South Africa
Corporate Guide

If there is no requirement to have a local director or shareholder in South Africa, what is a foreigner required to do to register a company for tax purposes and other similar post-incorporation registrations?

All companies (whether or not they have a local director or shareholder), are required to appoint a public officer in terms of the ITA. A public officer is an individual who is residing in South Africa and must be a registered taxpayer with SARS. The public officer is responsible for all acts, matters or things relating to the company under the various tax acts. 

The public officer must be a natural person residing in South Africa and be a senior official of the company. Should the company not have a senior official residing in South Africa, then any suitable person approved by SARS may be appointed.

Income tax registration takes place automatically on incorporation, however, as stated above, VAT registration takes place as a post-incorporation requirement. VAT registration can be effected online via SARS’ eFiling portal (which includes the completion of a VAT 101 form) and making a virtual appointment with SARS’ VAT eBooking System or submitting to a SARS branch. VAT registration must occur within 21 days from the date of exceeding the ZAR 1million threshold.

There are no further post-incorporation requirements.