Trust tax returns often require a different approach to company and individual tax returns. They have their own filing season, unique compliance requirements, and additional trust-specific information that needs to be maintained accurately throughout the year.

The Trust Tax Returns module in DataGrows helps firms track trust tax submissions, monitor progress during tax season, manage SARS verifications, and maintain the information needed to complete trust returns efficiently.

The goal is simple: ensure every trust return is scheduled, tracked, and submitted on time with all the information your team needs readily available.

Why Trust Tax Returns Have Their Own Table

Trusts have distinct SARS filing requirements and deadlines that differ from many other tax types.

For this reason, DataGrows includes a dedicated:

Tax Department → Trust Tax Returns

table.

This allows firms to:

✅ Manage trust returns separately

✅ Track trust-specific workflows

✅ Monitor submission progress

✅ Manage SARS verifications

✅ Maintain trust information centrally

✅ Improve visibility during tax season

Automatic Scheduling of Trust Tax Returns

One of the biggest advantages of the Trust Tax Returns module is that tasks are scheduled automatically.

When SARS announces the annual trust filing season, DataGrows automatically creates Trust Tax Return tasks for all qualifying trust clients.

You do not need to create these tasks manually.

Which Trusts Are Scheduled?

DataGrows automatically creates trust return tasks for:

✅ Active Trust Clients

✅ Dormant Trust Clients

Provided that:

✅ Income Tax Service is enabled on the client record

This ensures that filing obligations are not overlooked, even where trusts have limited activity.

Activating Trust Income Tax Services

To ensure Trust Tax Returns schedule correctly:

Navigate to the Clients Table
Open the Trust Client record
Click on the Billing & Services tab
Enable Income Tax
Save the record

Once enabled, DataGrows will automatically participate in future trust tax season scheduling.

Tracking Trust Tax Returns

The Trust Tax Returns table provides visibility over each year's submission process.

Your team can use the table to:

Monitor progress
Track outstanding returns
Manage responsibilities
Follow internal workflows
Review submission status

Every task also creates reminders within:

All Tasks Due

helping ensure deadlines remain visible across the firm.

Maintaining Trust Information

One of the most important aspects of trust administration is keeping client information up to date.

Before tax season arrives, ensure that trust details have been maintained correctly.

DataGrows provides dedicated areas for storing trust-related information.

Additional Information

Within the Client Record, capture and maintain:

Trust details
Compliance information
Important notes
Supporting information

Keeping this information current makes annual return preparation significantly easier.

Trust Register

The Trust Register helps maintain key trust information in a single location.

This information can be referenced when preparing the trust's annual tax return and supporting documentation.

To access it:

Clients Table → Open Trust Client → Additional Details → Trust Register

Maintaining this information throughout the year reduces the need to gather information during filing season.

Best Practice: Update Information Before Tax Season

Rather than collecting trust information only when the return becomes due, firms should maintain records throughout the year.

This helps:

✅ Reduce filing pressure

✅ Improve accuracy

✅ Minimise missing information

✅ Speed up preparation

✅ Reduce rework

Trust returns are far easier to prepare when client records are already complete.

SARS Verifications

Occasionally SARS may select a trust tax return for verification after submission.

DataGrows helps ensure these requests are not overlooked.

Creating a Verification Task

If SARS selects the trust for verification:

Open the Trust Tax Return task.
Enable the SARS Verification checkbox.
Save the record.

What Happens Next?

DataGrows automatically:

✅ Creates a SARS Task

✅ Generates an internal reminder

✅ Displays the task in All Tasks Due

✅ Helps track supporting document requirements

✅ Provides visibility over outstanding SARS actions

This prevents important verification requests from being forgotten.

Managing Verification Work

Once the SARS Task has been created, your team can:

Upload supporting documents
Record SARS case numbers
Track progress
Monitor turnaround times
Manage follow-ups

This creates a complete audit trail of the verification process.

Using All Tasks Due

All Trust Tax Return reminders feed into:

All Tasks Due

This provides a central dashboard for:

Upcoming trust submissions
Verification deadlines
Outstanding work
Team workload management

Many firms use this as their primary view when managing tax season.

Best Practices

Enable Trust Income Tax Services

Only trusts with Income Tax enabled will be scheduled automatically.

Keep Trust Records Current

Update information throughout the year rather than waiting for tax season.

Maintain the Trust Register

Accurate trust information saves significant time during preparation.

Monitor Tax Season Closely

Trust returns are scheduled according to SARS filing season announcements.

Respond Quickly to Verifications

Verification requests should be actioned promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.

Use All Tasks Due Daily

This helps ensure trust returns and follow-ups remain visible.

Key Takeaways

✅ Trust Tax Returns have a dedicated table within the Tax Department.

✅ Tasks are scheduled automatically when SARS announces the annual trust filing season.

✅ Active and Dormant Trusts with Income Tax enabled will receive scheduled tasks.

✅ Trust information should be maintained within the Additional Information and Trust Register sections.

✅ All trust tax return reminders appear in All Tasks Due.

✅ SARS Verification checkboxes automatically create SARS Tasks and internal reminders.

✅ Verification tasks help manage supporting documents, follow-ups, and SARS responses.

✅ Maintaining trust information throughout the year makes tax season significantly easier.

Remember: Successful trust tax compliance starts long before filing season begins. By maintaining accurate trust information, monitoring scheduled tasks, and managing verifications effectively, DataGrows helps your firm stay organised and compliant throughout the trust tax lifecycle. 🏛️📋✅