SARS IRP6 Submission & Provisional Tax Management in DataGrows

By combining task management, tax calculations, SARS integration, workflow approvals, reporting, and submission tracking in one place, DataGrows eliminates much of the manual administration traditionally associated with provisional tax compliance.

The goal is simple:

Prepare, approve, and submit IRP6 returns efficiently while maintaining full visibility over every stage of the process.

Before You Start

Before using the IRP6 functionality:

✅ Your firm must be connected to SARS via the DataGrows SARS API.

✅ The client's Income Tax Number must be correctly captured and linked.

✅ Provisional Tax services must be enabled for the client.

If you have not yet completed the SARS API setup, please complete the SARS API Integration setup first.

Understanding the IRP6 Workflow

The complete IRP6 process follows the workflow below:

Step 1

Request the IRP6 from SARS

⬇

Step 2

Review and complete the tax calculation

⬇

Step 3

Generate and send the calculation report to the client

⬇

Step 4

Obtain client approval

⬇

Step 5

Mark the Provisional Tax Return as Ready for Submission

⬇

Step 6

Submit to SARS

⬇

Step 7

Monitor filing status

Automatic IRP6 Requests

One of the biggest benefits of the SARS integration is that DataGrows automatically requests provisional tax returns on your behalf.

Every night DataGrows:

Reviews upcoming deadlines
Looks for provisional tax tasks due within 30 days
Requests available IRP6 returns from SARS

In many cases, the IRP6 will already be available by the time your team starts preparing the return.

Benefits

✅ No manual requests

✅ No SARS login required

✅ Less administration

✅ Better deadline management

Manually Requesting an IRP6

Sometimes you may need an IRP6 immediately.

Examples include:

A newly added client
An urgent submission
Recently updated tax information

To manually request an IRP6:

Navigate to Tasks → Tax → Provisional Tax Returns
Select the relevant clients
Click Actions
Select Request IRP6

Understanding SARS Statuses

After requesting a Provisional Tax Return:

Waiting for SARS – The request has been submitted and is being processed by SARS. This can take between 2 and 24 hours – DataGrows will reattempt the request every 2 hours after your initial request for you. (Note: this is because the API for IRP6 submission is not yet real-time with SARS. They are working on this change, but it’s not something DataGrows can affect. Please submit any urgent returns manually if you need to.)

Issued- The IRP6 is available and ready for preparation.

Error - Something has prevented the return from being issued. Review the: IRP6 SARS Log for details and corrective actions.

Opening the IRP6 Record

Once SARS has issued the return:

Open the Provisional Tax Return task.
Navigate to: SARS → SARS IRP6

Many users prefer using the navigation arrow to jump directly into the IRP6 record in full-screen mode.

This provides a better view of:

Input fields
Calculations
Historical tax information
Validation messages

Automated Tax Calculations

The DataGrows tax calculator removes the need for external spreadsheets.

Instead of maintaining:

❌ Tax tables

❌ Tax brackets

❌ Rebate calculations

❌ Manual formulas

DataGrows performs these calculations automatically.

What DataGrows Calculates

Companies

Including:

Standard corporate tax rates
Small Business Corporation tax rates

Individuals

Including:

Tax brackets
Age-related rebates
Tax thresholds

Trusts

Including current applicable rates.

Additional Considerations

The calculator also incorporates:

Employees' Tax (PAYE) already paid
Medical Tax Credits
Additional Medical Expenses Tax Credits
Solar Credits (applicable in 2nd Period)
SARS historical information
Latest assessments

Small Business Tax Calculations

DataGrows automatically differentiates between:

Small Business Corporations

and

Standard Taxpayers

The Small Business Indicator is maintained within the client record.

To configure:

Open the client.
Navigate to: Small Business Tax
Complete the qualification questions.
Save the client.

If the client qualifies, DataGrows automatically uses the appropriate tax rates in the IRP6 calculation.

Completing the Tax Calculation

To perform a calculation:

Open the SARS IRP6 record.
Complete:
- Gross Income
- Estimated Taxable Income
Leave calculated fields blank.
Click Save & View

DataGrows will automatically calculate:

Tax on Estimated Taxable Income
Tax Payable
Provisional Tax Liability
Period-Specific Calculations

Validation Checks & Mandatory Fields

DataGrows includes built-in validation controls to improve accuracy.

If information is missing, the system will display warnings before the record can be saved.

Common requirements include:

Date of Birth
Medical Tax Credit values
Additional Medical Expense Tax Credits

Important: If a value is zero, enter 0. SARS still requires these fields to contain information.

These controls help prevent submission failures and reduce filing errors.

Reviewing the Provisional Tax Calculation Report

After saving the IRP6:

Return to the Provisional Tax Returns table.
Locate the:

Provisional Tax Calculation Report

Open the report.

Many firms choose to pin this column for easy access.

What the Report Includes

Firm Details - Pulled from Firm Settings.

Client Details- Pulled from the Client Record.

