Expenses you were allowed to claim, but didn't
Everyday business purchases that could have reduced your tax, sitting in your own records because nobody asked about them.
Accounting for South African businesses
Your returns get submitted. But has anyone actually examined your books?
Elgad looks at your books the way an auditor would. We find the money you're missing and keep everything in order, so you don't need to understand accounting yourself.
Working with businesses anywhere in South Africa
General ledgerReviewed · Illustrative
| Office rent | R 12 500.00 | ✓ |
| Laptop, used for the businessAllowances. Never claimed. | R 18 999.00 | ! |
| Accounting software | R 649.00 | ✓ |
| Supplier invoice, incl. VATInput VAT not reclaimed | R 34 500.00 | ! |
| Bank charges | R 410.00 | ✓ |
The problem nobody sees
Everything looks fine. That's exactly the problem.
The deadlines are met and SARS has your return. But if you don't know accounting, you have no way of telling whether your books were examined or just processed. The difference rarely shows up as an error. It shows up as money that quietly never comes back to you.
Money you could have reclaimed
Amounts you're entitled to get back that simply weren't picked up, because the books were captured but never really read.
Books that are always catching up
When records fall behind, claims get missed, deadlines get stressful, and nobody, including you, has a clear picture of the business.
One business owner didn't realise an item they'd bought could have been expensed, and could have saved them tax. The saving was in their own records the whole time. Nobody had looked.
A real situation. Details kept private.
Submitted isn't examined
Two accountants can file the same return. Only one of them actually looked.
Processed
Your books get done
- Documents are captured as they arrive
- The return is submitted before the deadline
- You hear from your accountant when something is due
- Nobody asks what's behind the numbers
- Whatever wasn't claimed stays unclaimed
Examined
Your books get looked at
- Every line is read with a question in mind: should this be here, and is something missing?
- Legitimate claims you didn't know about get found
- Your records are kept up to date, not rushed at year-end
- You're asked about your business, not just for paperwork
- You get a plain explanation of what your numbers mean
Why Elgad finds what others miss
Built on looking inside many other companies' books.
Before Elgad, its founder audited and consulted for many companies. That work trains a habit most small business accounting never gets: reading the books to find what's wrong, missing or wasted, and then fixing it.
Elgad brings that same scrutiny to businesses that usually only get their paperwork processed.
An auditor's eye, on your side. The point isn't to find fault with you. It's to find the money that's yours, and to keep you comfortably in order with SARS.
- Is every legitimate expense actually being claimed?Not just the obvious ones. The purchases that never made it to your accountant's desk.
- Is there money you're owed that hasn't been reclaimed?Amounts you're entitled to get back are easy to miss when nobody is checking for them.
- Do the numbers tell the true story of the business?If the books don't match what's really happening, decisions get made blind.
- Are the books current, or always catching up?Up-to-date records are how claims get made and deadlines stop being stressful.
- Was this decision run past anyone before it was made?Some of the most expensive mistakes happen before the accountant ever hears about them.
About Us
Elgad was founded by Matti Segal CA(SA), a qualified Chartered Accountant with experience in both auditing and financial management. Working as a financial manager, Matti saw how often tax savings were not utilised, and through his work he also realised that the financial records of small businesses are frequently overlooked. Elgad was started to change that. We give small businesses the same detailed attention that larger organisations receive, so that owners can be confident in their numbers, make the most of the savings available to them, and focus on running their business.
Smarter tools, lower costs for you
At Elgad, we use AI to take care of the time-consuming parts of accounting, such as capturing data, sorting transactions and preparing records. What used to take hours now takes a fraction of the time. Even though AI does the processing, there is always experienced human oversight, so every figure is reviewed by a qualified professional before it reaches you. That also frees our team to spend more time looking at your numbers and finding ways to save you money. We believe the benefit of that efficiency belongs to you, so we pass those savings on to our clients.
What we do
Services
Every service starts the same way: someone actually reads your books, asks questions, and tells you plainly what they find.
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Your books captured and kept up to date through the year, and actually read, not just processed.
VAT Returns & Compliance
VAT returns prepared and submitted on time, with input VAT checked so nothing you can reclaim is missed.
Tax Returns
Individual and company tax returns, plus provisional tax, prepared with every legitimate claim considered.
Annual Financial Statements
Year-end statements prepared and explained in plain language, so you know what your numbers say.
CIPC Annual Returns
Your company's annual return filed on time, so one less deadline sits on your desk.
Beneficial Ownership Submissions
Your company's beneficial ownership information submitted, as the rules require.
Company Secretarial Services
The statutory admin every company has to keep up with, handled for you.
Fixed Asset Registers
A clear record of your business assets, so claims on equipment and other assets aren't overlooked.
General Accounting & Business Support
Day-to-day accounting questions and support, answered in plain language whenever you need a hand.
Not sure which of these you need? Tell us about your business and we'll point you to the right place to start.
Email us
What a close look gives you
Two things every business owner wants from their accountant.
Money kept
Legitimate claims made and amounts you're owed reclaimed, found by someone who reads your books instead of just capturing them. Always within SARS rules, never through grey-area schemes.
Books in order
Records kept up to date throughout the year, so you always know where you stand, deadlines stop being a scramble, and SARS stops being a worry.
A 60-second check
Are your books being examined, or just processed?
Answer five honest questions. Nothing is sent anywhere. It's just for you.
Getting started
Starting is just an email.
You don't need to prepare anything or understand accounting. Tell us a little about your business and we'll take it from there.
Step 1
Email us
Tell us what your business does and how your books are handled today. A few lines is plenty.
Step 2
We ask the right questions
We'll reply with the questions that matter about your business, the same ones an auditor would ask.
Step 3
We look closely
We get to know your books properly, then explain in plain language what we find and what it means for you.
No jargon
If we use a term, we explain it. You should always understand what's happening with your own money.
Anywhere in South Africa
Everything can be handled by email, so it doesn't matter which city or town your business is in.
Legitimate, always
Every saving we find is one you're entitled to. We work within SARS rules, never around them.
Questions
What owners usually ask first.
I don't really understand accounting. Is that a problem?
Not at all. That's who Elgad is for. You run the business. We read the books and explain what matters in plain language. You'll never be expected to know the jargon.
I already have an accountant. Why would I talk to you?
Most owners who already have an accountant can't tell whether their books are being examined or just processed. Everything looks fine either way. If you've ever wondered whether you're getting a standard service, it's worth a conversation.
Does "auditor's eye" mean you'll find problems with SARS?
It means we look closely, and that works in your favour. The aim is to find money that's legitimately yours and keep your books in good order, so SARS becomes less of a worry, not more.
Are the savings you find legal?
Yes. We only look for claims and refunds you're properly entitled to. No loopholes and no grey areas. A saving that puts you at risk isn't a saving.
My business isn't near you. Can we still work together?
Yes. Elgad works with businesses anywhere in South Africa, and everything can be handled by email.
What size of business do you work with?
Trading businesses of any size, from owners working on their own to businesses with teams, that want to keep more of their money and have their books properly up to date.
Worth a second look
Think your books are just being processed?
Send us a short email about your business, or give us a call. We'll take a proper look and tell you plainly what we see.
Info@elgad.co.za