How does the tax return work?

A

ALFAHOLIC

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I started working in Jan of 2009...that's half of the tax year over already! I had problems getting my tax number, back and forth and back and forth and SARS finaly gave me a tax number, but waaaay past the tax return deadline for normal employees.

Now, I'm going to hand my tax papers and all claims and payslips since I started working over to an accountant who's very good with this...my father uses him and he always gets a healthy return.

My question now is...will I only receive a return, assuming I'll receive a return, for this tax year, or this tax year plus half the other tax year? becuase I effectively paid for half of the tax year last year and full year this year...

Can I do that?

Cheers:)
 
You are probably fine since you only have 2 months of taxable income for the 2009 tax year (ended 28 Feb 2009) and you had to earn over R70 000 per year or something before you have to pay tax. So you will probably get no return unless tax was deducted from you salary (you get back the tax paid). This year you will pay tax on income recieved from 1 March 2009 to 28 Feb 2010, and if it is already been deducted form your salary you might get a return or not.
 
supersunbird said:
You are probably fine since you only have 2 months of taxable income for the 2009 tax year (ended 28 Feb 2009) and you had to earn over R70 000 per year or something before you have to pay tax. So you will probably get no return unless tax was deducted from you salary (you get back the tax paid). This year you will pay tax on income recieved from 1 March 2009 to 28 Feb 2010, and if it is already been deducted form your salary you might get a return or not.
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yes...I paid alot of tax in those 2 months! Thus I'm asking because I paid tax, deducted from my salary and everything, and didn't get to partake in the return etc...I'm hoping i'll get that which I paid and some more this year!!!
 
ALFAHOLIC said:
yes...I paid alot of tax in those 2 months! Thus I'm asking because I paid tax, deducted from my salary and everything, and didn't get to partake in the return etc...I'm hoping i'll get that which I paid and some more this year!!!
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Thought you might get fined R150 per month since March this year for not having submitted 2009's return. But if you paid so much tax you'll probably come out ahead.

You'll only get a big return if the PAYE was excessively deducted in your favour.
 
supersunbird said:
Thought you might get fined R150 per month since March this year for not having submitted 2009's return. But if you paid so much tax you'll probably come out ahead.

You'll only get a big return if the PAYE was excessively deducted in your favour.
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What the heck does that mean? No...I had an agreement with SARS...I actually had and still have prove of ALL my applications for tax number months before the due date and everytime they buggered up, so they finaly gave me a number and told me I'm only due payment for this tax year, or 2009 tax year...but what about the 2 months I paid tax of more than R5k pm in Jan and Feb???Plus I paid tax on my relocation etc which was almost 10k???It doesn't make sense.
 
ALFAHOLIC said:
What the heck does that mean? No...I had an agreement with SARS...I actually had and still have prove of ALL my applications for tax number months before the due date and everytime they buggered up, so they finaly gave me a number and told me I'm only due payment for this tax year, or 2009 tax year...but what about the 2 months I paid tax of more than R5k pm in Jan and Feb???Plus I paid tax on my relocation etc which was almost 10k???It doesn't make sense.
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SARS makes no agreement with anyone. sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you. i would suggest you contact them and ask them from which year you are liable to submit your first tax return. is it 2009 or 2010? if it's 2009 then you submit for 2009 if it's from 2010 then you need only submit from the 2010 tax year.
it doesn't matter how much tax you think you may or may not have over paid. your tax is calculated according to the tax deduction tables and if you worked part of the tax year then it is calculated as such.
 
If you earn less than R120 000 in a tax year then you do not need to submit a tax return. No fines, no nothing. And you dont get any returns from it either. So if that first bit in 2009 you earned less than 120k, you aint getting anything back
 
We all had to register this year, and what I found strange is that, even though two colleagues of mine started their first job with me at around the same time, SARS indicated that I am liable for tax from 2008 (it says so on the proof of registration), while the others only had to submit from 2009. And we all earn the same income.

Worth a try is to request a 2009 return on your e-filing. Either way, are you sure it is worth it as you only earned income for 2 months? If you are indeed up for a nice refund, I would say it is within your fullest right to request a return, afterall you have paid over the tax so you are entitled to claim all allowable deductions against that.
 
Archer said:
If you earn less than R120 000 in a tax year then you do not need to submit a tax return. No fines, no nothing. And you dont get any returns from it either. So if that first bit in 2009 you earned less than 120k, you aint getting anything back
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it doesn't work like that archer. read stefan's response. SARS will dictate as to which year they require one to submit a return regardless of what you earn.
if you are in doubt as to the year you need to start submitting, contact the call center:
0860121218
quote your reference number if you don't have it give your ID number and the agent will check for you.
 
I understand...I got a letter from SARS, which means we had an agreement, that I am only liable for 2010's tax year...but like I said, I paid in access of 20k in two months towards tax...surely I'm liable a R20 or a R200 lol...I paid them money, its not my fault that I got the money LATE or not IN THEIR FINANCIAL YEAR ... if you took tax money from me, I'm liable to see if I can claim it back! Should I have not paid tax for those 2 months...I'm sure some officers would be knocking on my door by now!
 
it's not always the case that you will get money back for those 2 months. it could have been calculated accurately to the cent, therefore there is no refund or due by you so no need to complete a return. if you want to complete a return then request the return online, simple.
 
First have someone work out what you can claim back, and if it is worth going through all the effort. I agree that it is within your right to claim expenses/deductions/allowances for that year, as you did earn income and paid taxes on it. If you paid tax for 2 month's income, then you should also have the opportunity to claim expenses incurred for that same two months. For instance, if you received a big travel allowance, and did a lot of travelling, or if you had a medical fund all those expenses can be claimed. Problem is convincing SARS to issue you a return. Best is to first try an request a 2009 return on your e-filing, then to phone the call center, and if all else fails, go and see them personally. Again, just check and see it is worth it.
 
Cool people thanks for the advice, I'll definately try my luck. I'm having someone check out the value in doing so...I'm seeing this person in August.

Thanks
 
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