SARS launches new tool for tax returns

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has launched a new online system making it easier to be tax compliant.

The new Tax Return Status Dashboard comes as part of the SARS Online Query System and allows taxpayers, registered representatives and tax practitioners to have a visual status of the progress of Personal Income Tax returns in terms of submission, verification/audit and refund processing.

According to SARS, you are now able to check the progress of your Personal Income Tax Return after submission.

“This enhancement aims to keep you informed, so there is no need for you to phone the SARS Contact Centre or go to a SARS Branch office,” said SARS.

To obtain one’s Tax Status on the dashboard, there is a four-stage process:

• Initially, an applicant must select who they are looking into as well as the relevant tax year
• Secondly, SARS would require the applicant to insert relevant financial information
• Thirdly, the applicant would obtain and have to insert a One-Time-Pin from SARS
• Fourth and finally, an applicant can view their dashboard

The tax assessment period has currently opened, and all types of South Africans are encouraged to submit a tax return if they have not already been automatically assessed by SARS.

Non-provisional taxpayers are required, for example, to file a tax submission by the 23rd of October, 2023.

When South Africans register for SARS eFiling, they are automatically registered for personal income tax. Alternatively, they can register through their employer or visit a physical branch.

To confirm if they have already registered, individuals can inquire with their employer, use the SARS online Query function, call the SARS Contact Centre, or request a notice of registration (IT150) from SARS to obtain their tax reference number.

The new dashboard follows the revenue service making a concerted effort to modernise and make its processes more efficient. In May of this year, SARS also updated its method of acquiring a Tax Compliance Status (TCS).

Its update process allowed taxpayers to authorise any third party to verify their compliance status online.

The previous solution was in place since 2016 and had to be improved in line with international standards, said SARS.

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