Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, SARS is currently enhancing its efforts to simplify the tax return filing requirements for individual taxpayers and removing the need to travel to their branches in 2020. Through the increased use of third-party data, SARS will be completing your tax return for you.
In cases where information is available, you will not need to file a tax return. SARS will provide you with a proposed assessment from where you can view, accept, or edit this using eFiling or SARS MobiApp.
Please Note The Changes In Individual Income Tax Return Filing Dates:
- 1 September to 16 November 2020: Taxpayers who file online
- 1 September to 22 October 2020: Taxpayers who cannot file electronically can do so at a SARS branch by appointment (please contact our office for assistance).
- 1 September 2020 to 31 January 2021: Provisional taxpayers who file electronically.
Individual Filing Opening and Auto Assessments
Taxpayers will be able to file their tax return on 1 September this year. The good news is that a significant number of individual taxpayers will be auto-assessed this year, and this process will start from 1 August 2020.
SARS will send you an SMS if you are selected to be auto assessed; you don’t need to phone SARS. If you accept your auto-assessment, any under or overpayment of tax will be processed as normal. If you want to edit your return, you can file your return on eFiling from 1 September 2020. We advise to not simply accept the auto assessment raised by SARS but to rather have a qualified tax practitioner review your assessment before accepting.
SARS will conduct auto-assessments based on the data they receive from employers, financial institutions, medical schemes, retirement annuity fund administrators and other 3rd party data providers. If you have not yet received your IRP5/IT3(a)s and other tax certificates like medical certificate, retirement annuity fund certificate and other 3rd party data that are relevant in determining your tax obligations, you should immediately approach your employer or medical scheme or retirement annuity fund or other 3rd party data providers to make sure that they have complied with their submission requirements.
Also make sure that you update your personal information such as banking details, address and contact details with us so that we can make the necessary changes on your eFiling.
If you need any further assistance or have any queries regarding the new system, you are welcome to get in contact with Marcel or Deon at our offices at 012 347 0561.