The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has recently launched a new channel on WhatsApp. This initiative aims to provide taxpayers with a more efficient platform to access information related to their tax refunds and other tax-related queries.
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Purpose of the Service
The newly introduced service is specifically designed to address tax queries related to personal income tax. This focus allows SARS to provide more targeted and efficient assistance to taxpayers. The service is accessible on both mobile and desktop versions of WhatsApp, making it convenient for users to access it from any device.
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Initiating Interaction with SARS
To initiate an interaction with SARS on WhatsApp, taxpayers must send a simple greeting message such as “Hi” or “Hello.” In response, SARS will provide a detailed description of the service offerings and a menu for service requests.
Steps to Engage with SARS via WhatsApp
Engaging with SARS via WhatsApp involves a few simple steps:
- From your mobile phone:
- Open the contacts application on your mobile phone.
- Click on the option to add a new contact.
- In the field for the contact’s phone number, enter the SARS WhatsApp number, 0800 11 7277.
- Save the contact. You can name it “SARS” for easy reference.
From your desktop:
- Open the web browser on your desktop.
- Navigate to the SARS WhatsApp desktop version by clicking on the provided link.
- Once the SARS WhatsApp desktop version is open, follow the prompts to engage with SARS.
- These prompts will guide you through sending a message or making a request. Follow them as instructed.
Remember, for successful interaction with SARS via WhatsApp, you need to use the mobile device number that is registered on the SARS systems.
Services Offered via WhatsApp
SARS offers a range of services via WhatsApp. These include:
- Requesting your Tax Reference Number: This is the unique number assigned to you by SARS for tax purposes.
- Requesting your Statement of Account: This provides a detailed record of your tax account transactions.
- Requesting your Return Refund Status: This allows you to check the status of your tax refund.
- Requesting your Audit Status lets you determine if your tax return is being audited.
- Requesting your Notice of Assessment: SARS issued a formal notice outlining your tax liability.
You must send a WhatsApp message from your registered mobile device number on the SARS system for successful authentication.
Information on Auto-Assessments
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a notification addressing concerns regarding auto-assessment notifications. Taxpayers who have not yet received an auto-assessment notification should be aware that the process will take approximately two weeks.
The auto-assessment process commenced on Monday, 1 July and will run through until the commencement of the 2024 tax season on Monday, 15 July. This information is intended to provide confidence to taxpayers and clarify the auto-assessment process’s timeline.
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