2016 tax season to reach new heights
Compliance for taxpayers filing on time exceeded 90 percent for the third consecutive year.
Last year 5.94 million submissions were received by SARS.
This was 11.52 percent higher than in 2014 and included individuals, trusts and prior year submissions.
Compliance for taxpayers filing on time exceeded 90 percent for the third consecutive year.
ALSO READ: The tax season 2016 is here; all you need to know
A review of the 2015 tax season highlights the following:
* 4.2 million returns were from individuals for the 2015 tax year
*1.69 million were outstanding returns from prior years
* 45 390 were trust returns
* 99.96 percent of returns were filed electronically, either via eFiling representing 51.84 percent or through electronically assisted filing at a SARS branch or mobile tax unit.
* Manual submissions are down to less than 2 000 returns, representing 0.04 percent of total volume
* More than 95 percent of all returns submitted were assessed within three seconds and more than 99 percent within 24 hours.
* SARS paid out 1.82 million refunds to the value of R15 billion – more than 95 percent of these refunds were paid within 72 hours.
Important deadline to remember for the 2016 tax season:
* September 23 – Manual/postal submissions
* November 25 – Submissions at a SARS branch (non-provisional)
* November 25 – eFiling (non-provisional)
* January 31, 2017 – Provisional taxpayers via eFiling
Fraud Alert
Taxpayers who are concerned about emails or SMS messages claiming to be from SARS should:
* Visit the SARS Scams and Phishing webpage on www.sars.gov.za
* Email phishing@sars.gov.za
* Call the SARS Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870, or
* Call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277.
SARS staff ‘Walk for Tax’
As part of SARS’ efforts to become more accessible to the public, SARS officials across the country will be ‘Walking for Tax’ throughout the tax season.
Between July and November 2016, employees throughout South Africa will be putting on their walking shoes and hitting the streets to engage taxpayers and distribute informative material in an effort to help taxpayers complete and submit their income tax returns with greater ease.
The first Tax Walk took place in Tshwane on July 1, when tax season officially opened.
