Enthusiastic public gives it a resounding thumbs up
THE TAX survey carried out by SARS (SA Revenue Services) on the Internet has come up with overwhelming support for electronic submission of tax data by clients.
Taxes included were those of Customs & Excise, income, value-added and employees.
- SARS to issue and receive various tax forms and supporting documents electronically;
- Requesting and receiving of correspondence electronically;
- The receiving of payments and issuing of receipts electronically;
- Availability of standard forms on the Website - allowing clients to apply for registration in respect of all the above-mentioned taxes.
The survey was run between January 12 and 29 - although late replies will be added to the survey results in a further update.
- Internet communication;
- Dedicated/leased line technology;
- Dial-up technology;
- Standard forms on the Website;
- Imaging.
"An enthusiastic, positive and encouraging response was received from the public," said SARS project manager Leonie Stewart, responsible for collating the results. "A great deal of information was received including general comments, suggestions and concerns."
- "A customer-orientated and user-friendly system"
- "A facility to calculate tax payable/refundable"
- "Automatic calculators to calculate car allowances and other deductions"
- "Electronic communication on tax problems and queries"
- "General online assistance functionality - for example, assistance with regard to the completion of forms"
- "Access to Acts"
Amongst the concerns expressed by survey participants, the most notable were: Security and encryption; method of transmitting attachments (such as IRP5 certificates with the annual tax forms); proof of submission; and that electronic impossibility, the client's signature.
Said Stewart: "A noteworthy amount of professional companies have at this stage approached SARS for information regarding the project, the initiation of which has been partly completed, but halted to allow for the result of the client survey.
"The next step will be a workshop, from which the user requirements will be compiled. These will form part of the tender, which is scheduled for release later in the year."
Any further enquiries should be directed to Michelle Welgemoed at Tel: (012) 334-6127 or e-mailed to mwelgemoed@ptar4.sars.gov.za.
