In a press briefing for the launch of the tax filing season for individuals and trusts, the SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter announced that the recent surge of the Covid-19 had thrust organizations to introduce new ways to do business, with that he announced that there would be no physical branches open for in-person engagement in any of SARS branches.
Here’s how you can make an appointment at SARS:
Using your cellphone:
You can use one of the following options to arrange an appointment with SARS:
- Call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277 and select option 0 (zero). A SARS official will book the appointment on your behalf.
- Send an SMS to 47277 (iSARS) with the information and format described below:
- Space
- E.g. Booking 91120801123456 OR Booking A029999998
- A SARS official will call you back to book the appointment on your behalf
- This SMS service is only available to taxpayers/registered representatives who are registered for Personal Income Tax (PIT). This service is not available to tax practitioners.
If you want visual instructions of the above steps, watch this YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVLPrkrjwLA
What do you need to know when making an appointment?
- Indicate whether you are making a booking as an Individual, Company, Trust, Entity Representative, Practitioner, or a small Medium Micro Enterprise (SMME).
- Only SARS registered taxpayers will be able to request an appointment. Unregistered users will be referred to the eFiling website to register.
- If you cannot be verified as a registered individual taxpayer, company representative or practitioner, you will not be able to book an appointment.
- Ensure that you capture all personal particulars exactly as registered with SARS, otherwise the system will not validate your details.
- Non-South African’s will be allowed to make a booking using foreign passport/permit numbers. SA citizens must use their ID numbers to make a booking.
- Note that you have to provide us with a valid cell phone number and/or an email address.
- Date selection may not be more than 60 days in advance. The earliest booking you will be able to make or receive is after 48 hours from the present.
- Only one time slot may be selected for a booking.
- Scheduling recurring appointments (block bookings) is not allowed.
- Once an appointment has been confirmed you will receive a formal confirmation by email or SMS, with a reference number.
On the date of the appointment:
- A SARS agent will call you and assist you with your query.
- SARS will endeavor to ensure that all on-time clients will be served at the time of the approved booking.
- Late clients may forfeit their appointment, and will then be required to make a new appointment.
- You will be allocated an appointment with a specific service agent and you will not be allowed to request assistance from an alternative agent, unless an alternate booking is made.
- Ensure that you have submitted all supporting documents, relevant to your query, electronically for video or telephonic engagement appointments, prior to the date and time of your requested appointment or SARS may not be able to assist you with your query.
- Once a booking is made, you will be able to receive assistance in completing your ITR12 Income Tax return via our free voice call-back service.
