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Groundwork.

Accountants for Construction business owners

Bookkeeping, tax, payroll and compliance for construction companies run by their owners, across South Africa. We look after your business and your personal tax, so tenders, gradings and payment certificates are never held up by paperwork.

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  • Professional Accountant (SA)
  • Professional Tax Practitioner (SA)
  • Accounting Technician (SA) · SAICA
  • Registered tax practitioner
  • 13+ years combined experience
Sound familiar?

Paperwork shouldn't cost you a tender, a contract or your sleep.

Lost a tender because your tax compliance status or financials weren't ready in time?

Not sure which projects actually made money last year?

Is your CIDB grading held back by out-of-date financial statements?

Getting letters from SARS you don't fully understand, or behind on returns?

Charged every time you call or email your accountant?

Is your bookkeeping never up to date when you need it?

Does your accountant never tell you how you could save on tax?

Not sure who owes you money, or what you need to pay and when?

How we help

We take the numbers off your plate.

Always tender-ready

Financial statements, tax compliance status, CSD, COIDA and CIPC documents kept current, so you can bid the day a tender opens.

Claim what you're owed

Input VAT on materials and plant, and the deductions available to contractors, claimed correctly and backed by records that hold up to SARS.

One accountant who knows you

You deal with the same accountant all year, on WhatsApp, phone or email. We know your sites, your contracts, your history with SARS and your personal tax too.

Get in touch

We do the groundwork.
You do the building.

Your time belongs on site. Send us your slips, statements and payroll details, and we turn them into clean books, submitted returns and documents that are ready when you need them.

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Who we help

One industry. Done properly.

We focus only on construction because its numbers don't follow neat monthly patterns. Income arrives on progress certificates, retentions are held back for months, costs come long before payment, and one missing document can cost you a tender.

Built in

Accounting made for construction

What we bring to construction clients, whether you run one site or several.

  • Profit tracked job by job and site by site, so a loss-making contract shows up early, not at year-end
  • Work in progress valued properly, so your accounts show the margins you are really making
  • Subcontractors checked against SARS rules, so you aren't caught later with back-dated PAYE and penalties
  • CIDB, COIDA and tax compliance kept current, so paperwork never stands between you and a tender
  • The Section 24C allowance claimed where advance payments fund future contract costs, easing your tax cash flow
On request

Specialist advice when you need it

For bigger contracts, shared projects and growing fleets.

  • Invoices and VAT matched to your payment certificates on JBCC, GCC and NEC contracts
  • Wear-and-tear allowances on plant, trucks and machinery under Section 11(e), so your equipment works for your tax bill too
  • Tender cash flow checks before you bid: can you fund the job, carry the retention and meet the guarantee requirements?
  • Joint venture accounting and fair profit splits when you partner with another contractor
  • Income and costs tracked per machine or truck for plant and truck hire businesses
How it works

Three steps to books you don't have to worry about.

1

Tell us about your business

A quick call, WhatsApp or the form below. We ask about your work, your staff, your SARS status and what's coming up.

2

We get you up to date

We catch up any outstanding books and returns, check your compliance status and fix what's holding you back.

3

We keep you compliant

Monthly books, VAT, payroll and tender documents handled on schedule. You get on with the work.

Get started

Free first chat

Tell us where your books, tax and compliance stand. We'll tell you what needs attention first and what it will cost, with no obligation.

Book now
Packages & pricing

Clear starting prices. No surprises.

These are starting prices for a business with up-to-date records. Your exact fee is confirmed in writing after a free first chat, before any work starts. Prices exclude VAT where applicable.

Monthly accounting packages

Starter

From R1,450/month

Very small contractors. Turnover up to R750,000.

  • Monthly bookkeeping, up to 40 transactions
  • Annual financial statements
  • Company tax and provisional tax returns
  • CIPC annual return and beneficial ownership
  • Annual review meeting
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Foundation

From R2,450/month

Contractors not yet registered for VAT. Turnover up to R2.3 million.

  • Monthly bookkeeping, up to 80 transactions
  • Quarterly management accounts
  • Annual financial statements
  • Company tax and provisional tax returns
  • CIPC filings and tax clearance (TCS) pin kept valid
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RECOMMENDED Contractor

From R4,950/month

VAT-registered contractors. Turnover up to R7 million.

