Catch‑Up Bookkeeping & Tax
Enquire today about our Catch‑Up Bookkeeping & Tax
Catch‑Up Bookkeeping & Tax
Behind on books, Tax, VAT or payroll? Let us assist with our AI Bookkeeping and Tax catch‑up services for South African SMEs. We deliver a clean ledger and a compliant SARS position—usually inside a single sprint—using AI‑assisted (ChatGPT‑driven) bookkeeping and senior‑accountant sign‑off
Why catch‑up bookkeeping and tax now?
Backlog bookkeeping and late tax returns don’t just sit quietly in the background. They create SARS penalties and interest, slow down loan approvals and tenders, and make it almost impossible to see real‑time cash flow. A focused catch‑up sprint gets you from chaos to clean, without rebuilding your whole finance function.
We specialise in small businesses that are 6–24 months behind on bookkeeping, VAT, EMP201/EMP501, IRP6 and ITR14. Using cloud accounting, AI tools and our ChatGPT Bookkeeping and Text workflows, we code and reconcile quickly—then a senior accountant checks every critical step before anything goes to SARS.
What we fix (FAST)
- Catch‑up bookkeeping & clean‑ups — backlog bookkeeping, bank recs, suspense clearing, journals, debtor and creditor tidy‑up, VAT and supplier reconciliations, fixed assets and depreciation.
- Payroll & EMP reconciliations — payroll catch‑up, EMP201 back‑filing, EMP501 interim and annual recons, IRP5/IT3(a) alignment, late EMP penalties reviewed and addressed where possible.
- SARS position & tax clean‑up — outstanding statutory returns filed (VAT, IRP6 provisional tax, ITR14 company tax), Requests for Remission (RFR) for penalties, Tax Compliance Status (TCS PIN) for tenders and banking, payment arrangement proposals, and registered representative (RAV01) updates.
We never use SARS logos. All work is aligned to current SARS processes, eFiling rules and published deadlines.
SARS and tax support we handle
- VAT:Registration when the threshold is met, backlog VAT returns, SARS VAT verifications and audit‑ready input/output proof packs.
- Provisional Tax (IRP6):Estimation model, top‑up calculations, interest impact review and SARS submissions.
- PAYE/UIF/SDL:EMP201 catch‑ups, EMP501 interim and annual reconciliations, payroll clean‑ups and IRP5/IT3(a) checks.
- Company Tax (ITR14):Year‑end backlog company tax returns with working papers and management accounts to support them.
- Registered Representative:RAV01 updates with supporting document packs so SARS can recognise you on eFiling.
- Penalties:Request for Remission (RFR) preparation, motivation wording and supporting evidence bundles.
- Debt & payment arrangements:SARS payment arrangement proposals, cash‑flow schedules and follow‑up.
- TCS:Tax Compliance Status (TCS PIN) applications for tenders, banks and major customers.
How the catch‑up sprint works
Step 1 — Diagnostic
We set up secure, read‑only access to your accounting system, bank feeds or CSV statements, SARS eFiling view and payroll reports. Then we map the gaps, list the missing records and give you a clear estimate for hours, fees and timeline.
Step 2 — Clean‑up
AI‑assisted coding and anomaly detection does the heavy legwork, while our accountants resolve suspense items, recode mis‑postings and rebuild VAT, payroll and ledger trails. You get questions in plain English, not accounting jargon.
Step 3 — File & align with SARS
We file the outstanding VAT, IRP6, EMP201/EMP501 and ITR14 submissions, prepare RFRs where facts support remission, and help you agree realistic payment arrangements where needed.
Step 4 — Hand‑over and future proofing
You receive a clean chart of accounts, a simple month‑end checklist, a short Loom explainer video and a 90‑day follow‑up to keep you on track.
What you get at the end
- Before/after ledger snapshots so you can see exactly what was fixed.
- Bank reconciliations and a clear audit trail of journals and adjustments.
- Submission receipts for VAT, EMP201/EMP501, IRP6 and ITR14 where applicable.
- A properly motivated Request for Remission (RFR) letter if penalties are contestable.
- A management accounts pack plus practical next‑step recommendations.
Pricing (transparent)
- Starter Catch‑Up (micro‑SME) — fixed fee band agreed after the diagnostic for simpler, one‑entity backlogs.
- Standard Catch‑Up (growing SME) — hybrid pricing: a fixed scope for core clean‑up plus hourly for unusual items or extras.
- Complex / multi‑year — milestone‑based; weekly progress reports and clear sign‑offs per phase.
Admin penalties, interest and SARS account balances are external costs charged by SARS. We always obtain your approval before submitting any payment arrangements or requests for remission.
Why SMEs choose us for catch‑up bookkeeping and tax
- Speed with accuracy — AI tools and ChatGPT Bookkeeping and Text workflows accelerate coding; senior accountants review and sign off.
- SARS‑ready documentation — evidence bundles that answer typical VAT, PAYE and income tax verification questions.
- Local expertise — Cape Town based, focused on South African tax law and SARS processes.
- Software fluent — Pastel roots plus Xero, Sage Business Cloud, QuickBooks and other cloud accounting platforms.
- Future‑proofing — we don’t just fix the backlog, we set up simple, repeatable month‑end routines.
Frequently asked questions
Most 6–12 month backlogs are resolved in a focused sprint once we have access to your bank statements, payroll and SARS profile. Very large or multi‑entity groups may take longer, but we give you a timeline up‑front.
Sometimes, yes. If the facts support it, we prepare a Request for Remission (RFR) with clear reasons and supporting evidence and submit it via the correct SARS channel.
Yes. We can act as a one‑off clean‑up team while your accountant continues with year‑end and tax, or we can support them with specific SARS matters.
Xero, Sage Business Cloud, QuickBooks, legacy Pastel and other common SME accounting platforms. We also assist with cloud migrations where needed.
Yes. The entire catch‑up bookkeeping and tax process can be run remotely anywhere in South Africa using secure data rooms, Zoom and WhatsApp.
Ready to get compliant and move forward?
If you’re staring at a backlog of unreconciled bank accounts, unfiled VAT or EMP returns and a SARS statement full of codes and penalties, you don’t need another generic lecture. You need a clean ledger, a clear SARS position and a simple plan for staying up to date.
- Phone: +27 82 061 2300
- WhatsApp: +27 82 061 2300
- Email: info@smarteraccounting.co.za