Hundreds of people have been queueing outside the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) offices in Cape Town, marking the start of tax season.
From 15 July to 21 October, individual taxpayers can file their tax returns. Outside the CBD’s office was Cecelia Adams who travelled from Hanover Park. She joined the line at 7am on Monday. She eventually entered the building 5 hours later. The single mother says she is hoping she gets some money back. Her company was recently liquidated, leaving her unemployed:
“It’s not nice having to queue for so many hours for your own money. My back is extremely sore,” said Adams.
🟡A snaking queue wraps around the SARS office in Cape Town, marking the official start of tax season. From 15 July – 21 October, individual taxpayers will be able to file their tax returns. Julian Cleophas from Athlone stood in the line for 5 and half hours. 📸🎥: Lizell Persens pic.twitter.com/GtTdE8BZ7w
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) July 15, 2024
Furthermore, Julian Cleophas said he does not trust the auto-assessment process, and finds e-filing difficult to grasp. The Athlone man prefers handling his taxes in person, and stood in the line for 5 and a half hours:
“It’s always a lengthy process to come to SARS. The lines were also extremely long this morning when I arrived here at 7 o’clock. I needed to be here. I really find the process of e-filing to be very challenging, and quite complicated. Maybe from SARS’ end, they could do something to make that process easier,” said Cleophas.
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He added that leaving one’s home at the crack of dawn poses the risk of danger. He also said that an elderly pensioner collapsed while waiting in the line:
“Should we still continue having pensioners at a place like this, standing in long lines? For me, every year when I plan to come, I know that I have to be up extra early. People come from various communities with social and economic ills. Getting up early could be putting yourself at risk also,” said Cleophas.
An elderly taxpayer collapsed in the line, as a result of the long waiting times. pic.twitter.com/z9aW00e5pj
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) July 15, 2024
Meanwhile, Ismaeel Fortune travelled from Bonteheuwel. He came to update his banking details after receiving a notice of assessment last year:
“In the statement they gave me, the amount was a minus. I thought that I owed them (SARS) so I googled. I asked them what the minus sign meant and it means that they owe me, so I just want to update my banking details,” concluded Fortune.
