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Business
Legal Requirements
by
Andrew Patricio
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To
avoid problems in your business, make sure that you abide by the following legal-
requirements; if you don't sooner or later you are going to be caught out.
You need to do the following:
The Basics First
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Contact
your local South African Revenue Services (SARS) offices to register:
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As
a provisional taxpayer. If you are registering a Close Corporation or
Company you will also have to register "it" as a taxpayer. |
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Value
Added Tax (VAT). |
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Employees
tax. |
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Skills
development levy. |
Note:
to register for VAT the SARS might require you to develop a business plan and
submit it to their auditors.
www.sars.gov.za
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Metro
levies - Contact your local town or city council. These are compulsory
levies payable on your sales, drawings, wages and salaries paid. They
are payable either monthly or annually depending on the size of the business.
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Department
of Labour - Contact the head office in Pretoria to get regional contacts.
Once you become an employer, you have to register as such so that you
can deduct unemployment insurance (UIF) from your staff's wages. |
www.labour.gov.za
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Compensation
for Occupational Injuries and Disease Act. All persons who employ one or
more employees are required to register and to pay annual assessments to
the compensation fund. Contact the compensation commissioner in Pretoria
at (012) 319 9111 |
www.wcomp.gov.za
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Bargaining
council - some businesses fall under a council and need to abide by regulations
set up by this council. To find out if your business falls under a bargaining
council contact your local Department of Labour. There are 59 registered
bargaining councils in South Africa. |
www.labour.gov.za
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To
register your company or close corporation, contact the Registrar of Companies
at PO BOX 429 Pretoria Tel: (012) 310 9791, this is usually done by an accountant
but you can do it yourself at the fraction of the price. |
www.dti.gov.za/sacro
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Consult
the Health Department at your local town or city council. If you are going
into the food business or you intend opening a nursery school, you need
to get the health department to inspect your premises. |
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Signage
- You need to contact your Local Town or City Council about erecting signs
and also about any regulations that apply specifically to your area. You
are not allowed to erect signage without the approval of your local council.
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Contact
SAMRO - South African Music Rights Organisation (011) 489 5000. Every business
that plays music for the enjoyment of their staff and customers needs to
pay an annual levy to SAMRO. |
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To
obtain a liquor license, contact your provincial liquor board or phone Pretoria
(012) 3109791. It is a good idea to use the services of a qualified attorney
to do this. |
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If
you are going to import or export or require information on import and export
you need to contact the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). |
www.dti.gov.za
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Contact
the SA Numbering Association (011) 787 4387 if you require barcodes for
your products. |
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To
register a patent or trademark contact the Registrar of Patents, Designs,
Trade Marks and Copyright (012) 310 9791. |
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Speak
to your local town or city council to see if you require special permission
to operate your business in the area. If you are going to operate your business
from home, you will need to obtain permission from your local city or town
council as well as your neighbours. |
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You
need to keep a copy of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act on your premises.
This is available from the Department of Labour.
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www.labour.gov.za
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The
Wage Determination Act sets out the minimum wage you are allowed to pay
your employees. This is obtainable from the Chamber of Commerce or the government
printer. |
©
Reproduced
with kind permission from Andrew Patricio of
smallbusinessonline.
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