TAX SEASON: Making your annual payments
There are penalties for missing the deadline.
It’s a time of year many dread – tax season.
To help prepare residents for the process, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released some helpful tips to make things go smoothly.
Want to be tax smart? Read on to see how:
Who should submit a tax return?
If your total salary for the year, before tax, is not more than R350 000, you only receive employment income from one employer for the full year, you have no other income (car allowance, business income, taxable interest or rent, or income from another job), you don’t have any additional allowable tax-related deductions to claim (medical expenses, retirement annuity contributions, travel expenses), you may not have to submit an income tax return.
However, you should visit www.sars.gov.za and click ‘Do you need to submit a return?’ to determine if you must submit tax return.
Have you forgotten your eFiling details?
If you lost the credentials, visit www.sarsefiling.co.za and click ‘For a reminder of your username and password or to reset your password’ and follow the prompts.
In the event of losing both the login name and password, complete the ‘I forgot my login name’ process, wait for the email or SMS notification and use this name to complete the ‘I forgot my password’ process.
Alternatively, call the SARS Contact Centre on 080 000 7277 and use the automated self-service option to reset the password. Remember to have your ID number and tax number handy, for authorisation purposes. The new password will be sent to you by email or SMS.
If you have forgotten both the login name, password and have changed your contact details, call the SARS Contact Centre to reset the eFiliing login details and update the information.
Need help with eFiling?
The SARS Help-You-eFile program allows instant access to SARS staff, and is accessed by clicking on the Help-You-eFile icon on www.sarsefiling.co.za and following the prompts.
“It’s like having your very own SARS consultant helping you every step of the way.”
If you have no time to hold on the line for an agent, clicking on the ‘Call Me’ button to be phoned directly by a consultant, or utilise the eFiling App on Apple (IOS6 and higher) and Android devices.
Visit the GooglePlay or Apple App store to download the application.
Don’t just save – submit!
eFiling provides the capability to save your tax return until you are ready to submit it to SARS, so do not forget to send it through!
The return is submitted only once the ‘Submit return to SARS’ button is clicked.
If you have not received the ITA34 Notice of Assessment, it means you have not yet submitted a tax return.
Have your banking details changed?
You can make changes to banking details when completing and submitting the IRT12 via eFiling, but details will first be verified to prevent any fraud.
Any refunds due will be processed only after banking details are confirmed.
If SARS is unable to validate details, you will need to visit the nearest SARS branch with supporting documents to verify your banking information.
Visit www.sars.gov.za to ensure you have all the right documents.
Remember, honesty pays
Be honest about the information you give to SARS.
It is a criminal offence to fail to declare all your income on a tax return or to misrepresent your allowable deductions, and can cost penalties or worse.
Submit your return on time
Ensure your tax return is submitted by November 27 this year for non-provisional taxpayers using eFiling, or January 29, 2016 if you are a provisional taxpayer using eFiling.
There are penalties for missing the deadline.
