Pretoria, Monday 30 March 2020 – South Africa like many countries in the world continue to battle with the economic and health impact arising from the COVID 19 pandemic. SARS is fully aware of the devastating effect on the lives of our people, the risk to businesses and an already struggling economy. Consequently, we are committed to maintain the essential services of SARS to mitigate these unfavourable conditions.

In discharging this responsibility, SARS is balancing the safety of our staff, taxpayers and traders, while ensuring that our economy is able to function. As of today, SARS has paid out refunds to taxpayers amounting to R2.4 billion over the four days of lockdown, from Friday 27 March.

The refunds comprise payments to Large Business amounting to R1.1 billion and payments to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) amounting to R1.3 billion. 

The payment of refunds represents a major cash injection into the economy at a very critical period. SARS can only do this if taxpayers and traders remain compliant by fulfilling their filing and payment obligations even during the lockdown.

SARS has made available the following online channels, namely, MobiApp, eFiling, e@syFile, email and the SARS Contact Centre (0800 00 7277) to fulfil these obligations.

Taxpayers and traders are urged to use these channels to make payments that are due on or before 31 March 2020 and remain compliant.

It also remains imperative that various categories of businesses in distress continue to be compliant in order to access the tax relief measures that government has put in place to counter the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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