Pretoria - One million taxpayers have already submitted their tax returns in the 2016 tax season, said the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
“South African taxpayers have submitted one million tax returns in 21 days,” said the revenue service on Monday.
The confirmed figure was recorded by SARS on Friday afternoon. The tax season opened on 1 July.
At least 611 453 submissions (60.16%) came through via eFiling and 404 603 (39.81%) through SARS branches.
SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane said the trend towards eFiling marked a significant development.
“SARS made a commitment to making the filing of a tax return an easy experience. Since the start of tax season, we have emphasised the use of eFiling as it is the quickest and easiest way to submit a return, and is available 24 hours,” he said.
The revenue service has made it possible for tax payers to no longer stand in long queues to file their tax returns.
“We have also improved supporting tools such as Help-you-eFile. These figures show that taxpayers are responding positively to the changes and are working with SARS to collect the required revenue to meet South Africa’s development agenda,” said Moyane.
The revenue service also thanked those who submitted their returns early.
“This achievement confirms that South African taxpayers are compliant and are committed to working with SARS. On behalf of the more than 14 000 SARS staff, we would like to thank taxpayers for their willingness to meet their tax obligations and responsibilities, ” said Moyane.
Moyane said paying tax is the highest form of patriotism. “This is certainly making our job of revenue collection easier.”
With the start of the tax season, SARS has extended its contact centre operating hours during weekdays. This includes operating on weekends in the July month. The contact centre has a call-back function, which means that taxpayers can opt for SARS to call them back if they need assistance. No taxpayer has to wait or hang up without getting assisted.
SARS improved its Help-You-eFile facility, which allows a taxpayer to contact a SARS contact centre agent, who will browse the eFiling site with the taxpayer providing the taxpayer with step-by-step assistance. The taxpayer’s confidential information remains unseen and secure.
Scam alert
The revenue service also reminded taxpayers of attempts to scam tax payers.
“SARS would like to remind taxpayers that even if they are using the service of a tax practitioner or an intermediary, the taxpayer remains personally liable for their own tax affairs and their own compliance,” said the revenue service.
Taxpayers should ensure the tax practitioner they use is registered and accredited, and can check the registration status of a tax practitioner on the SARS website.
Scammers usually obtain taxpayer information by posing as tax consultants, tax practitioners or a trusted third party. They are then able access the taxpayers profile on eFiling and submit false declarations.
The revenue service urged taxpayers not to reveal their eFiling details such as login name and password to anyone.
“Taxpayers are also warned to be vigilant in the use of personal devices to ensure these devices are secure and to ensure that login credentials are strong and not repeatedly used over multiple devices,” said SARS.
SARS will never request banking or personal details in any communication that one receives by post, email, phone or SMS.
“Importantly, SARS will also not send you any hyperlinks to other websites, even those of banks. There are no links to any banks on the SARS website.”
Taxpayers, who are concerned about emails or SMS messages claiming to be from SARS, should visit the SARS Scams and Phishing webpage on www.sars.gov.za or email phishing@sars.gov.za.
Taxpayers can also call the SARS Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870 or call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277.
Deadlines for submissions
The deadline for taxpayers, who submit their tax returns manually by post or by dropping them off in a SARS drop box, is 23 September 2016.
The deadline for all non-provisional taxpayers via eFiling or at a branch is 25 November 2016. Non-provisional taxpayers are the majority of employed individuals, who submit a tax return and who earn an income from one or more employer.
The deadline for provisional taxpayers, who submit returns via eFiling, is 31 January 2017. – SAnews.gov.za
