Simply VA

Simply VA Virtual Assistance Made Easy

Specializes in Bookkeeping & Payroll Services for Small Companies.

I recently read the judgement in:Taxpayer A v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (VAT 22498) [2026] ZATC...
11/09/2026

I recently read the judgement in:

Taxpayer A v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (VAT 22498) [2026] ZATC 7
Delivered: 27 July 2026

This case dealt with the apportionment of input VAT under section 17(1) of the VAT Act.

What caught my attention was the taxpayer’s request to use a transaction-count method across the business. SARS instead approved a dual approach, using different methods for different types of expenditure.

The Court ultimately dismissed the taxpayer’s appeal, finding that there wasn’t enough evidence to show that the transaction-count method was the most appropriate method for the business as a whole.

What I found particularly interesting is that the Court did not say transaction counting is necessarily wrong. It recognised that it can be appropriate in certain circumstances — for example, where IT costs are closely linked to the number of transactions processed.

My takeaway?

A VAT methodology shouldn't simply be chosen because it produces a better deduction. It needs to reflect the actual economic use of the inputs and be supported by solid evidence.

That distinction matters. 👀

11/09/2026

“It’s probably AI…”

You see those amazing images online and think: “Wow! How did they do that?”

And someone inevitably says: “It’s probably AI.” But what if you could actually learn how to do some of those things yourself?

The Trick is : Photopea.
A free online photo editor with tutorials that can teach you how to:

🎨 Apply an Oil Paint effect
🖍️ Turn a photo into a colouring book
📸 Create 3D photos for Facebook
✂️ Remove backgrounds
🌫️ Blur backgrounds
✨ Create photo effects
🖼️ Edit and manipulate images
💧 Add watermarks
📐 Resize images properly
…and a whole lot more.

You don't need Photoshop.
You don't need an expensive course.
And you don't need to be a graphic designer.

You just need a photo, a little curiosity and a willingness to learn.

So before you say: “It's probably AI…”

👀 Maybe have a look at what you can actually create yourself.

🔗 Friday Freebie: Photopea Tutorials
https://www.photopea.com/tuts/

Save it. Bookmark it. Play around with it. You might surprise yourself. 😉

SARS KNOWS!That might sound a little dramatic… but there’s actually a lot of truth behind it.SARS receives information f...
08/09/2026

SARS KNOWS!

That might sound a little dramatic… but there’s actually a lot of truth behind it.

SARS receives information from approved third parties such as employers, banks, medical schemes, insurers, retirement funds and investment providers. That information is used to pre-populate tax returns and support automatic assessments.

The current third-party data submission period runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026 — so SARS is busy receiving and processing information right now.

My advice?
Don’t simply assume that because SARS has the information, it must be correct.

Check your return.
Check your income.
Check your deductions.
Because “pre-populated” does not mean “don’t check.” 😉

📩 Need help making sense of your tax return? Simply VA can help.

04/09/2026

Before you click it… check it.

Got a suspicious link? A strange attachment? An unexpected download?

Before you take the chance, run it through VirusTotal.

🔎 VirusTotal checks files, URLs, domains and IP addresses against multiple security tools and databases, giving you a quick second opinion on whether something looks suspicious.

It’s free, fast and definitely worth adding to your cybersecurity toolbox.

⚠️ One important rule: never upload confidential client documents, IDs, passwords or sensitive business information. Use it for things you can safely submit for analysis.

Your antivirus is one layer of protection. A little extra checking can be another.

💡 Friday Freebie: one more useful tool for your business toolkit.

Save this one — you might need it when you least expect it.

Websites That Feel Illegal to KnowHere’s a Google combo every small business owner should know about:🚨📍 Google Business ...
28/08/2026

Websites That Feel Illegal to Know

Here’s a Google combo every small business owner should know about:🚨

📍 Google Business Profile + 🎯 Google Ads

Your Google Business Profile helps people find you locally, see what you offer, check your reviews and decide whether they trust your business.

Google Ads puts your business in front of people who are actively searching for products or services like yours.

The clever part?

👉 Your Google Business Profile can support your local visibility while your Google Ads gets you in front of people who are ready to buy.

And yes — you can start learning and improving both without hiring an expensive marketing agency.

💡 Friday Freebie tip:
Before spending more money on advertising, make sure your Google Business Profile is actually doing its job.

- A good ad can bring someone to your business.
- A good online presence can help convince them to choose you.

Need help setting either up?

Your bank balance is not your profit.Have you looked at your bank account and thought: “We made money this month.”But di...
25/08/2026

Your bank balance is not your profit.

