Upwork Tax South Africa: SARS & Foreign Income

Upwork does not handle tax for freelancers. As a South African freelancer, you are responsible for reporting your income to SARS.

Foreign Income

Upwork earnings are foreign income. SARS requires you to declare all income, including from overseas sources. Keep records in ZAR and note exchange rates.

Record-Keeping

Keep a spreadsheet of earnings, dates, and exchange rates. Upwork provides tax documents. Request earnings statements for SARS if needed.

Provisional Tax

If you earn above the threshold, you may need to register for provisional tax and pay twice yearly. Consult a tax practitioner.

Deductions

You may deduct business expenses: software, internet, equipment. A tax professional can advise on what qualifies.

Payoneer

Payoneer may report to SARS in certain cases. Retain all statements for your records.

For more, see our main Upwork guide tax section and consult a South African tax practitioner.