The South African Revenue Service (Sars) reported that in less than 24 hours since the electronic filing facility for individuals went live on the internet, more than 1 500 taxpayers logged onto their website to register as users or to submit their income tax returns.
The new electronic filing process had been expected to improve efficiency, ensure speedier payments and limit mistakes. Sars said in a statement that a total of 1 520 users had accessed the service by 3.30pm on Thursday. They said the total included 1 401 applications from individuals to register as users, 68 submissions of tax returns and 119 tax practitioners who registered as intermediaries.
“By the same time, 795 of the 1 401 applications from individuals were activated and approved as e-filing users,” Sars said.
Potentially about 2,7-million individuals who earn a basic salary of more than R60 000 per annum or a basic salary with allowances will be able to submit their tax returns through the website. In these instances the taxpayer must be in possession of an IT 12S or IT 12SS income tax return from Sars.
Sars says taxpayers who want to make use of the electronic submission facility must first register on the website. ‒ I-Net Bridge