TAXPAYERS only have until next Friday to submit their income tax return to the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
And as the cut-off date looms, SARS urges taxpayers not only to file their returns quickly, but to do so safely.
‘SARS encourages anyone who has not yet done so to submit their tax return either by logging onto SARS eFiling (www.sarsefiling.co.za), or by taking all relevant documents to their nearest SARS office where officials will submit their return electronically,’ says SARS spokesperson Adrian Lackay.
‘Unfortunately, criminals often try and use tax season to take advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers.’
To avoid falling victim to notorious scams, the public is asked to remain wary of emails asking for personal tax, banking and eFiling details.
‘SARS will never ask taxpayers for such information in an email,’ said Lackay.
‘SARS will also not request banking details over the phone, or via email, sms or websites.’
Taxpayers concerned about suspicious emails or sms messages should visit the ‘Scams and Phishing’ section on the SARS website or email phishing@sars.gov.za.
To date over 3.8 million South Africans had already filed their 2013 income tax returns.
Of these, just over 2 million used eFiling and 1.8 million filed electronically at SARS offices.
The 2 million tax refunds paid out by SARS has come to R12.8-billion.
‘At the same point last year, just over 2 million refunds had been paid out, worth just over R11.4-billion in total,’ Lackay said.
