Every year since I started my practice, the individual income tax return filing date started on 1 July 2020.

Due to the pandemic, the dates have changed accordingly to:

• 1 September to 16 November 2020: Taxpayers who file online
  
• 1 September to 22 October 2020: Taxpayers who cannot file electronically can do so at a SARS branch by appointment
  
• 1 September 2020 to 29 January 2021: Provisional taxpayers who file electronically.

Please note: 

SARS has an automatically assessment process. If you accept the outcome you do not have to file a tax return at all.  SARS auto-assess based on the data they receive from employers, financial institutions, medical schemes, retirement annuity fund administrators and other 3rd party data providers. This process will happen in August.  You do not need to call SARS, they will call you or send a SMS if you are selected to be auto-assessed.  If you accept your auto-assessment, any under or overpayment of tax will be processed as normal. If you want to edit your return, you can file your return on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp.

The first provisional tax payment is due by 31 August 2020, due to the pandemic there are a tax relief on your first and second payment for the 2021 year of assessment.

• The first provisional tax payments due from 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 will be based on 15 percent of the estimated total tax liability, while the second provisional tax payments due from 1 August 2020 to 31 March 2021 will be based on 65 percent of the estimated total tax liability (after deducting the 15% payment amount received from the 1st period into account);
  
• Provisional taxpayers with deferred payments will be required to pay the remaining 35% tax liability when making the third provisional tax payment in order to avoid interest charges on assessment.

To make sure you are fully prepared for your e-filing submission by 1 September, gather your tax certificates form your various 3rd party providers and if you need any help to do your submission I am an e-mail away.

Stay safe