The South African Revenue Service (SARS) in KwaZulu-Natal today extended its taxpayer services to one of the biggest employers in the province and the country to assist workers and encourage them to submit their returns before the 14 July 2006 deadline.
SARS officials visited the Isipingo plant of the Toyota South Africa south of Durban to conduct taxpayer education through an industrial theatre presentation and to assist blue collar workers to submit their returns.
SARS has a dedicated service point on site where any Toyota employee can ask for advice, assistance, submit a return or register as a taxpayer for the first time.
In this way Toyota SA is setting an example of good corporate citizenship to their peers by recognising the importance of their employees to be informed about tax and more importantly, to be tax compliant. The company employs some 9 500 people at the Isipingo plant of which more than 90% earn more than R60 000 per annum and are therefore eligible to register as taxpayers.
SARS has conducted similar outreach activities at 51 other workplaces in the province and will continue to extend its services to shopping centres and other public places over weekends. More than 15 000 income tax returns have been captured through these extended service offerings in the province.
To date 87 137 KwaZulu-Natal taxpayers have submitted their returns which is slightly below last year?s comparative Filing Season figure of 99 487.
SARS must reiterate its call to South African taxpayers to submit their returns as soon as possible before the July 14 deadline to avoid long queues and the last minute rush to SARS offices. Less than 1 million returns have been received at SARS branch offices throughout the country thus far.
For taxpayer convenience the electronic submission facility (efiling) remains an alternative for individuals who have internet access. Growth in the number of efiling registrations remains strong at 21 672 with more than 6 000 returns already submitted.
Taxpayers who want to make use of the electronic submission facility [must]:
Taxpayers who choose to file their returns manually are reminded to prepare the following documentation when submitting their return:
Taxpayers with general Filing Season enquiries can contact the SARS call centre at 0860 12 12 18. For technical queries regarding eFiling the helpline 0860 709 709 is available.
ENDS
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA