Changes to the 2020 Tax filing season

Change has been constant this year, so it should not be a surprise that there are also changes to the 2020 Tax filing season.

To stop the spread of the coronavirus and observe social distancing SARS has amended the 2020 Tax return submission dates. Ordinarily the Tax season opens for online tax submission on 1 July, however, the 2020 Tax filing season will be opening on 1 September 2020.  

The new dates are as follows:
1 September 2020 to 16 November 2020:
Taxpayers who file electronically
1 September 2020 to 22 October 2020:
Taxpayers who are not able to file electronically can do so at a SARS branch – by appointment only
1 September 2020 to 29 January 2021:
Provisional Taxpayers who file electronically

Preparing for your Tax filing

To prepare for the dates mentioned above ensure that you have the relevant Tax documents required by SARS:   

  • IRP5/IT3(a) certificate
  • Medical-aid certificate
  • Retirement annuity fund certificate
  • Other third-party documentation that is legally required by your tax status
  • IT3(b)s from financial institutions 

These supporting documents should have been sent to SARS by the relevant institution.  Any discrepancy in supporting documents may cause a delay with SARS.

SARS Auto-Assessment service

This year, SARS intends using this data to automatically complete some taxpayers returns with the information it has received from third parties.

 If you are automatically assessed by SARS, you will receive an SMS by the end of August to alert you that your tax return has been completed and is available for review

You will need to logon to eFiling to review the return and, after you have compared it to your tax certificates, you may then choose to either accept the assessment or dispute it and file a corrected tax return.

It must be noted, SARS will only use data that is in its possession to pre-populate your individual tax return. This may lead to deductions or other income streams being omitted from your tax return.

Open Books can assist

Once you have received the relevant Tax documents listed above, contact us and let us assist you with completing your Tax return. 

Michelle Chetty is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of The Affinity Group and is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction and management of the finance and accounting team.

After serving her articles at BDO and qualifying as a CA(SA), Michelle furthered her studies with CIMA, obtaining her ACMA, CGMA qualification.

In 2014 Michelle became the Financial Manager at ​​Afriagro & Harvest Chemicals, she then moved on to become the Group Financial Manager at Upstream Group, before taking on the role of Chief Financial Officer at Saint ICT Consultants.

Her career spans over 13 years and she has operated across the Manufacturing, Retail, Public Sector Education, Professional Services, Agricultural and Agrochemical Import, Export and Outsourced Services industries. With an extensive background in the financial sector, Michelle offers a wealth of experience and expertise to The Affinity Group and senior leadership.

Michelle has lived in Durban her whole life and in her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, watching cricket and spending time in the garden with her two fur-babies.