How To Submit Your VAT Return Online In South Africa

All registered VAT vendors in South Africa are required to submit a VAT return every tax period. In the past, this was done manually by filling out a paper form and submitting it to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). 

However, with the advancement of technology, you can now submit your VAT return online, which is faster and more convenient. 

In this article, we will provide you with a step by step guide on how to submit your VAT return online.

1. How to Register for eFiling

To submit your VAT return online, you first need to register for eFiling. eFiling is a free service provided by SARS that allows taxpayers to submit various tax returns and declarations online. 

To register for eFiling, follow these steps:

1. Go to the SARS eFiling website (https://www.sarsefiling.co.za).
2. Click on “Register” and select “I am a taxpayer.”
3. Enter your personal details, including your name, ID number, and contact details.
4. Enter your personal details, including your name, ID number, and contact details.
5. Create a username and password for your eFiling account.
6. Submit your registration form.
7. SARS will send you an email with a link to activate your account.
8. Click on the link to activate your account.
9. Once your account is activated, you can log in to eFiling and start submitting your VAT return.

2. How to Log in to eFiling

To log in to your eFiling account, follow these steps:

1. Go to the SARS eFiling website (https://www.sarsefiling.co.za).
2. Click on “Login.”
3. Enter your username and password.
4. Click on “Login.”

After logging in to eFiling, navigate to the VAT return section by following these steps:

1. Click on “Returns.”
2. Select “VAT.”
3. Click on “VAT201 – VAT Return.”

3. Completing the VAT Return Form

Once you are in the VAT return section, you can start completing your VAT return form. The form consists of various sections, including the following:

1. Basic information – This includes your name, VAT registration number, and tax period.
2. Output tax – This section includes the VAT you charged your customers during the tax period.
3. Input tax – This section includes the VAT you paid on your business expenses during the tax period.
4. Taxable supplies – This section includes the total value of the goods and services you supplied during the tax period.
5. Taxable purchases – This section includes the total value of the goods and services you purchased during the tax period.
6. Adjustments – This section includes any adjustments you need to make to your VAT return.

To complete the form, enter the relevant information in each section. If you are unsure about any section, consult the SARS website or speak to a tax professional.

4. How to Submit the VAT return form

Once you have completed the VAT return form, you can submit it to SARS by following these steps:

1. Click on “Calculate.”
2. Review the information on the summary page.
3. Click on “Submit.”
4. Confirm that you want to submit the form.
5. SARS will send you a confirmation email.

5. How to Check the status of your VAT return

After submitting your VAT return form, you can check its status by following these steps:

1. Click on “Returns.”
2. Select “VAT.”
3. Click on “VAT201 – VAT Return.”
4. Click on “History.”
5. You will see the status of your VAT return.

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