SARS eFiling 2023/2024

SARS owes me money from the 2023 tax year. They paid me back a portion in July 2023 which is where my company overstated my PAYE. However the RA tax rebate portion was not included because at the time Sygnia experienced reporting issues. Later that year I learnt to refresh my data. This created a version 2 of my ITA34 form which included the RA information. But that portion still hasn't been paid out yet to this day. For the record I don't have any outstanding issues or payments to SARS on my side.

Does anyone have similar experience and advice? I sent a mail to SARS quoting my tax number and the above information. Thanks
 
So despite them telling me my case was allocated and they dont send the messages anymore yesterday afternoon i got a notification that my case has been allocated now. So who knows how it works lol
 
~20 days of Audit - Approved no changes. Now I am waiting for the refund to appear in my account.
 
2 weeks since second submission on my solar claim only to have it declined. Assessment says refer to letter but didn't receive an additional letter so I've had to request a reason.
 
I had a look at my notification emails from SARS last year and there is one email saying that they've received my supporting documentation and that they will allocate my case to an official. There is a second mail that says it was actually allocated to an official. So 2 separate emails.

This year, I only got the first mail. Submitted only a few days after tax season opened and they've still not allocated it? Seems crazy.

And now with 1 September approaching and the new 2-pot system go-live, if social media is anything to go by, people just want to withdraw as much as they can from the savings pot and who cares about the tax on it. So basically, if SARS is under the pump now dealing with eFiling, after 1 Sep they're going to be properly snowed under issuing tax directives for people who want to withdraw retirement money under 2 pot.
 
feo said:
I had a look at my notification emails from SARS last year and there is one email saying that they've received my supporting documentation and that they will allocate my case to an official. There is a second mail that says it was actually allocated to an official. So 2 separate emails.

This year, I only got the first mail. Submitted only a few days after tax season opened and they've still not allocated it? Seems crazy.

And now with 1 September approaching and the new 2-pot system go-live, if social media is anything to go by, people just want to withdraw as much as they can from the savings pot and who cares about the tax on it. So basically, if SARS is under the pump now dealing with eFiling, after 1 Sep they're going to be properly snowed under issuing tax directives for people who want to withdraw retirement money under 2 pot.
Click to expand...
Really don't understand why people will withdraw except if you are in deep ****. For me the 2-pot is just another way for the gov to make more money with tax
 
feo said:
I had a look at my notification emails from SARS last year and there is one email saying that they've received my supporting documentation and that they will allocate my case to an official. There is a second mail that says it was actually allocated to an official. So 2 separate emails.

This year, I only got the first mail. Submitted only a few days after tax season opened and they've still not allocated it? Seems crazy.

And now with 1 September approaching and the new 2-pot system go-live, if social media is anything to go by, people just want to withdraw as much as they can from the savings pot and who cares about the tax on it. So basically, if SARS is under the pump now dealing with eFiling, after 1 Sep they're going to be properly snowed under issuing tax directives for people who want to withdraw retirement money under 2 pot.
Click to expand...

As I understand it, the savings pot doesn't exist until 1st September, so there is nothing to withdraw until it has started having contributions added to it? So how are they going to draw from the savings pot if it has nothing in it...
 
Neuk_ said:
As I understand it, the savings pot doesn't exist until 1st September, so there is nothing to withdraw until it has started having contributions added to it? So how are they going to draw from the savings pot if it has nothing in it...
Click to expand...

The legislation requires 10% seed capital to be pulled from your retirement fund (capped at R30 000) to be transferred to the Savings pot on the 1st of September.
 
I got selected for audit for a first time. I need some help understanding what documents to submit.

I went to the SARS site to try figure it out. It says:

During verification, take these steps:​

  • Read SARS’s verification letter, which lists the information that you must send us.
  • Upload documents on eFiling: the link will become available once SARS has sent you the verification letter (refer to the guides on eFiling).
    • Upload all the material requested in your verification letter.
    • Remember to click the “submit” button to send your documents to SARS. Once you have submitted, the link will close, so submit only when you are sure that you have uploaded the correct documents.
Click to expand...

On the my efiling, this is the letter:
1723303172095.png

It seems very generic. Do I just need to submit the IRP5 like it says in the "for example" section.

I left SA last year so I only worked for 2 months in the tax year but I rented out my property.
Under income on my tax form, I have the IRP5, rental income, tax free income and investment income.
Under the deductions I have medical aid, travel claim, and RA.

What documents do I need to provide?
 
blowdart18 said:
The legislation requires 10% seed capital to be pulled from your retirement fund (capped at R30 000) to be transferred to the Savings pot on the 1st of September.
Click to expand...

Aah, yes, I remember that now, so that is what they’ll be eager to get their hands on for no apparent good reason.
 
MidnightZA said:
I got selected for audit for a first time. I need some help understanding what documents to submit.

I went to the SARS site to try figure it out. It says:


On the my efiling, this is the letter:
View attachment 1750237

It seems very generic. Do I just need to submit the IRP5 like it says in the "for example" section.

