Taxpayers urged to meet filing season deadline
Penalties will be levied on taxpayers who fail to submit their income tax returns by this deadline.
Sars wishes to remind individual non-provisional taxpayers to file their income tax returns on or before the deadline of November 23.
Penalties will be levied on taxpayers who fail to submit their income tax returns by this deadline.
Taxpayers must note that according to changes in legislation, Sars will levy penalties from December 1, where one or more returns are outstanding.
Before the change in the legislation, Sars could only levy penalties where two or more returns were outstanding. This older rule will remain in place for one more year for 2020 and earlier returns.
Also read: Sars releases preliminary trade statistics for August 2021
Taxpayers who received auto-assessments must edit or accept their assessments by November 23. If they do not, they will receive an estimated assessment, which is not subject to objection or appeal.
However, a taxpayer who is not in agreement with the estimated assessment issued after November 23 may file a complete and accurate tax return within 40 business days of the date of the estimated assessment.
Such a return will be late, which means the normal penalties and interest for late submission will apply (where applicable).
Sars commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the filing of a tax return is a legal obligation for those taxpayers who are required to file and contribute towards a culture of voluntary compliance.
Also read: SARS eFiling tips: How to be fully compliant
“But beyond the legal requirement to file a return, taxpayers who do the right thing are enabling the government to meet the basic service needs of the poor and vulnerable by providing social grants and healthcare, among others,” he said.
“Sars has put in place several upgraded digital channels that are available 24/7. This will help provide clarity and make it easy for taxpayers to meet the deadline of November 23 without any difficulty. These channels include, among others, Sars eFiling, Sars MobiApp and an SMS service. More details are available on the Sars website.”
Provisional taxpayers have until January 31 to fulfil all their filing obligations.
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