How It Works
One description of what you need, quotes you can compare
Tell us what you need
Your entity type, turnover, VAT and payroll status and anything outstanding at SARS. About a minute.
Get accountant quotes
LEADERR APPROVED accounting firms and registered practitioners covering Durban receive the request and come back to you directly.
Compare and choose
Compare scope, fees, designations and what is included. Appoint whoever you prefer, or nobody.
Accountants Durban is a free quote-comparison service for individuals, SMEs, companies and trusts that need an accountant, bookkeeper, tax practitioner or auditor in Durban and the wider KwaZulu-Natal region.
Describe what you need once. Independent accounting firms covering your area come back with their own scope and fees, and you compare them yourself. No accounting work is carried out by this website. It is done by the firm you appoint.
Your entity type, approximate turnover, VAT status and staff count. That is enough for a firm to quote a fixed monthly fee.
Get Quotes From Accountants in DurbanWhat Accountants in Durban Do
Most work falls into five groups. A single firm usually covers all of them except audit, which has to be independent.
| Group | What it covers | Typical frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting and bookkeeping | Capturing, reconciliations, management accounts | Monthly |
| Tax | Income tax, VAT, provisional tax, SARS disputes | Monthly and annual |
| Payroll | Payslips, EMP201, EMP501, IRP5 certificates | Monthly |
| Reporting and assurance | Annual financial statements, review or audit | Annually |
| Company and advisory | CIPC filings, budgets, valuations, funding | As needed |
What It Costs
Indicative Durban market ranges, excluding VAT, so you can sanity-check a quote. They are not quotations and no firm is bound by them.
| Service | Indicative range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping | R900 - R6,000 per month | Transaction volume |
| Full monthly accounting package | R2,500 - R8,500 per month | Bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, reporting |
| Annual financial statements | R4,500 - R15,000 | Small company or close corporation |
| Company tax return (ITR14) | R2,500 - R8,000 | Requires signed statements |
| Individual tax return (ITR12) | R450 - R4,500 | Salary only through to rental and CGT |
| VAT201 submission | R750 - R2,200 per return | Volume dependent |
| Payroll | R90 - R220 per payslip | Minimum monthly fee applies |
| Independent review | R8,000 - R25,000 | Where an audit is not required |
| Statutory audit | R30,000 - R140,000 | Turnover and controls dependent |
| Company registration | R950 - R2,500 | Including the CIPC fee |
| CIPC annual return | R450 - R1,200 plus the CIPC fee | CIPC fee is turnover based |
Indicative Durban ranges, not a quotation. Transaction volume, VAT and payroll registration, how far behind your records are, the number of entities involved and the software in use all move the number materially.
Get fees for your actual business rather than a range. Free, with no obligation to appoint anyone.
Compare Accountants in DurbanDesignations and What They Mean
Anyone may call themselves an accountant in South Africa. Specific work is restricted, so check the designation against the work you need.
| Designation | Body | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| CA(SA) | SAICA | Audit, assurance, advisory, complex reporting |
| Registered Auditor | IRBA | The only designation that may sign an audit report |
| Professional Accountant (SA) | SAIPA | Financial statements, tax, independent review |
| AGA(SA) | SAICA | Accounting, reporting and independent review |
| Certified Business Accountant | CIBA | SME accounting, statements and tax |
| Registered Tax Practitioner | SARS plus a controlling body | Filing returns and dealing with SARS |
| Certified bookkeeper | ICB or CIBA | Capturing and reconciliations |
The Compliance Calendar
Most penalties come from missed dates rather than wrong numbers. SARS administrative penalties run from R250 to R16,000 per month per outstanding return, for up to 35 months.
| Obligation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| EMP201 (PAYE, UIF, SDL) | 7th of the following month |
| VAT201 | 25th after the end of the VAT period |
| IRP6 first period | End of August for a February year end |
| IRP6 second period | Last business day of February |
| EMP501 interim reconciliation | 31 October |
| EMP501 annual reconciliation | 31 May |
| ITR12, non-provisional individuals | 23 October 2026 for the 2026 year of assessment |
| ITR12 and ITR12T, provisional taxpayers and trusts | 22 January 2027 for the 2026 year of assessment |
| ITR14, companies | Within 12 months of financial year end |
| Annual financial statements | Within 6 months of financial year end |
| CIPC annual return | Within 30 business days of the registration anniversary |
Deadlines shift when they fall on a weekend or public holiday, and SARS publishes filing season dates in the Government Gazette each year. Confirm the current dates on eFiling.
Current Rates and Thresholds
| Item | Current position |
|---|---|
| Company income tax | 27% of taxable income |
| Small business corporation | Sliding scale from 0% on the first R99,000 for years ending 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 |
| Turnover tax | 0% to 3%, available up to R2.3 million turnover |
| VAT rate | 15% |
| VAT compulsory registration | Taxable supplies above R2.3 million in 12 months, from 1 April 2026 |
| VAT voluntary registration | From R120,000 of taxable supplies |
| Trusts other than special trusts | 45%, with an effective CGT rate of 36% |
| Dividends tax | 20%, withheld at source |
| SDL | 1% of payroll, exempt below R500,000 annual payroll |
| UIF | 1% employee plus 1% employer, subject to the ceiling |
Comparing Accounting Quotes
- Compare scope, not just price. One quote includes VAT and payroll, the next charges both on top. Ask for the inclusions listed line by line.
