This practical course is designed to help self-employed individuals understand how income tax works when you’re not on a payroll. It covers the essentials of tax registration, record-keeping, deductible expenses, provisional tax, and what SARS typically expects from freelancers, consultants, sole proprietors, and side-hustle earners. The focus is on building confidence with the “everyday tax decisions” self-employed people face.
Module 1: Self-Employed vs Employee — Why SARS Treats You Differently
Content: What “self-employed” means for tax, the difference between salary and business income, and why PAYE vs provisional tax matters.
Module 2: The Self-Employed Tax Toolkit — Registrations and Profiles
Content: When you need an income tax number, how eFiling fits in, and the basics of keeping your SARS profile compliant (banking details, contact info, notices).
Module 3: What Counts as Business Income?
Content: Typical self-employed income streams, invoicing basics, cash vs accrual concept (intro only), and how to think about timing of income.
Module 4: Record-Keeping That Actually Works
Content: What to track weekly/monthly, what documents SARS expects, retention periods (conceptual), and simple systems for receipts, invoices, and bank statements.
Module 5: Expenses and Deductions — The Practical Rules
Content: The basic logic of deductible expenses, private vs business split, and common deductible categories (phone, internet, travel, home office intro, tools/software).
Module 6: Problem Expenses SARS Queries Often
Content: Typical “red flag” items (entertainment, meals, travel, mixed-use assets), how to document them, and how to avoid over-claiming.
Module 7: Provisional Tax Made Simple
Content: Who must register, the two payment periods, what “estimate” means, basic penalty/interest risk, and how to avoid underpayment surprises.
Module 8: Putting Your Numbers Together — A Simple Tax Calculation Flow
Content: A clean flow from turnover → allowable expenses → taxable income → tax payable; how to think about setting aside money for tax during the year.
Module 9: What to Submit to SARS — Returns in Plain English
Content: What you’re declaring, what SARS is checking, typical sections relevant to self-employed taxpayers, and the difference between filing and paying.
Module 10: Staying Compliant Without Stress — A Year-Round Routine
Content: A simple calendar for self-employed tax (monthly admin, provisional cycles, filing season), responding to SARS queries, and when to ask for professional help.
• Freelancers, consultants, contractors, gig workers, and sole proprietors
• People earning side income outside a salary (tutoring, design, trading, rentals, content creation, etc.)
• New entrepreneurs managing their own finances and SARS obligations
• Admin staff/bookkeepers supporting sole proprietors (beginner level).
