PRETORIA, Tuesday, 30 July 2019 – To date, the response from South Africa has been great, with over 6 million logins, almost 1.3 million returns requested, and over 1 million returns submitted, of which 900 000 are for the 2019 tax year. 
 
By 29 July 2019, SARS had paid R5.5 Billion, with an average turn-around of 7 days for taxpayers that had not been selected for audits, and 21 days for those selected for audits. 
 
SARS also wishes to reiterate that when we opened the latest Filing Season on 1 July 2019, predominantly for electronic filing via its eFiling and Mobile Application platforms, the purpose was to make things easier for taxpayers.
 
In our endeavour to ensure a smooth service, while maintaining cyber security protocols and staying abreast of technology, various changes were introduced this tax filing season for taxpayer’s convenience. These include the following: 

• New security protocols:
• Use of one time pins to ensure secure login.
• User profile and portfolio clean-up.
• Structured security questions with client known data.
• Use of supported internet browsers, like Google Chrome and the phasing out of non-supported browsers such as Internet Explorer.
• Introduction of HTML5 technology:
• To replace the outdated ADOBE forms technology, which most browsers are closing down.
• Cater for visually impaired clients via software compatibility.
• Ease of use using browser and keyboard controls.
• An all new MobiApp:
• Caters for the full submission cycle, including audit and payments.
• Uploading supporting documents.
• Includes a chat bot, Lwazi, that can be interacted with to provide answers to Filing Season and Tax related questions.
• Call Centre interaction with call back capability.
• Self Service Username and Password functionality.
• eFiling registration capability.
• Newly refreshed eFiling site:
   New navigation functionality that puts more power in the hands of the user, for example, requirements like ‘forgotten username’ and ‘password reset’.
   Portfolio management and profile clean-up.
• Redesigned and dynamic Tax Risk Engine that drives specific supporting document requests.
• An efficient Case Selection Engine that matches and pre-populates third party data on tax returns.
• Legal changes, as introduced on an annual basis

Enhanced co-browsing to enable SARS call centre agents, to assist and guide taxpayers with return completion.

SARS has noted the dissatisfaction expressed by a few taxpayers over technical glitches encountered while trying to submit their tax returns.

SARS acknowledges that while many taxpayers have experienced a smooth service, some have experienced difficulties with logging in, not receiving one-time pins, the inability to upload supporting documents, data issues impacting filing, including assessments and tax calculator results.

SARS takes these issues very seriously, and all efforts have been made to resolve them expeditiously and minimize the impact on compliant taxpayers who want to fulfil their filing obligations. 

SARS would like to apologise for the inconvenience to the affected taxpayer, but wishes to emphasise that this is not the general rule.

The process for taxpayers below the income threshold, which was increased to R500 000, with income from one employer and no other deductions, who still want to submit returns, was further enhanced to allow seamless submission, by presenting a simulated tax calculation based on pre-populated third party which could simply be accepted.
 
To date, the response from South Africa has been great. In the event of any problems, taxpayers are urged to phone the SARS Contact Centre no. on 0800 00 7277 or email to webmaster@sars.gov.za. It is SARS’ commitment to resolve all enquiries urgently and speedily.

PRETORIA, Saturday 13 July 2019 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pleased to announce that there has been an increase of five percent in the uptake of eFiling in the first two weeks of Tax Season 2019.

As at yesterday (Friday 12 July), SARS had received over 456 000 personal income tax submissions via eFiling  compared to last year and over 36 600 submissions via the SARS MobiApp.

SARS has put in place Wi-Fi at its branches to convert taxpayers to these two revamped digital channels, eFiling and the SARS MobiApp, in an effort to further improve the uptake of these two digital channels.

SARS reminds taxpayers of the following Tax Season dates. SARS Branch submissions will be accepted between 01 August and 31 October, while eFilers and MobiApp users have until 04 December. 

SARS is aware that some taxpayers are experiencing challenges with the payment of refunds, and the inspection, verification or audit processes. SARS apologises for the inconvenience caused.

