Every year South Africans deal with tax season and a way for you to claim tax back from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) is to do the following.
You can claim your tax back by either eFiling, which is the quickest and easiest way to submit your return. Visit eFiling to register and submit your return online.
Or if you have the time on your hands or you just prefer it as an option you can visit your nearest SARS branch of which there are many scattered everywhere. And when you get ready to submit your tax returns, there are supporting documents that you’ll need to gather.
Remember, if you’re filing at a SARS branch you must bring all the documents applicable to you. These may include:
- IRP5/IT3(a) certificate(s) from your employer or pension fund
- IT3(b) certificates for investment returns
- Financial statements, if applicable e.g. business income
- Medical aid contribution certificates and receipts
- Retirement annuity fund certificates
- Certificates you received for local interest income earned
- Logbook and other documents in support of business travel expenses
- Completed confirmation of diagnosis of disability form (ITR-DD), if applicable
- Any other relevant income and deduction information.
- Bank account details
- Plus original proof of Identity Document (ID), temporary ID, passport or driver’s license.
It’s important to be honest on your tax return and make sure you have the correct documents and proof for every claim you make. Such as only use info and figures that reflect on your supporting documents. If a deduction does not exist don’t claim for it.
Use only the amounts reflected on your contribution certificates from your retirement annuity fund, income protection scheme and medical aid. As overstating the number of dependents or expenses for medical claims is a criminal offence.
Also don’t inflate the value of your vehicle or fabricate kilometres travelled rather keep an accurate logbook. And declare all income you received during the year of assessment like rent, interest and income from your part-time job