SARS eFiling / Mac Safari dilemma

S

Skyman

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Morning all - I just cant be the only person in the World using a Mac and Safari to access eFiling.

I want to complete the forms for the month.

However, I get the following message:

Experience the new Flash forms on eFiling with Adobe Flash Player

For Tax Season 2010, taxpayers and tax practitioners
will benefit from SARS's faster, improved version of eFiling.

The enhancements are set to deliver a more pleasant and productive eFiling experience for all.

While the new forms introduced this tax season can be accessed using version 9 or later versions of Adobe
Flash Player, eFilers are advised to download Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for increased security and better viewing.

Simply follow the instructions below to begin your premier eFiling experience.

To download Adobe Flash Player and view your tax return in a flash click below.
Install Adobe Flash Player Now
If you do not want to install Flash Player, you can continue using Acrobat Reader by clicking below.
Click to expand...

I've made sure I have the latest Flash SW. It still gives the message above.

Then as an alternate, I WANT to use the Reader but there is NO hot link to the "Click Below".

Anyone else experience this and if so, how did you remedy??

Lastly - I can't find a link on the SARS www to report this.
 
Last edited:
If you call their helpdesk and you're not running Windows / IE then they won't help you.
 
Download Firefox. There probably is a way around it in safari but it's also eluded me.
 
While the easiest option would be to buy Windows, install it via Boot Camp and then use IE, I have in the past used Chrome on a Mac to file my taxes.

It took some jumping through hoops, the details I unfortunately have forgotten. I seem to remember I used a non-Adobe pdf app
 
Do my vat refunds with Safari and a Mac. Took 9 months of visiting them !!
Try updating all that crap twice.
If you ask me very slowly what to look for on my laptop maybe I can help you ?
Not perfect though. Even tbough it efiles and I get my refund I still have, in red letters, " your xyz is overdue"....
 
scudsucker said:
While the easiest option would be to buy Windows, install it via Boot Camp and then use IE, I have in the past used Chrome on a Mac to file my taxes.

It took some jumping through hoops, the details I unfortunately have forgotten. I seem to remember I used a non-Adobe pdf app
Click to expand...
How is that easier than using Firefox? :confused:
 
OK everyone - thanks. After reading your inputs, I just accepted that Mac / Safari with eFiling is going to be "hard labour".

I have Parallels. So that takes care of the Windows issue.

I went into IE (using Parallels) and the eFiling system works no problem.

I really enjoy my Mac but I am annoyed that (some) developers seem to forget theres another operating system i.e. Apple Mac. We're treated as though we don't really matter. :confused:

Apple is the biggest tech company in the world and the 8th largest company in the world - yet developers seem to forget that???

Thanks for the help.
 
An easier solution is to use Firefox and the latest Flash on the Mac. The only funny thing is the scrolling in the forms on eFiling, but I suspect it is the same problem on IE.
 
Is Flash allowed to run? macOS makes it hard for Flash apps to work as they want to phase it out.

Unless you've explicitly allowed Flash content, it will not work.
 
whatwhat said:
Is Flash allowed to run? macOS makes it hard for Flash apps to work as they want to phase it out.

Unless you've explicitly allowed Flash content, it will not work.
Click to expand...

This. I used safari, mac and did my tax just fine.

Safari -> Preferences
Security Tab
Screen Shot 2016-12-02 at 09.19.37.png

Click plug-in settings

Then this:
Screen Shot 2016-12-02 at 09.18.27.png


Good luck
 
NarrowBandFtw said:
To be fair, Safari users only account for 3.6% of all browser users (https://www.netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=0&qpcustomd=0)

What's more amusing in the case of eFiling is their solution also has issues on Chrome which is by far the most used browser today. Targeting only IE is just plain stupid.
Click to expand...
They're not -
Browser Compatability Guidelines The website is optimally viewed in Internet Explorer 8+ and Firefox browsers
Click to expand...
- that's probably why Firefox was suggested as an easy option.

Not making it compatible with Chrome is daft but that's another matter.
 
Thanks everyone - I learned a thing or two.

I have Firefox now and my SARS dilemma is no more. However . . . . . .

@ GreGorGy: Thanks your advice was spot on. eFiling is accessed too now but from Safari. Thanks Sir.

Safari and Firefox are both loaded and I intend using both to determine a preference.
 
Last edited:
Mode note: moved to Apple section

A Mac being unable to do common tasks isn't news
 
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