Pretoria - With a few days left until the end of tax season 2016, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is calling on the public to avoid a last day rush.
“Non-provisional taxpayers have four days to file their tax returns before tax season officially closes for this category of taxpayer on Friday, 25 November 2016.
“This applies to whether non-provisional taxpayers file via a branch or via eFiling,” said the revenue service on Monday.
The deadline for provisional taxpayers, who submit via eFiling, is 31 January 2017. A provisional tax payer is any person who receives an income (or to whom income accrues) other than a salary.
While branches operate between 8am to 4pm this week, SARS tax consultants will ensure that all taxpayers are assisted with their tax returns.
“The SARS contact centre will extend its operating hours from 8am to 7pm to particularly ensure that taxpayers opting to submit their tax returns via eFiling have the support required.
“Taxpayers filing their tax returns at a branch can expect an average queue time of 27 minutes, and an average service time of eight minutes,” said the revenue service.
SARS reminded taxpayers that eFiling is the simplest and quickest way to file one’s tax return and is available 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the number of income tax returns received to date has increased to 5.1 million. This includes tax returns received this year and outstanding returns from previous years.
Of the 3 714 998 tax returns applicable to this year’s tax season, 50.80% were filed at a branch and 49.19% via eFiling. A very small percentage (0.01%) has been filed manually via post so far.
Tax season 2016 began on 1 July. – SAnews.gov.za
