: why it’s a continuous process, not a once-off task
Many taxpayers assume that tax compliance is a once-off task performed once a year during SARS filing season. But in today’s environment, compliance is live, ongoing, monitored, and constantly updated. SARS has shifted to a real-time compliance model, and understanding how it works can help individuals and businesses avoid penalties, delays, or unexpected blocks on their SARS profiles.
How SARS’s tax compliance system works:
SARS uses a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system that tracks your compliance across several taxation areas throughout the year. Your status can change at any time based on how up to date you are with your taxation obligations.
To remain compliant, SARS checks the following continuously:
1. Are all your returns submitted?
This includes income tax (including provisional tax), Value Added Tax (VAT), Payroll taxes (PAYE, UIF & SDL), Dividends Withholding Tax (DWT), and any other returns relevant to you and or your business. Even one outstanding return can make your tax profile non-compliant.
2. Are all payments up to date?
If there is any outstanding balance—even a small amount (currently not less than R100) —your SARS compliance status will immediately and automatically change from compliant to non-compliant.
3. Are your details up to date?
Incorrect or outdated details in the SARS system may trigger compliance issues, especially for businesses.
4. Are you meeting your provisional tax obligations?
Late or missing provisional payments affect your status, and penalties accumulate automatically.
Why is SARS compliance continuous?
Because SARS monitors compliance daily, not yearly, your profile can go from “compliant” to “non-compliant” at any moment. This affects:
Tax clearance for tenders, funding or travel;
Ability to receive refunds;
Business credibility and risk ratings; and
Administrative penalties that accumulate monthly.
Staying compliant is no longer a matter of catching up at year-end. It’s about maintaining accuracy and up-to-date records all year round.
How can we help keep you compliant?
A proactive Accountant ensures that:
Tax returns are submitted on time;
Payments reconcile monthly;
Your SARS profile is monitored;
Provisional tax is calculated correctly; and
Compliance risks are identified and dealt with early.
This ongoing support helps safeguard your tax status and avoid unnecessary stress or financial penalties.
Final Word
Tax compliance is live, dynamic, and constant. With SARS’s real-time system, staying compliant is not a once-off task but a year-round responsibility. Working with the right accounting partner ensures your tax affairs remain up to date—protecting your business, your opportunities, and your peace of mind.
If you’d like help reviewing your current tax compliance status or setting up monthly monitoring, our team is ready to assist.
BUSINESS ADVISORY
Business Advisory: Understanding CIPC Annual Returns and Why They Matter
Many business owners focus on tax compliance but overlook another critical legal obligation: CIPC annual returns. Filing your annual return with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is not optional, it is a mandatory compliance requirement for all registered businesses in South Africa.
Yet, many businesses fall into non-compliance simply because they misunderstand what these returns are and why they matter. Here’s a simple breakdown to keep your company protected.
What are CIPC annual returns?
A CIPC annual return is a declaration a registered company must submit every year to confirm whether it is still operating and to update basic company information. It is important to note that the CIPC annual return is not the same as SARS tax returns—this is a separate legal requirement.
CIPC uses these annual returns to keep its database accurate and to maintain the integrity of the business registry in South Africa.
Why are the annual returns mandatory?
Failing to file your annual returns can lead to:
Deregistration of your company;
Inability to apply for funding or tenders; and
Non-compliance status in due diligence checks
Once a company is deregistered, restoring it may be costly and time-consuming.
When must annual returns be submitted?
Annual returns must be filed every year within the anniversary month of your company’s incorporation. For example: If your company was registered on 10 March, your annual return must be filed every year in March.
Late submissions result in penalties that increase over time.
How we can help maintain CIPC Compliance:
A trusted accounting advisor ensures that:
Your company’s annual return is submitted on time;
Your registration details are accurate and up to date;
Compliance risks are flagged early; and
Your business does not face avoidable penalties or deregistration.
This proactive support helps keep your company legally active, operational, and ready for growth opportunities.
Final Word
CIPC annual returns are a small but essential part of keeping your business legally compliant. They protect your company’s status, ensure continuity, and prevent costly administrative setbacks. With the right business advisory partner, staying compliant becomes simple and stress-free.
If you need help checking your company’s annual return status or filing upcoming returns, our team is here to assist.
