SARS is proposing a five-corner e-invoicing model where invoice data reaches it in near real time, from both the seller and the buyer. Rollout runs to roughly 2033, starting with large business. Here is how it works in plain language, and what it means for a small accounting practice.

Your construction client's VAT will never match his revenue, and that is correct. Output VAT runs on the payment certificate under section 9(3)(b), not on when the accounts recognise the sale, so filing it off the revenue journal is the exact error SARS audits for. This article shows how the two clocks work, why retention VAT is deferred, why a refund month is normal, and how a firm can package the fix as a service clients pay for.