Johannesburg - Taxpayers have been given another 15 days to submit their returns - but the extension applies only to those who are using e-filing to submit their returns electronically.
The new deadline for electronic returns is 5 February; the original deadline for e-filing was 23 January, reports Joburg.org.
According to the South African Revenue Services (SARS) website, for those who need help with their returns, SARS will be able to complete and capture the return of the taxpayer electronically, at its offices.
But the deadline for this assistance remains 23 January; thereafter, all returns must be submitted electronically via e-filing.
"Those who are submitting written returns must do so by 23 January, which was the initial deadline," said Malerato Sekha, a communications officer at the service.
"SARS will complete and capture returns electronically at any SARS office. Taxpayers using e-filing are being given a chance until 5 February to submit their income tax returns electronically."
While it has already received 850 000 returns via e-filing, SARS says many taxpayers have waited for the last two weeks of the tax season to submit their documents, and it expects this figure to more than double before the deadline.
However, it seems that many people need help from SARS with their e-filing logon and password details, which is putting immense pressure on the SARS call centre.
In response, it has appealed to people who have forgotten their passwords or login details to visit the e-filing website to resolve this online rather than over the telephone.
"Taxpayers who continue to encounter problems in accessing the call centre are advised to go to their nearest SARS branch office for assistance," said Ms Sekha.
"We urge people to please visit our offices when experiencing problems with their logons so that they can meet the deadline. If they don't do so, they will be putting massive pressure on our call centres."
Given the volume of calls, SARS has deployed additional staff.
The SARS service centre can be contacted on 086 012 1218, 080 000 7277, or (011) 602- 2093, or by visiting www.sars.gov.za
