If you choose manual submission (completing your Income Tax Return in writing) then you need to call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277 or visit a SARS branch and order your Income Tax Return (ITR12). It will then be posted to you.

What can I do while I wait for my return?
Gather your supporting documents, like your IRP5/IT3(a)s, medical certificates, pension and retirement annuity certificates, travel logbook, etc. You don’t need to submit them anymore but you will need them to check the pre-populated part of your return and to complete the other sections. Remember, you need to keep these for five years in case we want to inspect them.
Request for Income Tax Return (ITRR) forms only applicable to manual filers of 65 years and older Taxpayers who are 65 years of age and older and who submitted their Income Tax Returns (ITR12s) per post or at a drop box at a branch last year, will receive their Request for Income Tax Return (ITRR) forms per post. Your ITRR form will include fields you completed on your Income Tax Return last year. If these are still the same, simply sign your ITRR and send it back to SARS. However, if something has changed (e.g. you’ve taken out a retirement annuity) you need to complete the back page of the ITRR, sign it and send it back to SARS. When we receive your Request for Income Tax Return (ITRR), we will post your actual Income Tax Return (ITR12) to you.

How do I complete my return?
Step 1: Once your ITR12 arrives, you firstly need to check it. If all the pre-populated information is correct and you have no other fields that you need to complete, you simply sign the ITR12 and send it back to SARS.
Step 2: If any of the pre-populated information is incorrect, you can change it by writing over the pink text in black ink. And if something is no longer relevant, you just draw a line through the middle of the text with black ink. (info box: Why pink ink? Our scanners can’t read pink very well – so when your return is scanned electronically all we see are the changes you have made. If there are no changes – we simply use the information on our system which appeared in pink on your return)
Step 3: Make sure that you complete all mandatory and relevant fields. One of these is the field for banking details, which is vital to complete as we cannot pay you a refund without verifying this.

Please note that if you want to change your banking details you can do so on your Income Tax Return (IRP12) form.
Any changes to banking details will be verified by SARS before updating your banking profile. Any refunds due to you (if applicable) will be processed after your banking details are received and verified. It may be necessary for you to come into a SARS branch to present supporting documents. SARS will notify you if this is required. Further information on the process to provide banking details is available on the SARS website www.sars.gov.za.

Step 4: Sign it! We won’t accept your Income Tax Return if it is not signed.

How do I submit my return?
Post it in the self-addressed postage-paid envelope supplied or drop it off at a SARS drop box at a SARS branch. File as early as you can because the earlier you file, the quicker we can process it and give you a refund (if applicable).

An ITR12 Comprehensive Guide is available on the SARS website to assist you with the completion and submission of your Income Tax Return.

Remember the deadline for manual returns is 30 September 2011. Once you submitted your manual return the average turnaround time to get your assessment is two months.

You may file electronically via our SARS eFiling system/website:

Step 1: Register - if you haven’t already done so! Join the 2.25 million people already enjoying the speed, convenience and ease of SARS eFiling.
Step 2: Once you have registered or logged in , you will find your Income Tax Return (ITR12) already populated with your personal and financial information – if your employer has provided us with your IRP5 information! If not, you can try again later by clicking on the “Refresh IRP5 Data” button.
Step 3: You can then complete a questionnaire on the first page of the ITR12, which will create all the fields you need to complete your return.
Step 4: Check the pre-populated information and make changes where necessary. Make sure that you complete all mandatory and relevant fields. One of these is a field for bank details, which is vital to complete as we cannot pay you a refund without verifying this.

Please note that if you want to change your banking details you can do so via the SARS efiling channel when submitting your Income Tax Return. Any changes to banking details will be verified before updating your banking profile. Any refunds due to you (if applicable) will be processed after your banking details are received and verified. It may be necessary for you to come into a SARS branch to present supporting documents. SARS will notify you if this is required. Further information on the process to provide banking details is available on the SARS website www.sars.gov.za .

Step 5: You can then use our online tax calculator to check your return and get an indication of your assessment.
Step 6: Once you’re ready to submit the return to SARS, just click on the “File” button. If something is incorrect or incomplete, eFiling will prompt you to correct it. An eFiling Step-by-step guide to your ITR12 is available on the SARS website to assist you with the completion and submission of your Income Tax Return.

Remember the deadline for SARS eFiling returns is 25 November 2011. Once you submitted your SARS eFiling return the average turnaround time to get your assessment is two days.

Just bring all your supporting documents to your nearest branch and we will do it all for you! No need to request a form, no need to wait, no need to register – just come and let us help you. But remember – the longer you wait to come to a branch, the longer the queue of other people who also left it to the last minute and the longer the wait! So come early and get the service we want to give you!

When visiting a SARS branch you have to bring the following documents with you:

• Your original ID or passport, plus a certified copy, or an affidavit in the absence of an ID/passport together with a temporary ID/passport
• Original bank statement with bank stamp
• Original proof of residential address not older than 3 months with your name and residential address (e.g. municipal account)
• IRP5/IT3(a) employee tax certificates
• IT3(b) interest certificates
• Medical aid certificates and receipts
• Pension fund and retirement annuity certificates
• Your IRP5/IT3(a) certificate(s)which you will receive from your employer
• Travel logbook (if you receive a travel allowance)
• Tax certificates that you received in respect of investment income (IT3(b)
• Completed confirmation of diagnosis of disability (ITR-DD) (if applicable)
• Information relating to capital gain transactions (if applicable)
• The approved Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) Agreement between yourself and SARS for year prior to 17 February 2010 (where applicable)
• Financial statements (if applicable, e.g. business income)
• Any other documentation relating to income you received or deductions you want to claim.