- Check the designation and registration. Membership number and, for anyone filing returns, a SARS tax practitioner number.
- Ask who does the work. The partner who quotes is rarely the person capturing your books.
- Confirm the software and who holds the licence. Hold your own Xero or Sage subscription so the data stays yours.
- Get an engagement letter. Scope, fee, billing frequency, exclusions and notice period, in writing.
- Ask about turnaround. When management accounts arrive and how quickly queries are answered.
- Ask what happens if you leave. A clean data export and the trial balance should be a given.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accounting quotes will I get?
Up to five, from accounting firms and practitioners covering Durban. You compare them yourself and appoint whoever you prefer, or nobody.
Does it cost anything to use this service?
No. Requesting quotes is free and there is no obligation. Your engagement is with whichever firm you appoint, and the fee you agree is between the two of you.
Do you do the accounting work yourselves?
No. This is a quote-comparison service. The work is carried out by independent accounting firms and registered practitioners who quote you directly and carry their own professional indemnity cover.
How much does an accountant cost in Durban?
A small business on a monthly package typically pays R2,500 to R8,500 a month excluding VAT. Annual financial statements for a small company run about R4,500 to R15,000, and a salaried individual tax return R450 to R950.
What information should I include in my request?
Your entity type, approximate annual turnover, whether you are registered for VAT, how many staff are on payroll and whether anything is outstanding at SARS or CIPC.
How do I check an accountant is properly registered?
Ask for the designation and membership number, then check it on the relevant register. SAICA, SAIPA, CIBA and IRBA all publish member searches, and any practitioner filing returns for a fee must have a SARS tax practitioner number.
Can I change accountants mid-year?
Yes. The incoming firm sends a professional clearance letter to the outgoing one and requests your records. Settle any outstanding fees first, because records are commonly withheld until they are paid.
What if my books and returns are years behind?
Say so in your request. Catch-up work is quoted separately, usually per year of backlog, and firms will want to know how many years are outstanding and whether bank statements are available.
Do I need a chartered accountant or will a bookkeeper do?
It depends on the work. Monthly bookkeeping, VAT and payroll do not need a CA(SA). Audits, funding applications, acquisitions and complex tax generally do.
Accountants Durban is a free quote-comparison service. The accounting, tax and audit work is carried out by the independent firms and practitioners that quote you, and your engagement is with the firm you appoint. Ask each firm for its registration details, professional body membership and a written engagement letter before appointing anyone.
Accountants Durban. Describe what you need once and compare quotes from LEADERR APPROVED accounting firms covering Durban.
Get 5 QuotesAccounting Services in Durban
Every service we arrange quotes for, each with its own page
Accounting
Accounting Services
Monthly accounting, compliance and reporting
Chartered Accountants
CA(SA) firms for assurance and advisory
Business Accounting
Full accounting function for established businesses
Small Business Accounting
Fixed-fee packages for SMEs and startups
Management Accounting
Numbers used to run the business, not just file
Management Accounts
Monthly and quarterly management packs
Accounting Outsourcing
Hand the finance function to an outside team
Virtual Accountant
Cloud-based accountants working remotely
Bookkeeping Services
Day-to-day capturing and reconciliations
Tax
Tax Services
Tax compliance and planning for all taxpayers
Tax Accountants
Registered tax practitioners in Durban
SARS Tax Services
Registrations, disputes and compliance status
Tax Returns
ITR12, ITR14 and ITR12T submissions
Corporate Tax
Company tax returns and planning
Personal Tax
Individual returns, auto-assessments and refunds
Provisional Tax
IRP6 estimates and payments
VAT Services
Registration, VAT201 returns and reviews
Payroll & Audit
Payroll Services
Payslips, EMP201 and EMP501 reconciliations
Audit Services
Statutory and voluntary audits by RAs
Independent Review Services
The lighter alternative to an audit
Reporting & Company
Financial Statements
Annual financial statements to IFRS for SMEs
Financial Reporting
Reporting packs for banks, boards and funders
Company Secretarial Services
Statutory registers and CIPC filings
Company Registration
New Pty Ltd registration and tax setup
CIPC Services
Annual returns, changes and beneficial ownership
Advisory & Specialist
Business Advisory Services
Budgets, forecasts and funding support
Xero Accountants
Xero setup, migration and monthly work
Trust Accounting
Trust financial statements and ITR12T
Estate Administration
Winding up a deceased estate
Get Accounting Quotes in Durban
Tell us about your business and what you need done, and get quotes back from accounting firms covering Durban.
Free to use, no obligation. Your request goes to LEADERR APPROVED accounting firms and practitioners covering Durban, who quote you directly.
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