SARS pays over R62.1-billion in tax refunds 

PRETORIA, TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER 2017 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pleased to announce that more than 2.7-million taxpayers have submitted their tax returns since the opening of the tax season in July 2017.   

SARS wishes to thank all 2 794 952 taxpayers who have submitted their returns timeously. This is an increase of 3.6% compared to last year’s figure this time. As at 1pm today, SARS had already received 18 017 tax returns for this morning alone. 

By Monday 2 October, SARS had paid over R62.1- billion in refunds to taxpayers.  Of this amount, R49.8-billion in VAT refunds was disbursed and R12.3-billion in Personal Income Tax refunds.

• The SARS contact centre to date has handled 1, 69 million calls of which 324 651       have been call-back and help-you-eFile requests. 
• As at the start of Tax Season to date, 49.28% of taxpayers have used the SARS efiling channel while 50.9% filed at a branch.
• Over 2, 5 million taxpayers have visited a SARS branch countrywide as of 01 July this year. 

SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane also expressed appreciation to taxpayers and the team of over 14 000 SARS employees committed to providing excellent service.

 “As SARS we are thankful for the level of compliance amongst taxpayers who make it possible for the State to carry out its mandate. Also, we are proud of the passion, commitment and dedication displayed by SARS employees to provide excellent service throughout the country.

SARS would like to remind taxpayers that efiling is the quickest and easiest method of meeting one’s tax obligations,” said Moyane.

Tax Season was launched by newly appointed Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba at Orlando East branch in Soweto on 3 July 2017. It was for the first time that this was done in a township in the 20 years of SARS existence.

SARS wishes to acknowledge that the Tax Season is the busiest period on the organization’s calendar and recognizes that the season is often accompanied by long queues.  In response, SARS has refined its approach to provide the best possible service to taxpayers.

Required Documentation

SARS wishes to urge taxpayers to have the following documents ready when visiting a branch.

• 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. 

Alternative channels to meet tax obligations

eFiling and Help-You-Efile

SARS would like to remind taxpayers that efiling is the quickest and easiest method of meeting one’s tax obligations.  eFiling can be used for submitting a tax return, lodging disputes and includes the help-you-efile icon that allows you access to a SARS tax agent to assist with your efiling process in a step-by-step manner.

Contact Centre and call-back function

Taxpayers can opt to contact the SARS contact centre to resolve any tax queries or to obtain any tax information they may require, instead of travelling to a branch.  The SARS contact centre can also assist taxpayers to register on efiling and submit a tax return online.   In the event the contact centre is experiencing high call volumes, taxpayers can select the call-back function which allows SARS to call the taxpayer. 

The SARS eFiling MobiSite

The SARS eFiling MobiSite allows taxpayers to file their individual Income Tax Return (ITR12) via eFiling from their mobile phone’s Internet browser.  Once in the internet browser, enter the

SARS website

Taxpayers are encouraged to refer to the SARS website for the latest tax information, updates on branch and contact centre volumes, new legislation and any challenges that are currently being experienced. The SARS website also provides guides to help taxpayers with filing requirements.

SARS commitment to service

Taxpayers are reminded that SARS continues to strive to be of service and to make meeting their tax obligations as simple and easy as possible.  We also thank taxpayers for bringing any challenges they experience to our attention.