The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is opening up more channels to engage with taxpayers as it looks to boost tax compliance in the country.
The tax collector has launched USSD services, also known as quick codes, which will allow taxpayers to conduct basic services – and put them directly in contact with SARS if needed.
USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, a communication system used by mobile network operators to provide various services to their customers.
South Africans may find it similar to services by network operators that allow for the topping up of airtime or data by entering certain numbers on their mobile devices.
To access SARS’ new services on the phone, a taxpayer can type in a USSD string *134*7277#.
The services is free of charge, and can be used on feature or smartphones, even with no direct internet connectivity.
The following additional tax-related services are offered to taxpayers via the USSD channel:
What’s my Tax number?
SARS said that this service should be used when you want to verify that you are registered for Personal Income Tax. This service will display your tax number on your mobile device.
Account balance
“This service can be used when you are registered for Personal Income Tax and want to determine the balance of your tax account. This service will display your tax balance which includes your Personal Income Tax and Administrative penalties.”
Do I need to file a tax return?
This service should be used when you want to verify whether you are registered for Personal Income Tax and liable to submit an Income Tax return.
eBooking
SARS said: “Taxpayers with basic standard mobile services can also select an eBooking option. When the eBooking option is selected, a SARS Service Agent will call and engage with the taxpayer, to ultimately book a telephonic appointment for the resolution of any tax-related query on behalf of the taxpayer.”
Process
The tax authority provided the following steps to use the new feature:
Step 1
Dial the following SARS USS string characters:
*134*7277#
Step 2
Select your applicable tax resolution request:
- Complete the applicable number
- Tap on Reply
Step 3
Complete your personal information:
- Complete either your ID/Passport/ Asylum number
- Tap on Reply
Step 4
Following the above steps, you will be led to the information you sought. Once you have read such, you can Tap on Reply and either:
- Select 1 to return to the main menu
- Select 2 to exist the service
Modernisation
The taxman has been on a drive to modernise itself over the past few years.
Under the guidance of commissioner Edward Kieswetter, the revenue service has focused on making non-compliance harder and more costly while also making it easier for a taxpayer to be a complaint.
Including USSD alongside traditional SMS technology is a further example of this goal.
SARS has launched an initiative with nine primary strategic objectives in its Vision 2024.
Vision 2024 has the primary goal of making SARS more efficient, contemporary and effective as a compliance authority. To better achieve this, SARS has been on a massive hiring drive.
Credit – Taken from – https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/674009/sars-has-a-new-way-to-get-in-contact-with-taxpayers/
Leave a Reply