VAT: do I need to register?

You must register for VAT with SARS once your sales go over R2.3 million in 12 months. Most small businesses aren’t registered. The app doesn’t decide this for you: if you’re not sure, ask your bookkeeper or SARS.

If you’re not registered

Your documents have no VAT on them, and the words “VAT” and “tax invoice” never appear. If you say “plus VAT” in a voice note, the app adds no VAT and tells you why.

If you’re registered

Turn it on in Settings → Business, with your VAT number (10 digits, starting with 4). The app then:

• adds VAT at 15% as a separate line;
• calls your invoices “Tax Invoice” and puts your VAT number on them;
• asks for anything SARS requires on a tax invoice before you can send it. See Tax invoices and what must be on them.

Changing your VAT status affects only documents sent afterwards. Documents you’ve already sent keep what they had.