Already 5 015 405 tax returns have been received as at 3pm on 15 November 2017. This includes tax returns received this year and outstanding returns from previous years, that have been submitted during this filing season.
Provisional taxpayers, who are taxpayers who receive income other than a salary, have until 31 January 2018 to submit their tax returns via eFiling.
Taxpayers are reminded that eFiling is the easiest and quickest way to file one’s tax return and is available 24 hours. SARS has also made help-you-efile available – a service that immediately connects eFilers to a SARS tax agent while on their own eFiling profile during office hours.
Taxpayers are reminded to ensure that all the necessary supporting documents to substantiate their claims are available – whether filing at a branch or via eFiling. Such documentation includes:
- Your banking particulars
- Your IRP5/IT3(a) certificate(s)
- Certificates [IT3(b)] that you received for any investment income
- Details of medical expenses paid by you and not covered by your medical scheme
- Medical aid certificate for details of medical aid contributions made that do not appear on your IRP5/IT3(a) certificate(s)
- Completed confirmation of diagnosis of disability form (ITR-DD), if applicable
- Information about your retirement annuity contributions
- Details of business travel (if you received a travel allowance or want to claim against a fringe benefit for an employer provided vehicle)
- Information about foreign tax credits withheld
- Financial statements, if applicable e.g. business income
- Any other relevant material relating to income you received or deductions you want to claim.
SARS has noted complaints around refunds and audits. Taxpayers are reminded of the channels through which they can lodge complaints, namely via SARS eFiling at www.sarsefiling.co.za, a SARS Branch, and the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277.
The contact centre also serves as a first point of call for any taxpayer queries to avoid the taxpayer having to visit a branch. During high call volumes, taxpayers can use the contact centre call-back function if a taxpayer cannot wait for a SARS tax agent to take their call.
While branches operate between 08:00 to 16:00 during the week, SARS tax consultants will ensure that all taxpayers are assisted with their tax returns.
In addition, 21 SARS branches have been selected to operate on Saturdays to serve taxpayers. These branches are: Alberton, Ashlea Gardens, Bellville, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Doringkloof, East London, Edenvale, George, Mitchells Plain, Nelspruit-Mbombela, Paarl, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria North, Richards Bay, Rissik Street, Rustenburg, Soweto, Orlando East, Vereeniging, and Witbank-Emalahleni.
