Stay on top of your tax obligations
Now that Filing Season is over for non-provisional taxpayers, SARS thanks all taxpayers who submitted accurate and correct Income Tax Returns and those who paid their taxes on time for the 2024 tax year.
Your compliance enables the South African government to provide a better quality of life for all citizens.
SARS urges all those who have not submitted their tax returns to do so immediately. Remember that taxpayers must file even after the 21 October 2024 deadline.
Filing on time helps you avoid penalties and keeps SARS’s tax records correct and up-to-date.
If you have outstanding debt with SARS, you are encouraged to settle it. Non-Payment of SARS debt can lead to a 10% penalty, and interest will accumulate monthly.
If you pay the full outstanding amount promptly, you will avoid additional cost. Alternatively, you can make payment arrangements with SARS to settle the debt.
Payments to SARS
To settle SARS debt, you can:
- Use a bank (ABSA, Capitec, FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank).
- Use the eFiling platform to complete your transaction.
- Make an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
Payment Reference Number (PRN)
Always use the correct payment reference number. Your payment reference number is your ten-digit tax reference number, followed by the letter “T” with eight zeros.
An example of a payment reference number is 0123456789T00000000.
The Deadline for Trusts and Provisional Taxpayers Is 20 January 2025
Trusts and Provisional Taxpayers must submit their tax returns by 20 January 2025. Avoid the last-minute rush and try to file well ahead of the deadline. The quick and simple way is to use SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp, accessible anytime, anywhere for your convenience.
Keep Supporting Documents
SARS asks that you keep all supporting documents for a minimum of five years after you have submitted your tax return. These documents will be vital if SARS decides to review your assessment in the future. If you cannot provide the required supporting documents, SARS can revise your assessment.
As a taxpayer, you must keep accurate and comprehensive records of your tax filings, proof of income declared, and deductions claimed. Whether salary slips, bank statements, or investment-income records, every document plays a crucial role.
Update Your Details
Ensure that personal details such as your bank account details, physical address, email address, and cellphone number are up to date with SARS.
This will help you to maintain a seamless and compliant tax history. For example, if a refund is due to you, but your banking details are outstanding or invalid, SARS cannot pay the refund to you.
