With 16 days to go before the 31 October 2007 deadline for the submission of income tax returns, SARS must urge taxpayers who have not filed their returns to do so urgently to avoid the last minute rush to SARS's offices.
Each year SARS receives an average of 100 000 tax returns a day during the final two weeks of Filing Season. This causes unavoidable queues and delays for taxpayers at branches offices.
SARS is also urging taxpayers who may not yet have received a tax return in the mail to download an electronic version of the relevant return at www.sarsefiling.co.za. Taxpayers can complete these returns on their computer and then simply print the return, sign it and hand it in to any branch of SARS or any South African Post Office.
Electronic copies of personal income tax returns (IT12S and IT12C) have also been made available to employees on company intranet sites by a large numbers of employers.
Those without access to the internet can visit any SARS branch office where the return can be captured electronically for them or a return printed for manual completion by the taxpayer.
Alternatively taxpayers can call 0860 12 12 18 to update their postal addresses and request a return to be posted. However, this should be done urgently to allow time for the posting, completion and submission of the return before the deadline on 31 October.
The final - and preferred - option is for taxpayers to use eFiling, the free, secure internet tax service from SARS. Taxpayers choosing to file their return via www.sarsefiling.co.za have until 31 January 2008 to submit their returns.
ENDS
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA