Should Your Business Deregister for VAT?
The threshold changed to R2.3M. Before you celebrate, check what it will actually cost you.
The VAT registration threshold jumped from R1M to R2.3M on 1 April 2026. If your turnover is in this band, you can now deregister - but exit VAT on your business assets could cost you tens of thousands. This calculator shows you the real numbers, including a Turnover Tax alternative most advisors don't mention.
What Changed: The New VAT Threshold
Effective 1 April 2026, the compulsory VAT registration threshold in South Africa increased from R1 million to R2.3 million - the first adjustment since 2009. The voluntary registration threshold also moved from R50,000 to R120,000. This means businesses with annual taxable supplies between R1 million and R2.3 million are no longer required to be registered for VAT. However, existing vendors are not automatically deregistered - they must actively apply if they wish to cancel their registration.
The Exit VAT Trap
What many business owners do not realise is that deregistering for VAT triggers an immediate tax event. Section 8(2) of the VAT Act deems you to have "sold" all your business assets at the moment of deregistration. SARS applies the tax fraction (15/115) to the lesser of the original cost or open market value of each asset - covering trading stock, equipment, commercial vehicles, and any property on which input VAT was claimed. For a business with R500,000 in assets, this could mean an exit VAT bill of over R65,000. The liability can be paid in six monthly instalments, but it is an immediate financial obligation that catches many businesses off guard.
Turnover Tax: The Alternative Nobody Mentions
For eligible businesses, Turnover Tax under the Sixth Schedule of the Income Tax Act offers a compelling alternative. It replaces not just VAT, but Income Tax, Provisional Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Dividends Tax with a single simplified return. The 2026 rates are graduated from 0% on the first R600,000 of turnover up to 3% on amounts above R1.4 million, with a maximum tax of R39,500 at R2.3 million. Crucially, businesses transitioning from VAT to Turnover Tax receive a R100,000 reduction in their exit VAT deemed consideration under Section 10(5A) - effectively saving approximately R13,043 in exit VAT. Professional services exceeding 20% of revenue are excluded.
When to Stay VAT Registered
Staying registered makes sense if your business is predominantly B2B (your customers claim your VAT back and would effectively pay more without it), if you have significant assets that would trigger a large exit VAT bill, if you provide professional services that disqualify you from Turnover Tax, or if you expect your turnover to grow above R2.3 million in the near future. Voluntary registration also allows you to continue claiming input VAT on your own business purchases.
When to Deregister
Deregistration tends to favour businesses that are primarily B2C (your consumers pay the final price regardless), have few assets on which input VAT was claimed, face high compliance costs relative to their turnover, and qualify for Turnover Tax. If your annual VAT compliance costs exceed R12,000 and your exit VAT would be under R25,000, the numbers typically work in favour of deregistering - especially if Turnover Tax is available to you.