by Alec Hogg
There’s something comforting about having your tax affairs up to date. Even more so when SARS agrees a refund is payable. Except that with fraud rampant, the taxman has become rather paranoid before actually paying anything over.
To get my refund I was required to present myself, in person, with various documents to prove my bank account details were valid. The fact that these have been on file for over a decade wasn’t worth arguing about. So yesterday, I went to the SARS office in Randburg.
First the good news. The processes work well; SARS staff are courteous and incredibly patient; and MTN’s connectivity inside the building is strong, ensuring easy access to emails on my phone. The bad news is the queue was ran literally out of the building. Mine was a simple process that took a few minutes to complete, but getting to the counter required a wait of over two hours.
I did learn something worth passing on, though. SARS offices are now filling up because the public’s “Filing Season” starts in July. It runs through to November. So if you visit during that time, plan for an extended stay. On the other hand, having so many taxpayers willing to get their affairs in order is clearly a good thing for our young democracy. Hopefully those who spend their money never take that for granted.
Yesterday’s top stories:
Judge slams Lotto licence award to Ithuba as risky, irrational – Davies defends
Disruption arrives in SA’s share market – ZARX to become second exchange
Mobius: China’s “extreme, desperate” actions add to pain of share mkt crash
Done Deal? SA signs nuclear power agreements with Russia at BRICS meeting
10 things you didn’t know about new NPA head Shaun Abrahams
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