More than 2 million tax returns submitted

More than 2 million tax returns submitted

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced on Monday that it had passed the two million mark with almost 50 percent of income tax returns for the current tax season being filed.

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SARS said the two million mark was reached on Thursday at 5pm.


"This indicates that 44.77% of taxpayers required to submit a tax return have already done so compared to 39.31% at the same time last year," SARS said in a statement.


The tax season began on July 1 when taxpayers could officially commence completing and submitting their 2015 tax returns.


So far, 2 001 287 personal income tax returns had been submitted to SARS.


"Of the total submissions, 1 066 978 (53.31%) have been via e-filing while 933 527 (46.64%) of taxpayers opted to submit at our branches," SARS said. "A total of 783 (0.04%) taxpayers have submitted manually via post or a SARS drop box."


SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane thanked South Africans for their patriotism in meeting their tax obligations and responsibilities, and also accredited the achievement of meeting the two million mark to the work done by SARS employees across the country.


"We thank taxpayers for their patriotism and recognition of the importance of tax revenues towards socially and economically developing our country. This has certainly made our job easier this year and contributes to nation building and social cohesion.


"This is also testimony to the excellent work being done by SARS employees across South Africa in serving taxpayers through the branches, call centre and online, and spreading the message of compliance."


"We will continue to serve taxpayers with fairness, respect and dignity," added Moyane.


The deadline for taxpayers who submit their tax returns manually by post or by dropping them off in a SARS drop box is 30 September 2015.


The deadline for all non-provisional taxpayers, those being the majority of employed individuals who submit a tax return and who earn an income from one or more employer, is 27 November 2015.


The deadline for provisional taxpayers who submit returns via e-filing is 29 January 2016. Provisional taxpayers form a much smaller segment of the tax base, and are those individuals with other forms of income like investment income, income from business activities, rental income, royalties income or directors of companies. - ANA

 

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