Tax returns flow in

To date the revenue service has received 2,043,759 returns - an increase of 16% more than what was received in the same period last year.

It took 10 weeks for a million tax returns to be submitted via eFiling in 2011 compared to 14 weeks last year.

The tax season began on 1 July.

The eFiling method has proved popular for taxpayers with 98% of returns submitted captured using the electronic platform.

"Judging by the number of returns filed, the message to taxpayers to file early, honestly and electronically is getting across - in line with this year's Tax Season communication campaign of 'taking the "eish" out of 'tax-eish-ion'," said SARS on Tuesday, 20 September 2011.

The deadline for postal submissions (paper tax returns) for provisional and non-provisional taxpayers is 30 September 2011. Taxpayers who use eFiling or come into a branch where SARS consultants capture their returns on computer have until Friday, 25 November 2011. Provisional taxpayers who file via eFiling have until 31 January 2012 to submit returns.

For the remainder of the tax season SARS will set up service points at several malls and libraries across the country to help taxpayers file their returns. These service stations will be available among others at the Somerset Mall, and Khayelitsha Mall in the Western Cape; Fourways Mall and Kollonande Mall in Gauteng, the Kwagga Plaza in Mpumalanga and the South Coast Mall in KwaZulu-Natal.

Additionally, some SARS offices will operate at extended hours (7.30am to 6pm) weekdays for the duration of the tax season.