The SA Revenue Services (SARS) topped a global survey of taxpaying services by the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“SARS has made us proud by being ranked number one globally in efficiency and making it easier to pay taxes in the Paying Taxes survey,” says the Democratic Alliance.
Shadow minister of finance Dion George says effective tax collection is a vital prerequisite for a government to be able to deliver services to the people.
“SARS has excelled in catching out tax evaders, creating online platforms for tax payments and administering the complex bureaucracy needed to maximise government's revenue.”
Online preference
With just over a week left before the 25 November tax return deadline, SARS encourages taxpayers to file their submissions online via eFiling.
The service this week announced the number of tax returns submitted has exceeded the three million mark, an improvement of about 15% on the figure for the same time last year.
“During last year's tax season it took taxpayers 22 weeks to reach the three million mark, compared to the 19 weeks it took this year to reach this milestone.”
Avoid phishing
SARS suggests taxpayers, who need assistance at a branch, file their returns as soon as possible to avoid congestion just before the deadline.
During the last two weeks of tax season 2010, SARS branches countrywide had to assist more than 318 700 taxpayers, which means an average of 2 000 taxpayers per day at major centres.
In addition, more than 230 000 calls were received by the SARS contact centre (0800 00 7277) in the last week of the tax season and 54 193 on the last day.
“The deadline for submissions is Friday, 25 November 2011. In order to address the anticipated increase in the number of taxpayers wanting to file returns, SARS branches and the SARS Contact Centre have extended their working hours.”
Branches will be open from 07h30 to 18h00, Monday to Friday. The SARS Contact Centre will operate from 07h30 to 19h00, from 14 to 18 November, and from 07h30 to 20h00, from 21 to 25 November.
“Taxpayers are encouraged to use the more convenient option of filing returns via eFiling, which is a free electronic platform for submitting returns, making payments and tracking the status of their assessment.”
Provisional taxpayers who file their returns via eFiling have until 31 January to submit returns.
“During this time, taxpayers must also be careful and avoid being caught by phishing scams that seek to defraud taxpayers. Taxpayers should beware of e-mails or SMSes that ask for personal, tax, banking and eFiling details, as SARS will never ask taxpayers for such information in an e-mail or SMS,” warns the agency.
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