The 2013 tax season for submission of tax returns has officially opened, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) said on Monday.<\/p>\n
By 6.30am on Monday, 260 Sars officials were already on the streets raising awareness about the start of the tax season, Sars spokesman Adrian Lackay said.<\/p>\n
“By the start of business this morning, more than 11,238 income tax returns have already been submitted though the internet on eFiling,” Lackay said.<\/p>\n
Lackay said that by the deadline of the end of November 2012, 5.66 million tax returns had been submitted, a 16.4 percent increase from 2011.<\/p>\n
Refunds of R14.55 billion were paid to taxpayers, which was 14.8 percent more than the previous year.<\/p>\n
Lackay said the annual tax season represented one of the biggest, direct engagements between a public institution of the South African government and taxpayers.<\/p>\n
“It also serves as a key determinant of the levels of compliance amongst ordinary citizens with the laws of the country,” he said.<\/p>\n
The key focus for 2013 was to encourage taxpayers to electronic channels to file their tax returns, to avoid queues in Sars offices.<\/p>\n
If the taxpayer was not able or confident to complete and submit the tax return themselves on eFiling, it could be done electronically by a Sars consultant at a branch office.<\/p>\n
The deadline to submit returns by post, or drop them off at a Sars drop box, was September 27.<\/p>\n
Non-provisional taxpayers had until November 22, and provisional taxpayers until January 31 next year.<\/p>\n
Provisional taxpayers had income from investments, business activities, rent, and royalties.<\/p>\n
Lackay said from this year any taxpayer whose gross income for the year was below R250,000 need not file a tax return if they met the following requirements:<\/p>\n
SARS Help-You-eFile service goes live<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SARS unveils e-filing app<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Tax legislation amid rapid tech growth<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n