Esterhuyse & Associates
SAIT · CIBA · SARS Registered Tax Practitioners · Cape Town CBD

The right amount
of tax. Not a
cent more.

We believe you should pay as little tax as the law allows — no more, no less. Precision, integrity, and personal service from people who know your numbers.

SAIT
Robert Esterhuyse
CIBA
Lisa Hattingh
SARS
Registered Tax Practitioners
9th Floor, Wale Street Chambers, 33 Church Street, Cape Town 8001
021 423 9110 · +27 21 423 9110 (intl)
info@esterhuyseandassociates.co.za
On Tax — Benjamin Franklin, 1789
"In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy · November 13, 1789
Our Philosophy
Franklin was right — tax is inevitable. But how much you pay is not. We apply the Income Tax Act precisely: maximising every legitimate deduction, allowance, and structure available to you, while ensuring full, honest compliance with SARS.

We are not against tax. We are against paying more than you legally owe.
What We Do

Our services

We are a boutique accounting and tax firm. Our core focus is tax — planning it, filing it, and when necessary, fighting for you when SARS gets it wrong.

Core Services
01

Tax Planning & Returns

Personal, provisional, and business tax returns filed with precision across all entity types. Proactive planning ensures every legitimate deduction under the Income Tax Act is applied — not a cent more to SARS than legally required.

IndividualsCompaniesDeceased EstatesTrustsProvisional Tax
02

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Monthly management accounts, bank reconciliations, and VAT submissions. Accurate, up-to-date records that underpin sound tax planning and give you a clear view of your business at all times.

Monthly AccountsBank ReconciliationsVAT SubmissionsManagement Reports
03

Annual Financial Statements

Professionally compiled financial statements for sole proprietors, close corporations, private companies, and trusts — prepared accurately and ready for any submission or stakeholder requirement.

Sole ProprietorsClose CorporationsPrivate CompaniesTrusts
04

Payroll & PAYE

End-to-end payroll with full monthly and annual statutory compliance. PAYE, UIF and SDL submissions, IRP5 reconciliations, WCA registration with the Compensation Fund, and Return of Earnings — on time, every cycle.

Monthly ComplianceAnnual ReconciliationsIRP5 & IT3(a)UIF & SDLWCA RegistrationReturn of Earnings
Core Service
05
SARS Dispute Resolution
When SARS gets it wrong — or imposes penalties that are unfair or disproportionate — you have rights. We know the dispute process inside out and represent your interests firmly and professionally.
★ TIER Audit Representation
We have successfully managed SARS TIER audits on behalf of clients — one of the most complex and intrusive processes SARS conducts. Experienced representation from day one is essential.
Penalty Remission
  • Remission of administrative non-compliance penalties
  • Remission of understatement penalties under s222 of the TAA
  • Representation on penalty percentage categories
  • Voluntary disclosure to reduce or eliminate penalties
Objections & Appeals
  • Notice of Objection (NOO) drafting and submission
  • Grounds of appeal to the Tax Board and Tax Court
  • Response to SARS additional assessments
  • Engagement with SARS audit and verification queries
  • Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings
Additional Services

Business Advisory

Practical advice on business structure, cash flow, budgeting, and tax-efficient operations — grounded in your actual numbers, not generic frameworks.

Company Secretarial

CIPC registrations, annual returns, and basic statutory compliance.
A supporting service for accounting clients — not a standalone focus.

Financial Services — Referred to Anchor Capital
Investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management are regulated by the FSCA and fall outside our scope of practice. Our trusted partners at Anchor Capital are well-equipped to assist. We are happy to provide a personal referral — ask us during your consultation or contact us directly.
"
He said that there was death and taxes, and taxes was worse, because at least death didn't happen to you every year.
— Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man  ·  Which is exactly why we plan ahead.
Book a Consultation →
We don't give free advice — and here's why that protects you.
Tax and accounting questions deserve proper answers. A quick reply without seeing your full picture can be misleading — or worse, costly. Our initial consultation (R2,300 incl. VAT) ensures we understand your situation completely before we say a word. Good advice takes time. We charge for ours because it's worth it.
Book a Consultation →

Book your initial
consultation

A focused, paid 60-minute session with Robert or Lisa. We review your tax and accounting situation and give you a clear, honest action plan.

