SARS Aims to Make Tax Filing a ‘Non-Event’ with Seamless Processes

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) officially began the 2024 Tax Filing Season running from 1 July to 21 October for non-provisional taxpayers and 20 January 2025, for provisional taxpayers.

In a Media Statement, Commissioner Edward Kieswetter highlighted SARS’s goal to simplify the tax filing process to the extent that it becomes a routine, hassle-free experience for taxpayers, integrating technology in tax services.

So far this year, SARS was able to auto-assess over 5 million taxpayers, with the vast majority—99.13%—accepting their pre-calculated returns without any adjustments. Additionally, SARS has efficiently processed refunds, distributing around R10 billion to date.

Since the Filing Season opened on July 15, 2024, SARS has received 191,000 returns. Of these, 183,000 (96%) were filed digitally using eFiling and MobiApp, while 7,700 (4%) were submitted at Taxpayer Service Centres. Remarkably, 90% of these returns were processed within just 5 seconds.

SARS urges taxpayers and tax practitioners to make use of SARS’s digital like eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, and the new WhatsApp channel to submit their documents and queries. For those wary of potential tax scams, the Commissioner stressed the importance of verifying any suspicious communications directly through the official SARS website.

For more details, the public can visit the SARS website or directly contact SARSMedia@sars.gov.za. This initiative by SARS represents a dedicated effort to enhance taxpayer convenience and ensure the smooth progress of this year's tax season.

Read our article in Accounting Weekly on practical steps for advising clients regarding their auto-assessments.