21 September 2011
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has received more than two-million returns since the tax season began on 1 July, spokesman Adrian Lackay said on Tuesday.
This represented an increase of 16 percent on last year’s figures.
“During last year’s tax season, it took taxpayers 14 weeks to submit two-million returns to Sars,” said Lackay.
“In addition, it took just 10 weeks for one-million tax returns to be submitted via eFiling this year, compared to 14 weeks last year.”
Lackay said this showed the growing popularity of eFiling as a free, safe and convenient channel for interacting with Sars.
He said 98 percent of returns submitted were captured using Sars’ electronic filing platforms.
“Judging by the number of returns filed, the message to taxpayers to file early, honestly and electronically is getting across.”
Lackay said Sars would set up service points at selected shopping malls and libraries around the country for the remainder of the tax season, to help taxpayers.
Selected Sars offices would also continue to operate on extended hours from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays.
The deadline for postal submissions (paper tax returns) for provisional and non-provisional taxpayers is September 30. Taxpayers using eFiling have until November 25.
Provisional taxpayers who use eFiling have until Tuesday January 31, 2012 to submit returns.
Sapa
