Latest News
PAIA Manual Submission Extension to 31/12/2015
Private Sector PAIA Manual Submission Extension
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has extended the exemption which was to have lapsed on the 31st of December 2011. Private companies within certain sectors are now exempted from compiling and submitting information manuals in terms of section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act to the South African Human Rights Commission until the 31st of December 2015.
While these private companies no longer have to submit manuals during the period of the new exemption they are not exempted from complying with the rest of the Act. Please also note that if an entity is a private body but not a private company as defined in the Companies Act of 2008 e.g. an non-governmental organization, it will not have to comply with section 51 of the legislation until the end of the moratorium exempting such companies.
The above notice is reported from the South African Human Rights Commission website.
Click here for more information.
PAIA Manuals required by 31/12/2011
The deadline for businesses to submit manuals as required by the Promotion of
Access to Information Act of 2000 is in 21 Days. In terms of this Act, all the public and private bodies are required in terms of sections 14 and 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to compile manuals on how to access their records.
Prior to the Act
certain private companies and other bodies were exempt from compiling and
submitting manuals. The new Act will include all businesses, small to large as well as individuals and partnerships
carrying on business.
Regarding Private Bodies, the Act requires that:
- Any natural person or juristic entity that carries on a business, trade or profession must compile
a PAIA manual in terms of Section 51 of the PAIA Act
- The PAIA manual must be submitted to the South African Human Rights Commissions (SAHRC) by 31 December
2011.
- The PAIA manual must be submitted in electronic and hard copy forms.
- The PAIA manual must also be made available at the business offices and on the website.
- Any material changes must be updated on a regular basis.
- The PAIA manual must include a request form
The requirements for private
bodies is stated in section 51 of the Act indicating that the manual must
contain the following information:
- Specific Information
- The name of the head of the private body - the CEO is usually the
Information Officer in terms of PAIA.
- Contact Details: postal & street address, phone & fax number and e-mail
address if available.
- A list of the Acts that the business operates under.
- The list of available records generated by the business stating those
which are automatically available and those that are available on request
- General Information
- The description of the guide compiled by the SAHRC and how to access
it
- The latest notice regarding the categories of records of the body which are
available without a person having to request access in terms of PAIA
- Request for Access Information
- Outline the request procedure and details facilitating request for
access to a record in terms of PAIA
- Stipulate the fees applicable as legislated by the Act which are chargeable
to requesters
- Remedies available to requesters if their request for information has been
refused
Resources
SA Human Rights Commission website
Sample Manual
New fields on SARS Forms
New fields in the EMP201, IRP6 and VAT201 forms
Tax Practitioner details
The Employer Monthly Declaration (EMP201), Return for payment of Provisional Tax (IRP6) and VAT Vendor Declaration (VAT201) returns have been updated to include fields for Tax Practitioners’ registration numbers and telephone numbers. These changes are effective from 2 December 2011.
Validations have been built into the Tax Practitioner registration number field and will ensure that only valid registration numbers will be accepted. Once the Tax Practitioner’s registration number is completed, the telephone number field becomes mandatory.
The introduction of the Tax Practitioner detail fields will identify the Tax Practitioner as well as provide a way for SARS to detect fraud and as such protect both taxpayers as well as Tax Practitioners.
New Turnover field on IRP6
A Turnover field has also been built into the IRP6 return but this field is not compulsory for individual taxpayers. When completing the Turnover field please take note of the following:
- The Turnover field figure is exclusive of VAT
- Other income sources e.g. Investment Income must not be included in this field
- No penalties will apply where turnover has been under estimated
Further assistance and information
Should you have any queries, please call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 SARS (7277) or visit a SARS branch.
At this stage we are awaiting further information from SARS Efiling regarding the availability of these changes on the SARS Efiling Interface.
- e-Tax will be updated to incorporate the new Turnover Field for Provisional Tax
- The Tax practitioner number can be updated under e-Tax | Maintenance | Employee using the 'Other' tab
- The Efiling interface change can only be done after the Interface changes are applied by SARS Efiling.
View SARS Announcement
Microsoft selects GreatSoft as finalist for Award
GreatSoft has been selected as a finalist at the recent Microsoft Partner Summit in the category
ISV SOFTWARE PARTNER OF THE YEAR
October 2011.