Have you looked at your bank account and thought:
“We made money this month.”

But did you?
Your bank balance doesn’t tell the whole story.

It doesn’t show you:
🔹 What you still owe
🔹 What your customers still owe you
🔹 Whether an expense was duplicated or recorded incorrectly
🔹 Whether your bookkeeping is accurate
🔹 What your actual monthly profit looks like

That’s where monthly reconciliations make a difference.

A monthly reconciliation gives you a clearer picture of what is really happening in your business — so you can spot problems, understand your cash flow and make decisions based on facts rather than guesswork.

And no, you don’t need to be turning over millions for this to matter.
In fact, when you’re a small business, every rand counts.
You don’t need complicated numbers.
You need numbers you can trust. ❤️

If you’d like a clearer picture of where your business stands each month, send me a message. Let’s chat about how Simply VA can take the bookkeeping off your plate and give you the clarity to focus on your business.

Simply VA
Bookkeeping | Admin | Social Media

FRIDAY FREEBIE: THIS ONE IS A GEM!✨ MEET PIXABAY ✨Need a beautiful photo?🎵 Need music for a Reel?🎬 Need a video clip?🖼️ ...
21/08/2026

FRIDAY FREEBIE: THIS ONE IS A GEM!

✨ MEET PIXABAY ✨

Need a beautiful photo?
🎵 Need music for a Reel?
🎬 Need a video clip?
🖼️ Need an illustration or graphic?

Before you pay for a stock library… check PIXABAY.

You’ll find millions of free images, videos, illustrations, vectors AND music — all in one place.

And yes… FREE. 🤯

It’s one of those websites that quietly becomes a “How did I ever work without this?” tool.

💡 My favourite use?
Finding that 'perfect' image or music track when you're creating content and your brain has already run out of ideas.

MY FRIDAY FREEBIE VERDICT:
BOOKMARK IT.
USE IT.
THANK ME LATER. 😎

SARS Admin Penalties: Are You Quietly Accumulating One?Here's something many taxpayers don't realise:SARS administrative...
19/08/2026

SARS Admin Penalties: Are You Quietly Accumulating One?

Here's something many taxpayers don't realise:

SARS administrative penalties can keep adding up every month when certain tax returns remain outstanding.

For Personal Income Tax, SARS can impose an administrative penalty where a taxpayer has outstanding income tax returns. The penalty can range from "R250 to R16,000 per month", depending on the taxpayer's taxable income or assessed loss — and it can continue recurring while the non-compliance remains.

And here's the important part:

You don't necessarily need to have received a big scary bill to have a compliance problem.

Your SARS profile may already have:
• Outstanding returns
• Administrative penalties
• Amounts due
• Returns that still need attention
• Other compliance issues you may not even know about

Filing Season 2026 is open.

If you're a non-provisional individual, the filing deadline is -23 October 2026-

If you're a provisional taxpayer, the deadline is -22 January 2027-

So this isn't about panicking.

It's about "knowing where you stand before the problem gets bigger."

👉 I can assist you with checking your SARS status, identifying outstanding returns and administrative penalties, and helping you understand what needs attention.

Don't wait until SARS sends you another reminder.
Know your status.
Stay compliant.
Stay in control.

📩 Message me if you'd like assistance checking your SARS position.

Your business needs more than good bookkeeping.And more than good social media.You need BOTH!At Simply VA, I combine pra...
17/08/2026

Your business needs more than good bookkeeping.
And more than good social media.
You need BOTH!
At Simply VA, I combine practical Bookkeeping Support with consistent Social Media content to help small businesses stay organised behind the scenes while staying visible online.
💰 BOOKKEEPING
Keep your numbers up to date with support including:
✔️ Bank reconciliations
✔️ Accounts Receivable & Payable age reporting
✔️ Monthly Profit & Loss reporting
✔️ Basic management/financial reporting
✔️ Ongoing bookkeeping maintenance
📱 SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep your business visible with:
✔️ 2 social media posts per month
✔️ Content planning
✔️ Canva-designed graphics
✔️ Scheduled publishing
🌟 Best of both worlds — from R2,900 per month*
One practical package.
Two important parts of your business taken care of.
*Additional social media posts, platforms, content requirements and other services can be added according to your business needs.
Because you shouldn't have to choose between "knowing where your money is going" and "showing customers what you do."
📩 Want to know what would work for your business?
Send me a message or get in touch with Simply VA for a personalised quote.
Simply VA — practical business support, without the full-time overhead.

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