SARS is updating its systems – here’s what you need to know
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is scheduled to upgrade its eFiling platform.
According to SARS, the system upgrade will take place on Saturday (6 May 2023) from 05:00 am until 10:00 am.
During this time, the tax collector said that the eFiling system would be intermittently available.
SARS has embarked on Vision 2024, a strategy to modernise the revenue service, and this upcoming upgrade forms part of its endeavours.
The tax authority has said that modernising its systems will make it easier for taxpayers to become compliant and harder for those who wish to play the system.
SARS said the upgrade is pivotal to delivering its vision regarding its digital platforms and technology infrastructure.
“In order to provide clarity & certainty, make it easy for taxpayers & traders to comply with their obligations and build public trust and confidence, our technology assets have to demonstrate the highest levels of availability, robustness and security,” said SARS.
The new system will provide a more ‘digital and streamlined online service’.
eFiling allows taxpayers and businesses, through an online system, to submit returns, make payments and conduct other interactions with SARS at zero cost.
The system allows for the submission of various taxes, duties, levies, and contributions.
To use the system, taxpayers are required to register an account with the revenue service.
Taxpayers can access the online services both through a computer or cellphone through the SARS MobiApp
eFiling further removes the need for consumers to approach a physical SARS branch and, ultimately, skip often long and time-consuming queues.
SARS said that through the eFiling system, taxpayers can:
- Enquire on debt outstanding, make a payment and cancellation of payments
- Enquire on returns outstanding
- Tax Compliance Status
- Notice of Registration (IT150)
- VAT, CIT, PAYE and Trust Notice of Registration
- Filing your Income Tax Return
- Update personal details (including Bank Details)
- Request Statement of Account
- Register for Income Tax
- Submission of Supporting Documents for an audit case
- Lodge a Dispute
- Tax Product Registration (incl. Tax Number Registration)
- Tax Directive Management
- Lodge a complaint
- Refund status
- Audit status
- Username Retrieval and Password Reset
Concerted efforts from SARS to crack down on non-compliance and foreign assets, combined with increasing investigative powers, as well as enabling a more seamless online tax application process, have had positive results.
Recent data from SARS regarding the total tax revenue collected over the previous financial period showed that the authority had increased its tax collection to R1 563 billion – growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%.
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