The deadline for submitting your tax return is now just two-and-a-half weeks away. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says it has received close to two million tax returns already and, based on these, is offering the following tips to people who haven't yet submitted their returns:
- If you are completing your return by hand, make a photocopy of the form and fill in the copy as a dry-run or test. You can then transcribe the information on to the original before submitting it.
If you make mistakes on your return, it will be sent back to you, and this could result in delays.
- If you have made a mistake on your original return and you need to obtain another form, the quickest and easiest option is to download a copy from www.sarsefiling.co.za
Alternatively, call the SARS call centre at 0860 12 12 18 and ask for a new form to be emailed to you. You can also visit your nearest SARS branch office to obtain a copy.
- If your form has been torn, stained, soiled or crumpled, you will need to get a new form.
When completing the form, please take care to ensure that you:
- Write only in the blocks provided. Writing outside the blocks will render the form unreadable by the electronic scanners and lead to delays in finalising the assessment.
- Do not scribble, or include date, name or company stamps on any part of the form.
- Write neatly and legibly using a dark pen. You must pay particular attention to numbers and letters that may be misread - for example, an "S" or the number "5".