No fines for late submissions

Pretoria - Taxpayers have until 20 November to submit their returns electronically if they don't manage to deliver the manual (paper) return by Friday September 18.

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) says people will not be fined for late submission if they visit a Sars office and have the returns completed electronically there.

But that must be done by November 20. Sars is apparently impressed with the number of submissions and believes that the final deadline of November 20 affords adequate time. The revenue office reports that 1.5m tax returns have already been submitted.

This is 53% more than in the corresponding period last year (the first 11 weeks of the submission period).

A total of 830 000 taxpayers have already submitted their returns electronically. Sars expects the number of electronic submissions for this tax year to rise to 2.5m.

Spokesperson Adrian Lackay issued a statement to say that no extension would be given because of the strike or any other reason.

Sars announced that it had reached a settlement with the two unions, Nehawu and the Public Servants Association, on salary increases.

These increases will apply from July 1 and be calculated on a sliding scale of 9% to 11%.

In the course of its negotiations with the two unions SARS put its foot down and declared the sliding scale offer was reasonable and that negotiations were over.

Nehawu went on strike two weeks ago, insisting on a 12.8% increase.

That task team will take a further look at two outstanding issues - career development and a danger allowances for customs officials, among others.

Long queues formed at Sars offices over the past week as taxpayers strove to meet the deadline.

- Sake24.com

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