Guide for accountants during lockdown

Posted 23 April 2020 Written by Ciaran Ryan
Category Business

From Accounting Weekly: The SA Institute of Business Accountants (Saiba) has issued a guide to its members clarifying what services can be delivered during lockdown.

The guide is subject to change given the rapidly changing regulations surrounding lockdown, but makes it clear that accountants are confined to their places of residence unless:

  • providing essential services
  • obtaining an essential good or service,
  • collecting a social grant, pension or;
  • seeking emergency, life-saving, or chronic medical attention.

Members are allowed to render professional services to clients remotely from their places of residence, which means offices must remain closed.

The following are considered essential to the functioning of the financial system:

  • the banking environment (including the operations of mutual banks, cooperative banks, co-operative financial institutions and the Postbank);
  • the payments environment;
  • the financial markets (including market infrastructures licensed under the Financial Markets Act, 2012 (Act No. 19 of 2012);
  • the insurance environment;
  • the savings and investment environment;
  • pension fund administration;
  • outsourced administration; and
  • medical schemes administration.

Members may only travel to their employer or customer for the delivery of these services. In terms of the Lockdown Regulations, it is the head each firm to determine essential services and which staff must perform these.

While SA Revenue Services (Sars) has been delared an essential service, this does not apply to tax practitioners.

 Companies who are providing essential services are required to apply for and obtain an essential service certificate. Applications for essential service certificates must be made via the Bizportal website administered by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission at https://bizportal.gov.za/essential_service.aspx. Members applying for a certificate must select “New Application”.

Anyone found to have contravened the regulation commits an offence and, on conviction, will be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

In addition, the guide points out that members are bound by Saiba’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants which prohibits them from knowingly engaging in “any business, occupation or activity that impairs or might impair the integrity, objectivity or good reputation of the profession, and as a result would be incompatible with the fundamental principles.”

Hence, those found to be violating the Lockdown Regulations would, in addition to criminal sanction, may be subject to disciplinary action in terms of Saiba’s disciplinary policy and procedures.

Members are urged to familiarize themselves with the Saiba Guide here. It can also be viewed here.

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.