As a part of the government service’s on-going commitment to taxpayer safety, it has launched SARS eFiling biometric verification. For non-provisional taxpayers, their 2024 tax commitments are already over. The deadline got here and went on Monday 21 October 2024. However, it’s nonetheless two-and-a-half months to go for provisional taxpayers to submit their particulars (Monday 20 January 2025).

Nevertheless, the South African Revenue Service will now require SARS eFiling biometric verification to take action, studies Business Tech. This will apply to anybody registering for Personal Income Tax eFiling with a South African identification document on the SARS web site, MobiApp or at a self-service kiosk.

SARS EFILING BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION

Following a profitable roll out by the South African Social Security Agency to curb fraudulent Social Relief of Distress (SRD) claims, the know-how is now being put to good use on the income service. Earlier this 12 months, Tax Consulting SA’s Sidney Fletcher sounded the alarm bell over brazen online eFiling hackers and scammers.

The advice was to deal with your individual tax affairs and if a 3rd occasion is doing all your tax for you, meet them in particular person and keep away from doing any business over the phone or email in which data can be hijacked. Fraudsters are gaining unauthorised entry to taxpayer and tax practitioner profiles, altering banking particulars and directing refunds again to themselves.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

The service says the SARS eFiling biometric verification system gives all step-by-step directions. You might want to take a digital image to verify it’s you accessing your profile. However, your image requires you to clear your background and take away head gear and glasses. Likewise, facial place and distance from the digital camera are necessary, too. Of course, you will want an internet-enable machine with a digital camera – like a laptop computer with a webcam or smartphone with a digital camera.

Unfortunately, in case you would not have entry to such a tool, SARS insists you should e-book an appointment for at SARS self-service kiosk for in-person help. The present eFiling registration, authentication and guide verification course of will nonetheless apply as earlier than. Earlier this 12 months the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) introduced that it will launch a evaluation into what it known as ‘systemic eFiling profile hijacking issues at SARS’.

Likewise, taxpayers awaiting refunds are additionally prime targets for scammers. These individuals will obtain a legitimate-looking communique from the scammer asking for login/password particulars to realize profile entry. SARS reiterates it can by no means ask for such private particulars from taxpayers. Therefore, SARS eFiling biometric verification is the subsequent proactive steps to guard tax information.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEW PROTOCOL FROM SARS?

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