As the 2026 financial year draws to a close, now is the ideal time to ensure that all financial information relating to your trust is submitted to your accountant. Early engagement remains the cornerstone of a smooth, compliant, and efficient year-end process.

Why Early Preparation Matters

To prevent delays in the preparation of financial statements, all information relating to your trust should be submitted as soon as possible. Accountants are required to compile data in strict alignment with SARS requirements, particularly as SARS conducts regular verifications.

For this reason, it is essential that all accounting records are supported by clear and accurate documentation.

 

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Information Required for Trusts

To facilitate accurate and compliant financial reporting, please ensure the following documentation is provided where applicable:

• Banking: Statements for all trust accounts
• Property & Liabilities: Bond, rental, and levy statements, as well as municipal accounts
• Transaction Records: Final statements of account relating to the purchase or sale of properties
• Investment Income: IT3(b) and IT3(c) certificates
• Operations: Invoices and receipts for repairs and maintenance
• Supplementary Data: Any other information relevant to the trust’s financial activities

Providing complete documentation upfront significantly reduces administrative friction, allowing your accountant to focus on delivering high-quality financial statements with precision and speed.

 

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Why It’s Vital to Engage with Your Accountant

Regular communication with your accountant is more than an administrative exercise – it is a strategic component of sound wealth management. Key advantages include:

• Proactive Compliance: Ensuring records meet current SARS reporting requirements minimizes the risk of penalties and unnecessary delays
• Accuracy and Completeness: Early engagement allows for the identification of missing data or potential issues well before statutory deadlines
• Priority Processing: Timely submission of documents enables the priority preparation of financial statements
• Fiduciary Confidence: Knowing financial affairs are in order allows trustees to focus on broader wealth objectives with confidence

The end of the financial year does not have to be a period of stress. By engaging early and maintaining open communication, trustees play an active role in ensuring a compliant year-end process that protects the long-term integrity of the trust.

 

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Article written by:
DACC – Anneline Lamond

 

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The Bigger Picture

Most people focus on numbers.

Experienced investors focus on STRUCTURE.

When your trusts, compliance, and tax affairs are properly aligned, you stop reacting to the system – and start operating above it.

Clarity replaces uncertainty.

Control replaces exposure.

That shift is not accidental.

It comes from understanding how wealth is protected, not just accumulated.

And that is where real, sustainable wealth is built

Regards
Coert Coetzee

P.S. The Wealth Mastery System is administered by the Destinata Group, who are fully authorised Financial Service Providers (FSP Numbers 48729 and 50349)