I left SA last year so I only worked for 2 months in the tax year but I rented out my property.
Under income on my tax form, I have the IRP5, rental income, tax free income and investment income.
Under the deductions I have medical aid, travel claim, and RA.

What documents do I need to provide?
Click to expand...

Upload everything, but most important a recon of your rental balance sheet. Especially expenses like bond interest, rates and taxes, levies etc
 
I have to pay in.

Does SARS help themselves from my bank account or must I make payment?
 
zerocool2009 said:
Upload everything, but most important a recon of your rental balance sheet. Especially expenses like bond interest, rates and taxes, levies etc
Click to expand...

I have all of that except a "proof of income" for rental income. I have all the levies statements, rates statements, interest statement from the bank, and invoices of the repairs done.

I made a spreadsheet with the rental income, rates and levies for each month. Would that be enough?

Or do I have to upload bank statements with the rental income highlighted?
 
MidnightZA said:
I have all of that except a "proof of income" for rental income. I have all the levies statements, rates statements, interest statement from the bank, and invoices of the repairs done.

I made a spreadsheet with the rental income, rates and levies for each month. Would that be enough?

Or do I have to upload bank statements with the rental income highlighted?
Click to expand...
Last year was the first time I had rental income, thought it would be easy but seems SARS can be pretty particular about what they want.

I think you should just assume that the official that will be looking at your case is has no idea what he/she is doing and simplify things as much as humanly possible. They initially disallowed all my deductions against rental income but there was no way I was letting them get away with that one. I disputed it.

Name your documents predictably and clearly.

I think I gave the lease agreement, the bank home loan statement showing the annual interest for the tax year, a simple Excel spreadsheet that shows the income and expenses (levies, rates and interest) broken down per month and then the total for the tax year. Also got a PDF of my bank statement for the entire year (yes, all transactions on my current account for the whole year) and highlighted the rental income (in green) and expenses (in red) for each month and also labelled it as such on the margins so it's extra clear. Levies statement too and also page 1 of my Tshwane municipal accounts for rates all combined into 1 single PDF.

Then they accepted and paid me out the amount they initially robbed me with.
 
feo said:
Last year was the first time I had rental income, thought it would be easy but seems SARS can be pretty particular about what they want.

I think you should just assume that the official that will be looking at your case is has no idea what he/she is doing and simplify things as much as humanly possible. They initially disallowed all my deductions against rental income but there was no way I was letting them get away with that one. I disputed it.

Name your documents predictably and clearly.

I think I gave the lease agreement, the bank home loan statement showing the annual interest for the tax year, a simple Excel spreadsheet that shows the income and expenses (levies, rates and interest) broken down per month and then the total for the tax year. Also got a PDF of my bank statement for the entire year (yes, all transactions on my current account for the whole year) and highlighted the rental income (in green) and expenses (in red) for each month and also labelled it as such on the margins so it's extra clear. Levies statement too and also page 1 of my Tshwane municipal accounts for rates all combined into 1 single PDF.

Then they accepted and paid me out the amount they initially robbed me with.
Click to expand...

Thanks. This helps a lot. I'm mostly on the right track. Just need to do the bank statement part and I believe ill be good to submit.

Last year 2 of the aircons at the rental gave up. (Well one gave up long ago but I never used that room when I lived there so I never bothered with it). The aircon guys tried to repair it but they were too old, even a universal motherboard did not work to fix it. I replaced both aircons.

Is this a valid deduction? I assume it is valid since its not an improvement per se. It was the only option to "repair" what was already there.
 
MidnightZA said:
Thanks. This helps a lot. I'm mostly on the right track. Just need to do the bank statement part and I believe ill be good to submit.

Last year 2 of the aircons at the rental gave up. (Well one gave up long ago but I never used that room when I lived there so I never bothered with it). The aircon guys tried to repair it but they were too old, even a universal motherboard did not work to fix it. I replaced both aircons.

Is this a valid deduction? I assume it is valid since its not an improvement per se. It was the only option to "repair" what was already there.
Click to expand...

I would say it's a valid deduction but I'm not SARS, you're basically at the mercy of whichever agent has your case. If they're in a good mood, they'll allow it, if not, they'll straight up reject it and you'll have a longer path to get through to get answers out of them and have it accepted.

But in any case, the reason I say it's valid is this guidance from the SARS site:

Expenses that are capital in nature or that are not in the production of rental income will not be allowed. These can include, for example, costs for improvements made to the property. Improvements should not be confused with repairs and maintenance which are allowed as a deduction. Repairs and maintenance would usually take place when a person attempts to restore an asset to its original condition as a result of damage or deterioration. Improvements would usually result in the creation of a better asset. To determine whether a repair, maintenance or improvement has taken place, the specific facts and circumstances of each case must be examined.
Click to expand...

If you attempted to repair an aircon and could not have it serviced or repaired, and replacement was the only option, that seems reasonable. I guess if you show that the new aircon isn't a significant upgrade over the previous one, just a straight replacement, then you'll have a better chance. Not sure what the best way to do that would be though, in terms of supporting documentation.

You have to tread a careful line between submitting too little proof and too much, remember you're dealing with human beings on the other end.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X