  • Everything in Foundation, up to 250 transactions
  • Monthly management accounts
  • VAT returns
  • Job costing per project or site
  • Quarterly cash flow forecast
  • One director's personal tax return
  • 2 tender compliance packs a year
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Established

From R8,950/month

Larger contractors running several sites. Turnover up to R15 million.

  • Everything in Contractor, up to 600 transactions
  • Management accounts with commentary
  • Monthly cash flow forecast and annual budget
  • Up to 2 directors' personal tax returns
  • Up to 6 tender compliance packs a year
  • Monthly review meeting
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WhatsApp, phone and email support is included in every package. Payroll is priced separately, with 10% off for package clients. Pay 12 months upfront and get 1 month free.

Payroll

R450 a month + R95 per employee

Payslips, overtime and allowances, leave tracking, EMP201, UIF declarations, EMP501 and IRP5s. Built for site teams paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Fortnightly pay runs+25% per employee
Weekly pay runs+50% per employee
Minimum monthly feeR650
Accounting package clients10% off

Once-off services

Tax returns
Company tax return (ITR14), from completed AFSR750
Provisional tax (IRP6)R450
Trust tax return (ITR12T)R1,250
Nil returns (ITR14, IRP6, ITR12T)From R250
Personal tax return, salary onlyR550
Personal tax return, rental or several incomesR850
Personal tax return, sole proprietorR2,250
Tax clearance (TCS) pinR275
Tax directive applicationR450
Auto-assessment reviewR200
Retrieve an existing tax numberR350
Accounting and VAT
VAT return, calculated from your recordsFrom R1,100
VAT return, nilR150
Annual financial statements from your trial balanceFrom R2,500
Annual financial statements, not VAT-registeredFrom R4,500
Annual financial statements, VAT-registeredFrom R7,500
Accountant's letter (income or turnover)From R950
Accountant appointment letterR350
Business plan for funding (bank, SEFA, NYDA)From R3,950
Catch-up bookkeepingQuoted
Payroll extras
Payroll take-on and setupR1,500
New employee setupR150
Leaver pack: final pay and UIF certificateR200
EMP201 submission onlyR275
EMP501 reconciliation onlyR450
Employer PAYE registrationFrom R950
SARS problems and relief
SARS compliance check (credited to follow-on work)R650
Tender-ready tax packageFrom R2,500
Remission of penalties, per tax typeFrom R950
Payment arrangement with SARSFrom R1,800
Audit or verification responseQuoted
Objection to an assessmentQuoted
Compromise of tax debtQuoted
Appeal and dispute resolutionQuoted
Tender and construction compliance
CIDB contractor registrationFrom R1,250
CIDB grading upgradeFrom R2,500
CIDB annual renewalR850
NHBRC builder registrationR650
NHBRC annual renewalR450
CSD supplier registrationR450
CSD updateR250
Tender compliance pack, per tenderFrom R1,500
COIDA, UIF and B-BBEE
COIDA registrationR1,050
COIDA return of earnings and letter of good standingR750
COIDA nature of business changeR1,050
UIF employer registrationR1,400
COIDA and UIF registration togetherR2,150
B-BBEE sworn affidavitR350
B-BBEE certificate (CIPC)R350
Company secretarial (CIPC)
CIPC annual returnR350
Beneficial ownership filingR450
Director appointment or resignationR550
Registered address changeR350
Share transfer and share certificatesR950
Securities register set-upR850
Company name changeR750
MOI amendmentFrom R1,500
Voluntary deregistrationR950
Company reinstatementQuoted

Once-off work is paid upfront. Fees charged by SARS, CIPC, CIDB, NHBRC and the Compensation Fund are paid by you and are not included. "Quoted" services vary too much to price upfront; we confirm the fee after reviewing your documents.

Not sure which package fits? Book a free 15-minute chat and we'll confirm your exact fee.

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About

Accountants who understand tenders, retentions and site costs.

Tambo Accounting Services was founded for owner-managed construction companies: businesses where the owner makes the decisions and needs one accountant to look after the company and their personal tax, with the same financial discipline that larger companies take for granted.

You're busy on site, not behind a desk. We take care of the books, payroll and SARS submissions, keep your compliance documents current, and explain where you stand in plain language — not jargon.

We don't hand your file to a rotating cast of preparers each season. You work directly with your accountant year-round, which means fewer surprises at filing time and a firm that actually knows your projects and your sites.

Sibulele Mqikela
Professional Accountant (SA) · Professional Tax Practitioner (SA) · SAIPA

Professional Accountant (SA) and Professional Tax Practitioner (SA), and a member of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), with more than seven years' experience. As Financial Accountant for a multi-site food business, he ran the monthly management accounts, VAT and cost control across several sites, the same discipline that costing per project needs. At Tambo he works with owner-managed businesses in plant hire and construction.

Manelisi Gcamgcam
Accounting Technician (SA) · SAICA · Registered Tax Practitioner

Accounting Technician (SA) with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and a SARS-registered tax practitioner, with more than six years in professional services and extensive work with construction clients. He has deep payroll experience, from monthly payroll runs and payslips to PAYE, UIF and SDL, EMP201 and EMP501 submissions, and specialises in tax compliance, provisional tax and SARS dispute resolution.

Resources

Tax resources

A working reference for deadlines and questions we hear most often. For guidance specific to your situation, talk to your accountant directly.

Key filing deadlines
Date Filing Applies to
7th monthly PAYE, UIF & SDL (EMP201) Employers
25th, bi-monthly VAT201 submission & payment VAT-registered vendors
31 Aug First provisional tax payment Provisional taxpayers
31 Oct Interim EMP501 reconciliation Employers
Jul–Oct Tax season: non-provisional individuals Individuals filing via eFiling
28/29 Feb Tax year-end & second provisional payment All taxpayers
31 May Annual EMP501 reconciliation Employers

Dates shown are typical SARS deadlines and shift slightly each year, especially for provisional taxpayers filing via eFiling. Confirm current-year dates with your accountant or on the SARS website.

Common questions

What documents should I bring to my first meeting?

Your latest SARS assessments, recent bank statements, payroll records, and any outstanding SARS correspondence. Please also bring your current contracts and recent payment certificates. We'll send a tailored checklist once we understand your business.

Can a construction company claim the diesel refund?

Generally not. The diesel refund is limited to specific primary sectors, such as mining and forestry, and general construction work doesn't qualify. If you think part of your work might, we'll check it with you before anything is claimed.

What does a contractor need for a government tender?

Usually a valid tax compliance status (TCS PIN), registration on the Central Supplier Database (CSD), a CIDB grading where the contract requires it, a COIDA letter of good standing and up-to-date financial statements. Requirements differ per tender, so we check the bid documents with you.

Do I need to register for VAT?

Registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover exceeds R2.3 million in a 12-month period, and voluntary from R120,000. Many contractors register voluntarily so they can claim back the VAT on materials, plant and subcontractors.

How does VAT work on progress payments and retentions?

On construction contracts paid in stages, VAT is generally accounted for on each progress payment as it becomes due or is paid, whichever comes first, rather than on the full contract value upfront. Retention money is usually only brought into VAT when it's released. Getting the timing right protects your cash flow and avoids penalties.

Can you work with contractors far from your office?

Yes. Most client work happens remotely via WhatsApp, email, SARS eFiling and secure document sharing, so we support contractors across South Africa, with in-person meetings available on request.

Can you help if I'm behind on SARS submissions?

Regularly. We assist with catch-up bookkeeping and outstanding returns, and can engage SARS directly on your behalf to resolve penalties and arrange payment arrangements where appropriate.

How is pricing structured?

Most services are billed as flat monthly or per-filing fees in Rand, scoped after an initial review of your accounts. You'll receive a written quote before any work begins.

Contact

Talk to an accountant

Tell us about your construction company and what you need help with. We reply to every inquiry within one business day.

Office
Tambo Accounting Services
Cape Town, 7441
South Africa
Phone
069 569 8751
065 694 4042
WhatsApp
Chat with us on WhatsApp
Email
info@tamboaccounting.co.za
Hours
Monday–Friday, 08:30–17:00
Extended hours during tax season
Thank you — we'll be in touch within one business day.

Ready to spend less time on paperwork?

Tell us about your construction company, and we'll come back to you within one business day.

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