Tax season concludes with 5.7 million returns filed
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) received 5.74 million returns by the close of tax season on 25 November.
Here are some key statistics for the 2016 tax season:
- The SARS Contact Centre handled more than 3.6 million calls
- The SARS branch offices assisted more than 5.1 million taxpayers
- SARS processed 99.9% of all returns electronically
- 92.4% of tax returns were assessed within 3 seconds
- 93.28% of refunds were paid to taxpayers within 72 hours
- 173 000 taxpayers made use of the Help You e-File channel which is 15% higher than in 2015
- 44 373 people made use of SARS' mobile application to submit their 2016 tax returns
SARS is urging taxpayers who have not submitted their returns to do so immediately, saying penalties to the value of R1.64 billion have already been imposed on defaulting taxpayers.
Meanwhile, an astounding R15.5 billion in tax refunds were paid to 1.98 million taxpayers by 25 November.