2024 Efiling Security Warning in South Africa
Taxpayers should be aware of online eFiling hacking and take precautions to protect their SARS profile. Tax Season 2024 opens in only a few weeks’ time on Monday 15 July 2024. The tax authority will send out SARS auto-assessment notices to all eligible individuals starting from 1 July 2024.
Auto assessments are issued for taxpayers whose tax affairs are less complicated. It is important to note that even though SARS issues Auto Assessments, that it does not necessarily mean these auto assessments are correct.
Taxpayers are still urged to check their auto assessments or have them reviewed by their tax practitioners to ensure accuracy and correctness. If these returns are not correct you could end up with an administrative nightmare further down the line to get the issues resolved.
The season ends on October 21, 2024 for non-provisional taxpayers and January 20, 2025 for provisional taxpayers.
2024 ONLINE EFILING SECURITY WARNING
The South African Revenue Service can only do so much to protect your profile against efiling profile hijackings. You must be proactive.
However SARS has sounded the alarm bell over 2024 online eFiling hackers and scammers. This arises as opportunists discover fresh and creative methods to exploit the yearly tax season. Consequently, tax officials suggest utilizing SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp directly for managing your matters.
When someone else is doing your taxes, meet them in person. Avoid sharing important information over the phone or email. This can help prevent it from security details being stolen.
SARS eFiling profile hacking is on rise. Scammers are illicitly obtaining access to the profiles of taxpayers and tax professionals. The incidence of these profile takeovers is anticipated to escalate starting from July 2024, as the broad tax window becomes accessible. Cyber offenders are taking advantage of weaknesses in eFiling security measures to modify login details and bank data to illicitly claim refunds from taxpayer accounts.
BOGUS REFUNDS
The promise of bogus refunds is one of the easiest ways hackers and scammers can gain access to your SARS profile.
Specifically, fraudsters primarily target taxpayers who are expecting refunds. They will get a convincing message requesting for username/password details to access your account. Hence, taxpayers and tax practitioners are required to actively safeguard their personal information.
Here’s what you can do:
- Implement a robust password and contemplate employing two-factor authentication for enhanced protection.
- Please update your SARS contact information. This will help ensure that any outdated data is no longer relevant. Updating your information is important to prevent compromised data. And so SARS can alert you immediately of any nefarious activity on your account.
- Notify SARS if you notice any unusual activity on your eFiling account.
- Avoid giving others access to your eFiling account unless it's absolutely essential.
Scam alert – ‘Outstanding Tax Payment’
Fraudsters are posing as SARS, luring taxpayers into a trap. Don’t fall for it! SARS never provides bank account numbers. If you need to make a payment, only use the official SARS payment channels by making a payment directly on SARS efiling or to the registered Public beneficiary on banking channels.
The bank accounts used in the scam are fraudulent bank accounts and SARS is following up with the relevant banks and authorities
An example of the scam has been published on SARS Scams & Phishing webpage.
It is important to remember that SARS will never send you banking details to make payment. Furthermore, taxpayers must ensure they take note of the email address from which the communication comes. SARS communications will only come from an email address ending with sars.gov.za - Don't respond to any other emails that don't end with sars.gov.za
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