We would like to remind all taxpayers selected for either of these processes of our Service Charter commitment which is as follows:

If a current year’s refund is due to you and no other debt is due, all obligations have been met, SARS administrative control processes are adhered to and no inspection, verification or audit is required or has been initiated, we will endeavour to:

• Pay the current filing period’s refund, above R100, within 7 business days of finalising the final assessment.
• If you are selected for an inspection, verification or audit, we will endeavour to:
• Notify you that the return or declaration is subject to verification within 15 business days of submission, if your return is for the current filing period.
• Conclude verification within 21 business days from the date all required supporting documents are received, if your return is for the current filing period.
• Conclude an audit within 90 business days from the date all required supporting documents are received.

With regards to bank interest information, taxpayers need to note that Personal Income Tax Returns will only be pre-populated with this information from 2020. However, this information can be inserted manually for the 2019 tax year.

A number of fixes will be implemented this weekend which will address most of the feedback received from taxpayers.

SARS is working closely with tax practitioners through their Recognised Controlling Bodies (RCBs) and thanks these organisations for their co-operation in helping to deliver an excellent service to taxpayers.

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PRETORIA – Monday, 8 July 2019 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has noted the Sunday Times article about the SARS Commissioner, Mr. Edward Kieswetter in his role as Chair of the Technology Innovation Agency.

Mr. Kieswetter has responded to the journalist.

The Commissioner has further stated that matters between an employer and an employee are confidential and he continues to respect the relevant process under way with regard to this matter.

Mr. Kieswetter will allow this process to run its course and will abide by the outcome. In the meantime, he continues to focus on the very important role of running SARS.

To access this page in different languages click on the links below:

PRETORIA, Monday 1 July 2019 – Deputy Finance Minister, Dr David Masondo, and the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr Edward Kieswetter, have launched Tax Season 2019 for taxpayers who use the updated digital channels, eFiling and the SARS MobiApp.

Additional enhancements and changes for Tax Season 2019 

In a major departure from previous years, to improve service to taxpayers and encourage conversion to online filing, Tax Season 2019 is staggered.

This allows taxpayers who use SARS eFiling and the SARS MobiApp for smart phones and tablets, to file their income tax returns from today (1 July) until 4 December 2019. Taxpayers who wish to use online filing for the first time, may also register as from 1 July.

Taxpayers who want to file their income tax returns at a SARS branch may do so from 1 August until 31 October 2019, a much shorter period than that allowed for users of SARS eFiling and the SARS MobiApp.

SARS has introduced several innovations to its digital channels for Tax Season 2019. These include new services on the SARS MobiApp for smart phones and tablets, such as: registering for eFiling, retrieval of username and reset of password, submitting a return and using a camera to upload documents, as well as making a tax calculation.

SARS has also given eFiling a major refresh to make navigation much easier.

For July, the SARS Contact Centre will operate from 8am to 6pm weekdays, which amounts to an extra hour.

The income amount above which individuals must pay tax had also been amended. SARS Commissioner also indicated that the period 1 March 2018 – 28 February 2019, the amount was R78 150 for income earners younger than 65 years of age.

However, this does not mean that all taxpayers who pay tax are required to submit an income tax return.

Taxpayers do not need to submit an income tax return if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Their total employment income for the year before tax is not more than R500 000
• They only receive employment income from one employer for the full tax year
• They have no other form of income (e.g. car allowance, business income, and rental income, taxable interest or income from another job)
• They don’t have any additional allowable tax-related deductions to claim (e.g. medical expenses, retirement annuity contributions and travel expenses).

Taxpayers who are not required to file will receive a simulated calculation from SARS via SMS based on information given to SARS by employers and other sources. The outcome will show the taxpayer what they could expect as though they had filed a return themselves.  Taxpayers can accept the outcome of the calculation or resubmit the return with changes they would like to make.

