21 November, last Saturday to file tax returns

This is the last Saturday that 25 SARS branch offices will extend their working hours in anticipation of an increase in the number of taxpayers who require help with filing their returns before the deadline for e-filing returns on November 27.

Thousands of taxpayers turned up at SARS offices in malls and cities to do their last-minute submissions last weekend.

So far, over 3.7 million taxpayers have filed their income tax returns, in accordance with SARS’ forecasts. This is slightly more than last year.

According to a media statement, “in the final run, the offices will be open from 8am to 1pm in 25 branches around the country, including Gauteng, Free State, North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Western and Eastern Cape.”

It is reported that in the last few days, SARS has seen an increasing build-up in queues at their branches.

Also, the volume of calls handled by the SARS contact centre has shown a marked increase as the deadline approaches.