Of more than four million tax returns that were submitted to SARS on time, about 95% were put through electronically.
The South African Revenue Services (SARS) says it recorded consistent growth in the levels of tax compliance in the country and in the number of e-filing submissions.
“By the deadline of 26 November for non-provisional taxpayers (individuals) and trusts, more than four million tax returns were submitted to SARS on time.” This represents a 4.25% increase in taxpayers who have filed their tax returns on time when compared to last year.
Tech uptake
“Through the increased use of technology, 95% of all returns were submitted electronically - either by taxpayers or their intermediaries on e-filing or by SARS on behalf of taxpayers. This significantly improved turnaround times and efficiency,” says SARS.
SARS explains that it assisted taxpayers at branch offices and other service points during the tax season where returns were captured electronically on behalf of the taxpayer.
It adds that the use of its e-filing system continues to show growth, as 2.25 million returns (56.4% of total returns) were submitted online for this tax season.
By the last week, before the deadline, more than 1.7 million returns had been submitted electronically via e-filing.
For the previous tax season, SARS had just more than 1.2 million returns that were submitted via e-filing.
SARS spokesperson Adrian Lackay says the e-filing Web site operated normally, without glitches.
Off the hook
SARS says it paid refunds of R11.9 billion to taxpayers - an increase of 13% in total refunds issued to date.
However, it emphasises that these recorded figures are preliminary outcomes of this tax season, since provisional taxpayers have until 31 January to submit their returns.
The SARS call centre handled a record number of more than three million calls during this tax season. During the last week of the 2010 season, the call centre answered 217 784 calls, compared to 117 546 the previous year.
“On the final day of the tax season, the call centre answered a new record total of 49 795 calls, which translates to over 4 000 per hour.”
In a Government Communication and Information System statement, Lackay is quoted as saying the call centre handled 50 000 calls from taxpayers the day before the deadline.
The call centre comprises 800 staff members who answer questions from the public.
Electronic popularity
SARS commissioner Oupa Magashula reports that the e-filing solution has been enhanced to allow contact centre and branch staff to be able to see the full history of interaction over a case to help resolve queries. This is achieved through its e-case tracking facility.
He adds that in the last three years, SARS has seen the growth of electronic submission of income tax returns.
Magashula says SARS has further enhanced the speed in which tax returns are generated on e-filing, having converted to Adobe Flash Player, which he says “massively reduces the time taken to request a return or to receive a saved return”.
The use of Adobe Reader will still remain available for those who do not want to use the Adobe Flash Player.
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