Enforcement actions

While SARS has taken steps to make it easy to comply, it wishes to express its deep concern about the following trends, and assures all those who are non-compliant of its commitment to enforce the law to correct the following behavior:

1. Outstanding returns and late returns remain a concern and SARS will step up its enforcement of penalties in this regard. Many taxpayers still do not declare rental income from properties and we will improve our data matching in this regard by collaborating with the Deeds Office. This matching will also allow us to better enforce non-compliance in the declaration of Capital Gains Tax

2. We will also renew our focus in monitoring income and expenses from Commission earners

3. We are concerned about the accuracy of declarations of Distributions to and from Trusts to the beneficial recipients

4. We have also noticed Tax Preparers unethically promising taxpayers that they will secure a refund. They then look for opportunities to understate income or overstate expenses. This is a serious offence and could results in criminal charges as well as financial consequences for the taxpayer who remains accountable to SARS for their submissions

5. Fictitious refunds are claimed for fabricated expenses and losses, as well as fictitious employers generating IRP5’s for the sole purpose of claiming refunds.

6. Fraudster filing multiple returns to create refund opportunities, as well as syndicates reusing IRP5s across multiple individuals

7. We are working hard to improve the integrity of our profiling capability using sophisticated risk modeling and expanding our data set. Last year SARS prevented over R8.2bn fraudulent returns from being paid

8. We are currently working both the SAPS as well as the NPA to criminally prosecute fraudsters and have already successfully convicted a number of taxpayers for non-compliance. We have also successfully convicted some of our own staff for colluding with taxpayers

9. We are instituting a renewed focus on HNW Individuals who often arrange their affairs in complex ways, often presenting a higher compliance risks to SARS.

SARS is once again appealing to employers to register their employees. Job seekers need not come to a SARS branch to register.

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PRETORIA, Tuesday  25 June 2019 – With Tax Season a few days away, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is encouraging taxpayers who are required to file income tax returns to use SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp to file their returns from 1 July 2019.

Taxpayers who do not use SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp but require the assistance from SARS branch staff to file their income tax returns, will only be able to do so from 1 August 2019. The deadline for taxpayers who file at a SARS branch is 31 October 2019, a much shorter period.

Non-provisional taxpayers who use SARS eFiling and the SARS MobiApp will have a longer period to file their returns, with a deadline of 4 December.

The reason for this staggered approach to Tax Season 2019 is to encourage taxpayers to use the two digital channels, namely SARS eFiling and the SARS MobiApp, which are available 24/7, offers enhanced features and removes the need to queue at a SARS branch.

For 2019 the SARS MobiApp for smart phones, downloadable from the Play Store or App Store, will allow taxpayers to register for SARS eFiling, submit a return, upload supporting documents, retrieve their username or reset their password and view their Notice of Assessment (ITA34), among other services. 

The staggered approach to Tax Season 2019 is also necessary because SARS continues to receive more than a million taxpayers at its branches who do not need to file tax returns.

SARS wants to remind taxpayers that not all taxpayers need to file an income tax return. Taxpayers who meet all of the following criteria need not submit a return:

• Their total employment income for the year before tax is not more than R500 000
• They only receive employment income from ONE EMPLOYER for the full tax year
• They have no other form of INCOME (e.g. car allowance, business income, and rental income, taxable interest or income from another job)
• They don’t have any additional allowable tax related deductions to claim (e.g. medical expenses, retirement annuity contributions and travel expenses). 

To further assist taxpayers from making unnecessary trips to SARS branches, taxpayers who are not required to file a return and who have repeatedly filed a return in the past will receive a notification from SARS that they do not have to submit a return.

In addition they will receive simulated outcome from SARS as if they had filed a return. The outcome will be based on information that SARS has received from employers and other sources and will who show what the taxpayer could expect as if they had filed a return. 

Tax Season Deadlines

• For eFilers and users of the SARS MobiApp, Tax Season opens on 01 July and closes on 04 December 2019
• Taxpayers who go to a SARS branch to file, will be assisted from 01 August until 31 October 2019
• Provisional taxpayers have until 31 January 2020 to file via SARS eFiling.

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