SARS, the incompetence

[oldBastard]

I submitted my tax return for last year and is suppose to get a refund of R5600. They still had my old banking details, so I thought I can change it on e-filing. Surprise, surprise you can't. I need to submit a bank statement with certified copy of my ID at any branch.

So thought OK no problem how long can it take change banking details? Submitted the forms on the 9th December 2009. It is the 8 February 2010, 1 day short of two months now. I phoned this morning to get an update and still not changed, but the last time I phoned it was with the "department" that handles the change of details, today it is not even there yet.

So I am pissing against the wind here now, but what can one do? They are quickly on your case to get the money from you when you owe them, but when it is vice versa they take forever to do something.

 

[davemc]

I got refunded for 2007/2008's on the 22nd of January 2010.
No interest offered - of course.

Bastards.

 

[Dean]

SARS are usually good with interest etc... have you chatted to them about it?

 

[davemc]

I have not.

 

[Gadget Man]

I have the opposite experience with SARS in recent years. The Pinetown "Agency" Branch is usually empty and you can walk in and go straight to a consultant and sit down and have a chat (not a fight). I do my returns online, and if there's a refund, it takes about a week from submitting the return for the whole process to be complete. The downside, is that when you have to pay in, there's a month max, whereas previously you had first date, second date etc. giving you two or more months.

 

[Celine]

you will only be paid interest if you are a provisional taxpayer.