Accounting Services Durban covers the full range of work a Durban business or individual buys from an accountant: monthly bookkeeping, VAT and payroll submissions, annual financial statements, tax returns and CIPC filings. Describe what you need once and compare quotes from independent firms.
Most enquiries fall into one of two groups. Businesses that need a monthly service and a year-end, and people who need one job done, like a late set of financials or an overdue return.
Your entity type, annual turnover, whether you are VAT registered and how many staff are on payroll. That is enough for a fixed monthly fee.
Get Quotes From Accountants in DurbanWhat Accounting Services Include
Firms bundle these differently, so check which items are in the fee and which are billed on top.
| Service | Typical frequency | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping and reconciliations | Monthly | Every trading business |
| VAT201 returns | Monthly or bi-monthly | VAT registered vendors |
| Payroll and EMP201 | Monthly | Anyone with employees |
| EMP501 reconciliation | Twice a year | Anyone with employees |
| Management accounts | Monthly or quarterly | Businesses managing cash and margin |
| Annual financial statements | Annually | Companies, CCs and most trusts |
| Income tax returns | Annually | All registered taxpayers |
| Provisional tax (IRP6) | Twice a year | Companies, trusts and non-salaried individuals |
| CIPC annual return | Annually | All companies and close corporations |
| Audit or independent review | Annually | Depends on your public interest score |
A quote that only says "monthly accounting" is not comparable. Ask for the list above with each line marked included or excluded.
Monthly, Annual Or Once-Off
Three buying patterns, with different fee structures.
- Monthly retainer. A fixed fee covering capturing, submissions and reporting. Easiest to budget and the cheapest per hour, because the work is spread out.
- Annual only. Financial statements and tax returns once a year. Suits dormant entities and very small operations, but leaves you without in-year figures.
- Once-off. A single job such as catching up three years of books, a tax dispute or a set of statements for a bank. Quoted per job or hourly.
Choosing A Firm
Accounting in South Africa is not a reserved profession, but specific work is. Anyone can call themselves an accountant. Only a registered auditor can sign an audit, and only a registered tax practitioner can submit returns for you for a fee.
- Check the designation. CA(SA), Professional Accountant (SA), AGA(SA), Registered Auditor or a CIBA or ACCA membership. Each has a controlling body you can check the member against.
- Check tax practitioner registration. Anyone filing returns for you for a fee must be registered with SARS and a recognised controlling body. Ask for the PR number.
- Ask what software they use. Xero, Sage, QuickBooks or Pastel. It decides who can access what and how easy it is to move firms later.
- Get the engagement letter. Scope, fee, billing frequency and what is excluded, in writing before work starts.
- Ask who does the work. The person you meet is often not the person capturing your books.
For an overview of every service and how quotes work, see Accountants Durban.
Accounting Services Durban Prices
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 | R1,200 - R6,000 per month | Transaction volume and bank accounts |
| Full monthly accounting package | R2,500 - R8,500 per month | Bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and reporting |
| Annual financial statements | R4,500 - R15,000 | Small company or close corporation |
| Company tax return (ITR14) | R2,500 - R8,000 | Complexity of the return |
| Individual tax return (ITR12) | R450 - R4,500 | Salary only through to rental and CGT |
| VAT201 submission | R750 - R2,200 per return | Volume and reconciliation work |
| Payroll | R90 - R220 per payslip | Minimum monthly fee usually applies |
| CIPC annual return | R450 - R1,200 plus the CIPC fee | CIPC fee is turnover based |
| Hourly rates | R250 - R2,500 per hour | Bookkeeper through to CA(SA) |
Indicative Durban ranges, not a quotation. Transaction volume, the state of your records, how many entities are involved, whether you are behind on filings and the software in use all move the number materially.
Get fees for your actual books rather than a range. Free, with no obligation to appoint anyone.
Compare Accounting FirmsFrequently Asked Questions
How much do accounting services cost in Durban?
A small business on a monthly package typically pays R2,500 to R8,500 a month excluding VAT, covering bookkeeping, VAT and payroll submissions and management reporting. Annual financial statements for a small company run about R4,500 to R15,000.
Do I need a monthly accountant or just a year-end?
If you are VAT registered, run payroll or need figures to manage cash, monthly is the practical answer. A dormant company or a very small operation can often be handled once a year, though the year-end fee is usually higher because everything is captured at once.
Can one firm handle accounting, tax and payroll?
Yes, and most Durban SMEs prefer that because the data only gets captured once. Audit work is the exception: if your company needs an audit, the auditor must be independent of the firm doing the accounting.
What if my books are years behind?
Say so in your request. Catch-up work is quoted separately, usually per year or per month of backlog, and firms will want to know how many years, whether bank statements are available and whether returns were filed.
How many 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.
Related Accounting Services in Durban
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.
Accounting Services Durban. Compare monthly and annual fees from independent accounting firms covering Durban.
Get 5 QuotesGet Accounting Services Durban Quotes
Send your entity type, turnover and what you need done, and firms will quote you directly.
Free to use, no obligation. Your request goes to LEADERR APPROVED accounting firms and practitioners covering Durban, who quote you directly.
Client Reviews
Powered by leaderr