Microsoft ISV Nomination for GreatSoft
GreatSoft Nominated as best Microsoft ISV in South Africa
This is fantastic news! Over the past 5 years GreatSoft has invested millions of Rands developing new software to improve Practice and business efficiencies.
The decision by Microsoft South Africa to select GreatSoft for the final rounds of the best ISV in South Africa should give our clients the confidence that the technological future for their firms is secure.
These awards are only presented to the best developers among Microsoft partners and this is the 2nd time that GreatSoft has reached the final rounds for this award.
The stringent evaluation process ensures that the quality of product delivered by the developers meet Microsoft's strict development standards.
All new products from GreatSoft including the new Web and Cloud ready products are developed to these high standards, giving our clients total peace of mind when upgrading or updating to the new products.
GreatSoft is the leading developer of practice management products in South Africa. For more information on these products call our service centres or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
August 2011.
The New Companies Act
Slides for The New Companies Act Presentation
e-Sec Workshop Slides for Companies Act Presentation
Slides for The New Companies Act Presentation
Read more: e-Sec Workshop Slides for Companies Act Presentation
New Companies Act, 2008 effective from 01 May 2011
Notice from Cipro website:
"Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies signed and approved the Companies Regulations, 2011 and they will come into force on 1 May 2011. The President, Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma signed into law the Companies Amendment Act, 2011. The President also signed and approved the Proclamation and President's Minute that put into legal force the Companies Act 2008 on 1 May 2011. The expected publication date in the Government Gazette is 26 April 2011. "
Read more: New Companies Act, 2008 effective from 01 May 2011
New Companies Act implementation date creates uncertainty
e-Sec Announcement - New Companies Act
The New Companies Act will affect all of us, GreatSoft
are on target to deliver the reports you need!
After a number of delays with the roll out of the
new Companies Act No 71 of 2008 and related regulations
and forms, it appears the DTI and Cipro are pushing
ahead with going live on 1 April 2011.
The new Companies and Intellectual Property Commission
(The Commission) will be established on 25 March 2011 to
implement and administer the legislation. The
Commission will replace Cipro and a new web site will be
launched on 1 April 2011. It is expected that from
01 April 2011, all applications must be submitted on the new
"COR" forms and must comply with the new Companies Act.
More Articles...
Page 1 of 8
PAIA Manual Submission Extension to 31/12/2015
Private Sector PAIA Manual Submission Extension
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has extended the exemption which was to have lapsed on the 31st of December 2011. Private companies within certain sectors are now exempted from compiling and submitting information manuals in terms of section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act to the South African Human Rights Commission until the 31st of December 2015.
While these private companies no longer have to submit manuals during the period of the new exemption they are not exempted from complying with the rest of the Act. Please also note that if an entity is a private body but not a private company as defined in the Companies Act of 2008 e.g. an non-governmental organization, it will not have to comply with section 51 of the legislation until the end of the moratorium exempting such companies.
The above notice is reported from the South African Human Rights Commission website.Click here for more information.
PAIA Manuals required by 31/12/2011
The deadline for businesses to submit manuals as required by the Promotion of Access to Information Act of 2000 is in 21 Days. In terms of this Act, all the public and private bodies are required in terms of sections 14 and 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to compile manuals on how to access their records.
Prior to the Act certain private companies and other bodies were exempt from compiling and submitting manuals. The new Act will include all businesses, small to large as well as individuals and partnerships carrying on business.
Regarding Private Bodies, the Act requires that:
- Any natural person or juristic entity that carries on a business, trade or profession must compile a PAIA manual in terms of Section 51 of the PAIA Act
- The PAIA manual must be submitted to the South African Human Rights Commissions (SAHRC) by 31 December 2011.
- The PAIA manual must be submitted in electronic and hard copy forms.
- The PAIA manual must also be made available at the business offices and on the website.
- Any material changes must be updated on a regular basis.
- The PAIA manual must include a request form
The requirements for private bodies is stated in section 51 of the Act indicating that the manual must contain the following information:
- Specific Information
- The name of the head of the private body - the CEO is usually the Information Officer in terms of PAIA.
- Contact Details: postal & street address, phone & fax number and e-mail address if available.
- A list of the Acts that the business operates under.
