Accounting and Auditing by Chartered Accountants in Pretoria

Accounting and Auditing by Chartered Accountants in Pretoria: Wessels & Associates can turn your business complexities into simple solutions. We can assist you with #financial management, financial reporting, #auditing, business analysis and strategy, #taxation or anything in between. http://www.wessels-accounting.co.za/services/accounting-and-audits/

All About Accounting and Bookkeeping in 2018

All About Accounting and Bookkeeping in 2018: All About Accounting and Bookkeeping in 2018

Accounting and Admin controls Tips by Wessels Accounting in Pretoria

What is internal control? 

It is the system of checks and balances to ensure the company’s financial records are accurate and reliable being the result of transactions that are carried out and recorded timeously, accurately and efficiently.

The effectiveness of internal controls is dependent on management’s attitude towards controls.

Indications of a strong internal control environment

• Employees possess the necessary skills and competence required
• Recruitment agencies or HR checks and verify the details in CVs properly.
• Proper inhouse training to staff
• Clear roles and responsibilities
• Separation of duties are in place between functions of initiation, authorization, recording and reviewing.
• Monitoring of staff performance

Strong document controls include:

• Easy to understand designed forms
• Sequentially pre-numbered documents to be able to track, record and reconcile documents.
• Orders and Invoices approved by management
• Payments approved by management
• Physical verification and inspections are performed
• Supporting documents accompany orders and deliveries
• Information on documents comply with VAT requirements
• Documents are filed regularly and in a logical manner

Strong Accounting and Admin controls include:

• Reconciliations between accounting records and source documents – bank accounts, supplier statements, customer statements.
• Overall review done by management.
• Statutory requirements such as VAT returns, Payroll returns, Tax returns reviewed by management.
• Filing are done in a logical manner i.e. monthly file for expenses and income.

Strong Accounting and Admin controls include by Wessels Accounting

Strong Accounting and Admin controls include by Wessels Accounting: Statutory requirements such as VAT returns, Payroll returns, Tax returns reviewed by management.

EMP Payroll returns – PAYE, UIF, SDL, IRP5s

Tax Compliance Status

SARS’s system makes it easier for taxpayers to obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) and the system allows taxpayers to obtain a Tax Compliance Status PIN which can be used by third parties to verify your compliance status online via SARS eFiling.

To be tax compliant you need to:

• Have all outstanding returns submittedie. VAT returns, PAYE returns, Income Tax Returns
• All moneys owed to SARS must be up to date.
• Be registered for the tax products that you are liable for.

The taxpayer can view their status before requesting a certificate and identify non-compliance.

A Tax Practitioner can view your status on your behalf and assist to remedy any non-compliance.

A Tax Practitioner can request your Tax Compliance Status online via eFiling.

Benefits of using a tax practitioner.

1. It enables the business owner to focus on his core activities while all administrative burdens are dealt with by qualified professionals.
2. Tax Practitioners have a dedicated Call Center for specific taxpayer related queries.
3. Tax Practitioners have dedicated offices for taxpayer related queries and can book appointments with SARS.
4. They provide advice about the application of a tax Act.
5. Complete or assists with the completion of a tax returns.
6. A tax practitioner belongs to a regulatory body.
7. Has to comply with SARS requirements for qualifications and experience.
8. Participate in continuous professional development programmes to ensure their knowledge stays ups to date.

The Tax Administration Act (2011) has been amended requiring tax practitioners to register with a recognized controlling body, and with SARS.

The list of currently recognized controlling bodies:

• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA)
• Financial Planning Institute (FPI)
• Institute of Accounting and Commerce (IAC)
• SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
• SA Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA)
• SA Institute of Tax Practitioners (SAIT)
• The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Association of Accounting Technicians Southern Africa (AAT(SA))
• Law Society of South Africa
• General Council of the Bar of South Africa, Bar Councils and Societies of Advocates referred to in Section 7 of the Admission of Advocates Act, 1964
• Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA)

What are the requirements in order to register as a tax practitioner?

A tax practitioner, must meet the following requirements:

• Belong to or fall under the jurisdiction of a Recognised Controlling Body as referred to in 240A of the Tax Administration Act.
• Have the minimum qualifications and experience set by your Recognised Controlling Body.
• Have no criminal convictions for the offences described in s 240(3) of the Tax Administration Act.
• Participate in continuous professional development programmes set by your Recognised Controlling Body.

Wessels & Associates is a SARS Registered Tax Practitioner.We can submit the following statutory returns via e-filing or other portals on your behalf:

• EMP Payroll returns – PAYE, UIF, SDL, IRP5s
• VAT returns VAT201
• TAX returns – IT12 or IT14 – Individual taxation and Corporate Taxation
• Provisional Tax returns IRP6
• Unemployment Insurance Funds UIF returns
• Compensation Commission returns
• Tax Clearance Certificates
• Tax Compliance Status requests

Tax Clearance Certificates & Tax Practitioners – WESSELS & ASSOCIATES

Tax Clearance Certificates & Tax Practitioners – WESSELS & ASSOCIATES: SARS’s system makes it easier for taxpayers to obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) and the system allows taxpayers to obtain a Tax Compliance Status PIN which can be used by third parties to verify your compliance status online via SARS eFiling.

When you process payments into your accounting software

Back to Basics: Accounting for Assets

Assets versus Expenses

When you process payments into your accounting software the decision must be made there and then whether the payment should be categorized as an asset or an expense.

It is therefore important for the processor to understand what the difference is at the input stage to avoid corrections to be made later or to avoid losing track of assets that was purchased.

How to identify an asset

Assets are resources controlled by a business as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits or service potential are expected to flow to the business.

The most obvious difference between an asset and an expense is that that an asset gives you a long-term benefit whereas an expense gives you only a short-term benefit. Assets are usually used over more than 12 months whereas expenses are used up immediately or over a shorter period.

How to identify if it is an expense

If it is not an asset, then it can be classified as an expense.

In Summary: How to identify an Assets

It is a resource

• Something you can use
• You have control over it
• You have access to it
• Has a value

There was a past events

• It was bought or donated or built

There will be future benefits or service potential

• Services to the company or rentedout of income.

Examples of assets:

• Office equipment
• Furniture and fittings
• Motor vehicles
• Plant and equipment

The Cost of an Asset

What should be included in the cost of an asset

Initial Costs is the costs directly attributable to bringing the asset in its location and condition as intended such as:

• Purchase costs
• Import duties
• Non-refundable taxes
• Less any discount or rebates
• Site preparation and development
• Initial delivery and handling costs
• Installation and assembly costs

Later costs incurred

To capitalise the cost incurred later on an existing asset depends on what it the cost will do for the asset:

Cost will be capitalised if :

 It extends the useful life of the fixed asset
 It increases the economic value of asset
 It Increase capacity/production of asset
 If it is an upgrade or refurbishment

Expense the later cost if:

 It is incurred to restore asset to a working condition for example fixing or maintaining it.

Asset Register

Asset Register is a record of information on each asset that supports the effective financial and technical management of the assets.

The asset register should also facilitate proper financial reporting.

Wessels & Associates – Chartered Accountants and Auditors, can assist you with setting up and maintaining an Asset Register and assist with calculating depreciation, impairments and book values.

Please contact us on info@wessels-accounting.co.za to request a free consultation.