The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will from this weekend extend its services to taxpayers across the country to encourage the submission of income tax returns.
As of today, South African taxpayers have only two weeks or 10 working days left until the Filing Season deadline of 14 July 2006. Since a large number of returns are still outstanding SARS branch offices will set up service points at various public places over the next two weekends.
Taxpayers can receive advice, register or submit their returns at these service points; which will be located at libraries, big shopping centres and other public or community centres. A comprehensive list and provincial breakdown of these service points is available on the SARS website (www.sars.gov.za) under the link Filing Season 2006 and the heading Service Points.
To date SARS has received more than 1.2 million income tax returns. The rate of submissions remains slow and it can be expected that large numbers of taxpayers will visit SARS offices over the next two weeks. The extended working hours and service points over weekends will be initiated to reduce the pressure of long queues at branch offices.
Other methods to ensure better service to taxpayers include the closure of certain street lanes at the SARS offices in central Pretoria and Durban to allow for a drop-off facility.
The electronic filing facility (efiling) remains an alternative to submit returns for taxpayers who have internet access. To date more than 23 000 taxpayers have registered as users.
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