Tax Calculation Summary

Showing:

Taxable Income
Estimated Liability
Tax Payable

Progress Status - Showing where the return currently sits in the workflow.

Client Approval Information - Including the designated primary contact.

Sending the Calculation to the Client

The report can be downloaded as a PDF and used for client approval.

To download:

Open the report.
Click the Save icon.
Select PDF.

The report can then be:

Emailed to the client
Reviewed internally
Attached to approval workflows

Once signed approval has been received, the document can be uploaded directly to the relevant Provisional Tax Return record.

Tracking Progress Through the Workflow

Progress tracking is critical to successful bulk submissions.

Typical progress stages include:

Not Started - No work has begun.

In Progress - The calculation is being prepared.

Waiting for Client Approval - Calculation sent to client.

Submit Zero Return - Client has no taxable income or incurred a loss.

Ready for Submission - Client approval has been obtained.

Submitted - The return has been filed with SARS.

Submitting a Zero Return

Some clients may have:

No taxable income
Trading losses
No tax payable

In these cases:

Select the relevant records.
Click Actions
Choose: Populate Zero Return

DataGrows will automatically:

Update the Progress field
Record the relevant notes
Prepare the return for submission

Safety Controls

DataGrows will not allow a zero return to override an existing tax calculation.

This prevents accidental incorrect submissions.

Filing IRP6 Returns with SARS

Once the client has approved the calculation:

Change Progress to:
- Ready for Submission OR
- Submit Zero Return
Select the records.
Click: Actions - File IRP6

DataGrows will submit the return electronically via the SARS API.

Understanding Filing Statuses

After filing:

Queued - The submission has been sent to SARS and is awaiting processing. This can take between 2 and 24 hours – DataGrows will reattempt to file every 2 hours after your initial submission for you. (Note: this is because the API for IRP6 submission is not yet real-time with SARS. They are working on this change, but it’s not something DataGrows can affect. Please submit any urgent returns manually if you need to.)

Filed - The submission has been successfully processed by SARS.

Error - A submission issue occurred. Review the SARS Log for details.

Monitoring Submission Status

DataGrows monitors Provisional Tax Returns automatically.

The system regularly checks:

Submission status
SARS responses
Processing progress
Errors and exceptions

If required, you can run the Action:

Get IRP6 Status to perform a manual refresh.

This is especially useful when urgent confirmation is required.

Refreshing Historical IRP6 Information

Sometimes SARS issues additional assessments or updates after an IRP6 was originally requested.

To refresh this data:

Select the relevant Provisional Tax Return.
Run the action: Refresh Historical IRP6

The historical information will be updated from SARS.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

IRP6 Could Not Be Requested

If you receive:

"IRP6 could not be requested. Please ensure the taxpayer has been linked to SARS."

Check:

✅ Income Tax Number is completed

✅ Tax Linked checkbox is enabled

✅ SARS API integration is active

✅ Taxpayer exists in a linked SARS portfolio

Remember: The older browser-extension integration does not support IRP6 submissions. The SARS API connection is required.

IRP6 Could Not Be Filed

If you receive:

"IRP6 could not be Filed."

Check:

✅Ensure all the relevant fields are completed on the SARS IRP6 record

✅The Progress is "Ready for Submission" or "Submit Zero Return"

IRP6 Reporting & Dashboards

DataGrows includes several useful reports.

SARS Provisional Tax Dashboard

This dashboard provides visibility into:

Due dates
Submission progress
Accountants responsible
Client status
Outstanding Provisional Tax Returns

Colour Coding

🟢 Ready for Submission / Submit Zero Return

🟡 Due within 7 days

🔴 Overdue

This report is particularly useful during peak provisional tax periods.

SARS ISV Audit Log

The Audit Log highlights clients that are not correctly linked to SARS.

Its purpose is to identify:

Missing tax numbers
Unlinked taxpayers
Registration issues

Remember:

DataGrows cannot request or file an IRP6 if the client's Income Tax Number is not linked correctly.

Key Takeaways

✅ DataGrows can request, calculate, approve, and submit IRP6 returns directly through the SARS API.

✅ IRP6 requests are automatically made for upcoming deadlines.

✅ Tax calculations are fully automated using current tax rates, rebates, credits, and SARS data.

✅ Small Business Corporation tax rates are supported.

✅ Validation controls help prevent submission errors.

✅ Provisional Tax Calculation Reports can be downloaded and sent to clients for approval.

✅ Provisional Tax Returns must be marked Ready for Submission or Submit Zero Return before filing.

✅ DataGrows monitors IRP6 statuses automatically after submission.

✅ Dashboards and reports provide complete visibility into submission progress and outstanding deadlines.

✅ The SARS API integration transforms provisional tax management from a manual process into a streamlined digital workflow.

Remember: The real power of the IRP6 module comes from combining automation with workflow management. DataGrows not only calculates and files Provisional Tax Returns—it helps your entire team track, review, approve, submit, and monitor provisional tax obligations from a single platform. 🚀