Thousands of tax payers file returns early

Johannesburg - The SA Revenue Service (Sars) has to date received 761 231 tax returns from individual taxpayers for July, the first month of Tax Season 2010.
  
In a statement on Wednesday, Sars said at the same time last year, it had received 584 742 individual tax returns, which meant that 176 489, or 23%, more taxpayers had filed this year compared to the same time last year.
  
Sars Commissioner Oupa Magashula attributed the successful start of filing season to "an improved compliance culture by taxpayers
who have noticed the benefits of filing their returns early in the filing period".
  
These benefits included the faster turn-around times in assessing returns and quicker refunds to taxpayers.
  
Sars said electronic submissions of returns totalled 746 555, while 14 676 taxpayers had made manual, or postal submissions.
  
More than 600 000 of these returns had been assessed.
  
"I would like to thank all taxpayers who have filed early and trust that other taxpayers will also heed our call to file now and avoid the congestion that occurs as the various deadlines approach," Magashula added.
  
Taxpayers should keep in mind the deadlines for Tax Season 2010, Sars said.
  
The deadline for postal submissions (paper tax returns) for provisional and non-provisional taxpayers was September 30, while the deadline for electronic submissions through Sars branches and eFiling for non-provisional taxpayers and trusts was November 26 2010.
  
The deadline for electronic submissions through Sars branches and eFiling for provisional taxpayers and trusts was January 31 2011
  
"As always, Sars staff in our Contact Centre and our branches around the country will be on hand to assist taxpayers with their
obligations."

- Sapa