- The list of available records generated by the business stating those which are automatically available and those that are available on request
- General Information
- The description of the guide compiled by the SAHRC and how to access it
- The latest notice regarding the categories of records of the body which are available without a person having to request access in terms of PAIA
- Request for Access Information
- Outline the request procedure and details facilitating request for access to a record in terms of PAIA
- Stipulate the fees applicable as legislated by the Act which are chargeable to requesters
- Remedies available to requesters if their request for information has been refused
SA Human Rights Commission website
Sample Manual
New fields on SARS Forms
New fields in the EMP201, IRP6 and VAT201 forms
Tax Practitioner details
The Employer Monthly Declaration (EMP201), Return for payment of Provisional Tax (IRP6) and VAT Vendor Declaration (VAT201) returns have been updated to include fields for Tax Practitioners’ registration numbers and telephone numbers. These changes are effective from 2 December 2011.
Validations have been built into the Tax Practitioner registration number field and will ensure that only valid registration numbers will be accepted. Once the Tax Practitioner’s registration number is completed, the telephone number field becomes mandatory.
The introduction of the Tax Practitioner detail fields will identify the Tax Practitioner as well as provide a way for SARS to detect fraud and as such protect both taxpayers as well as Tax Practitioners.
New Turnover field on IRP6
A Turnover field has also been built into the IRP6 return but this field is not compulsory for individual taxpayers. When completing the Turnover field please take note of the following:
- The Turnover field figure is exclusive of VAT
- Other income sources e.g. Investment Income must not be included in this field
- No penalties will apply where turnover has been under estimated
Further assistance and information
Should you have any queries, please call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 SARS (7277) or visit a SARS branch.
At this stage we are awaiting further information from SARS Efiling regarding the availability of these changes on the SARS Efiling Interface.
- e-Tax will be updated to incorporate the new Turnover Field for Provisional Tax
- The Tax practitioner number can be updated under e-Tax | Maintenance | Employee using the 'Other' tab
- The Efiling interface change can only be done after the Interface changes are applied by SARS Efiling.
View SARS Announcement
Microsoft selects GreatSoft as finalist for Award
GreatSoft has been selected as a finalist at the recent Microsoft Partner Summit in the category
ISV SOFTWARE PARTNER OF THE YEAR
October 2011.
Microsoft ISV Nomination for GreatSoft
GreatSoft Nominated as best Microsoft ISV in South Africa
This is fantastic news! Over the past 5 years GreatSoft has invested millions of Rands developing new software to improve Practice and business efficiencies.
The decision by Microsoft South Africa to select GreatSoft for the final rounds of the best ISV in South Africa should give our clients the confidence that the technological future for their firms is secure.
These awards are only presented to the best developers among Microsoft partners and this is the 2nd time that GreatSoft has reached the final rounds for this award.
The stringent evaluation process ensures that the quality of product delivered by the developers meet Microsoft's strict development standards.
All new products from GreatSoft including the new Web and Cloud ready products are developed to these high standards, giving our clients total peace of mind when upgrading or updating to the new products.
GreatSoft is the leading developer of practice management products in South Africa. For more information on these products call our service centres or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
August 2011.
The New Companies Act
Slides for The New Companies Act Presentation
e-Sec Workshop Slides for Companies Act Presentation
Slides for The New Companies Act Presentation
Read more: e-Sec Workshop Slides for Companies Act Presentation
New Companies Act, 2008 effective from 01 May 2011
Notice from Cipro website:
"Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies signed and approved the Companies Regulations, 2011 and they will come into force on 1 May 2011. The President, Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma signed into law the Companies Amendment Act, 2011. The President also signed and approved the Proclamation and President's Minute that put into legal force the Companies Act 2008 on 1 May 2011. The expected publication date in the Government Gazette is 26 April 2011. "
Read more: New Companies Act, 2008 effective from 01 May 2011
New Companies Act implementation date creates uncertainty
e-Sec Announcement - New Companies Act
The New Companies Act will affect all of us, GreatSoft
are on target to deliver the reports you need!
After a number of delays with the roll out of the
new Companies Act No 71 of 2008 and related regulations
and forms, it appears the DTI and Cipro are pushing
ahead with going live on 1 April 2011.
The new Companies and Intellectual Property Commission
(The Commission) will be established on 25 March 2011 to
implement and administer the legislation. The
Commission will replace Cipro and a new web site will be
launched on 1 April 2011. It is expected that from
01 April 2011, all applications must be submitted on the new
"COR" forms and must comply with the new Companies Act.
More Articles...
Page 1 of 8
