Pay your dues this tax season
Tax returns don't have to be stressful, just follow these guides.
Tax season is upon us, which means that tax returns and the South African Revenue Services (Sars) are on every citizen’s lips.
Not everyone is eligible to pay tax – it depends on the individual’s income or how much turnover your business generates. That is how Sars determines who pays and who does not.
To register as a taxpayer, visit the Sars website (www.sars.gov.za), and complete the IT77 registration form. If you are filing your tax return on paper, ensure that all your banking details are correct, and your personal information on your tax return is up to date. If you’re using the electronic filing system (eFiling) you have to complete the Registration, Amendment and Verification form, known as RAV01. To become an eFiler, you can register on www.sarsefiling.co.za and go through the six-step process.
Don’t forget to take your identity document, driver’s licence or passport with you when you visit a Sars branch to submit your return. If you happen to make a mistake on your ITR12 return, you can either correct it online or manually.
Online taxpayers must delete the incorrect information and retype the correct information or type over the incorrect information — you can also ask the Sars agent at your branch to do this on your behalf.
Manual taxpayers can write over the incorrect information using a black pen in capital letters, keeping the writing within the spaces provided.
If you have to erase information that is no longer relevant, you have to draw a horizontal line through the incorrect characters in the space provided. Avoid changing one letter or one digit of a number – rather overwrite the name or number in full. If you or your spouse or qualifying children have been diagnosed with a disability by a suitably registered medical practitioner and you want to claim deductions, you have to provide the following details:
• The date of birth of the qualifying person(s)
• The seriousness of the disability in accordance with the ITR-DD (Confirmation of Diagnosis of Disability) form.
• The medical practitioner’s practice number and the date of the last ITR-DD. The number of the practice must be that of the practitioner who completed the ITR-DD form.
Ensure that you do not become victim to tax identity fraud – keep your banking details, login name, password and taxpayer information safe at all times
To lodge a complaint, you can go to your nearest Sars branch; or go online via eFiling, or call the Complaints Management Office on 0860 12 12 16.
Have a stress-free tax season.
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