Initial Consultation Fee
R2,300
VAT inclusive · Collected via Netcash immediately after booking
  • Full review of your current tax & accounting position
  • Personalised, frank recommendations and next steps
  • Written summary delivered after the session
  • Fee offset against ongoing engagement if you proceed
Our preference is in-person at our 9th Floor offices, Wale Street Chambers, 33 Church Street, Cape Town. Virtual (Zoom) appointments available on request.
Payment collected via Netcash immediately after booking · Card, EFT & QR accepted

Step 1 — Pick a date & time

Select an available slot. You will be directed to complete payment of R2,300 incl. VAT immediately after booking.

After booking you will be directed to pay R2,300 incl. VAT via Netcash to confirm your appointment

Our Team

The people behind your numbers

Two practitioners. Decades of combined experience. A shared belief that you should never pay more tax than the law requires.

RE
Robert Esterhuyse
Managing Partner
✦ SAIT Registered ✦ SARS Tax Practitioner ✦ Nat. Dip. Cost & Management Accounting
⛰ When not working
Avid hiker and mountaineer — most at home on the slopes of Table Mountain and beyond.
Managing Partner · Biography

"Born on the slopes of Table Mountain. Forged in the Congo."

Origins · Cape Town & Paarl
Roots in the Western Cape
Born and raised on the slopes of Table Mountain, Robert completed his schooling in Paarl before pursuing his National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
12 Years · Cape Town
Jonathan Hayden Chartered Accountants
Robert cut his teeth at Jonathan Hayden, a respected Cape Town chartered accountancy firm, where he spent 12 years building deep expertise in tax, accounting, and client service across a wide range of industries and entity types.
Headhunted · Democratic Republic of Congo
Financial Manager — Bell Equipment
Headhunted to serve as Financial Manager for Bell Equipment's operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo — managing complex financial operations in one of the most challenging and high-stakes environments imaginable. The experience sharpened his ability to operate with precision, composure, and sound judgement under pressure.
2016 · Cape Town
Founded Esterhuyse & Associates
Returning to Cape Town in 2016, Robert founded Esterhuyse & Associates with a clear purpose: to deliver specialist, boutique accounting and tax services with the depth of a large firm and the personal attention of a small one.
LH
Lisa Hattingh
Associate
✦ ACCA Qualified ✦ CIBA Registered ✦ SARS Tax Practitioner ✦ 8 Years · Esterhuyse & Associates ✦ International Experience · London
🚴 Out of office
Spin instructor at Velocity Sports Lab, Hout Bay — the same discipline and energy off the bike as behind the books.
Associate · Biography

"From London's financial district to Cape Town's books — precision travels."

Qualification · ACCA via BPP
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Lisa qualified through the ACCA — one of the world's most respected professional accounting bodies — studying through BPP, the ACCA's leading learning provider, building deep expertise in financial reporting, taxation, and analysis.
🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom
Dec 2012 – Dec 2015 · London
Senior Expense Analyst — XL Catlin
Before returning to South Africa, Lisa built her corporate career at XL Catlin, a major international insurance and reinsurance group in London. As Senior Expense Analyst she managed quarterly and monthly expense reporting, planning and variance analysis, business partnering, and M&A expense integration work.
🇬🇧 Wimbledon, London
Jan 2009 – Feb 2016 · London
Spin Instructor — Pedal Studio, Wimbledon
Alongside her London career, Lisa instructed spin classes at Pedal Studio in Wimbledon for over seven years — discipline and energy that followed her back to Cape Town.
Since March 2018 · Cape Town
Associate — Esterhuyse & Associates
Lisa joined the firm in March 2018 — among its earliest appointments — and has been central to its quality ever since. She specialises in bookkeeping, annual financial statements across all entity types, and individual tax returns. As a SARS registered tax practitioner and CIBA member, she combines global rigour with deep local compliance knowledge.
Since July 2016 · Hout Bay, Cape Town
Spin Instructor — Velocity Sports Lab, Hout Bay
Since returning to Cape Town, Lisa has continued instructing at Velocity Sports Lab in Hout Bay — nearly a decade of commitment that mirrors the energy she brings to every client engagement.

Get in touch

Not ready to book yet? Reach out with a question — we respond within one business day.

Office9th Floor, Wale Street Chambers
33 Church Street, Cape Town 8001
Telephone021 423 9110
+27 21 423 9110 (international)
Emailinfo@esterhuyseandassociates.co.za
Office HoursMonday – Friday: 08:00 – 17:00