Pretoria – Over 3.8 million South Africans have filed their 2013 income tax return as of 9am this morning, says the South African revenue Service (Sars).
Of the 3.8 million, just over two million used the SARS eFiling service, and 1.8 million had filed electronically in a SARS branch. Almost two million tax refunds have been paid out by SARS, to the value of over R12.8 billion.
South Africans have just over 10 working days to submit their outstanding tax return - the deadline for non-provisional taxpayers (the majority of employed individuals, who submit a tax return and who earn an income from one or more employer) is 22 November.
Sars has encouraged those who have not filed to do so before the deadline, either by logging onto Sars eFiling (www.sarsefiling.co.za) or by taking all relevant documents into their nearest Sars office where officials will submit their return electronically.
It also warned taxpayers to be on the lookout for emails that ask for personal, tax, banking and eFiling details such as login credentials, passwords, pins, credit/debit card information, etc.
“SARS will never ask taxpayers for such information in an email. Sars will also not request banking details over the phone, or via email, SMS or websites,” said Sars.
Taxpayers, who are concerned about emails or SMS messages claiming to be from SARS, should email phishing@sars.gov.za or call the fraud and anti-corruption hotline on 0800 00 2870, or call the Sars Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277. – SAnews.gov.za
