Every compliance question a South African business owner has — answered.
One free platform for two things every growing SA business needs to get right: staying compliant at home, and trading across the border into SADC.
Domestic SA Compliance
CIPC annual returns, SARS tax, VAT thresholds, PAYE/UIF, provisional tax, POPIA and B-BBEE — tracked and explained, with a calendar built around your business.
Explore SA compliance →SADC Export Trade
Sell across Southern Africa duty-free. Understand the Rules of Origin, complete the SADC Certificate of Origin, and check the 35% value-addition rule with our calculator.
Explore SADC trade →Build your compliance calendar — free
Answer four quick questions and see exactly which SARS, CIPC and Labour deadlines apply to you.
General information only — not legal, tax or accounting advice. Dates and thresholds change; always confirm with the relevant authority. Rules last reviewed 2026-06-25.
What does a South African small business need to stay compliant?
At minimum: register the company with CIPC and file an annual return each year; register for tax with SARS and file income tax (ITR14) and, if applicable, provisional tax; run PAYE/UIF/SDL (EMP201) monthly if you have staff; register and file VAT once turnover passes R1 million in 12 months; submit COIDA annually if you employ people; and appoint a POPIA Information Officer. BizComply builds your exact list free.
Can a South African business export to other SADC countries duty-free?
Often yes. Under the SADC Free Trade Area, goods that qualify under the SADC Rules of Origin can be exported to most SADC member states at preferential (often zero) duty, using a SADC Certificate of Origin. Goods qualify if they are wholly produced in the region, or sufficiently processed — generally at least 35% regional value addition or a change in tariff heading.
Browse the full compliance FAQ, or jump to the SA or SADC hub.
Honest, sourced, dated
Every obligation names its authority and is reviewed against SARS, CIPC, Labour and SADC sources. We never invent figures.
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