Do your Tax with TaxTim and WIN R10,000  More info   T&C's apply


Return requested by accident and filed



JEffect says:
26 July 2015 at 12:05

Recently I got a bit confused on the SARS eFiling website and accidently requested a tax return for 2005 and 2010. I get very nervous when submitting tax so having seen red text saying a tax return for 2005 and 2010 are incomplete (after I requested them) I completed the tax returns however there was nothing to submit as I was still in high school in 2005 and I was a student at university in 2010.

I did serve an internship in 2009 for 7 months for which I was paid R3200 a month, however no IRP5 has been submitted for this to SARS from the employer and I had received no copy of an IRP5. What must I do as the agent at the helpline told me to get a police affidavit to say that I was not employed for those years and hence not liable for tax.

TaxTim TaxTim says:
27 July 2015 at 16:07

You could submit nil tax returns for those years you were unemployed.

How to submit a nil tax return

JEffect says:
27 July 2015 at 16:44

Hi TaxTim, I have submitted no tax returns for those years however I received a request asking for documentation. The agent kindly asked me to submit a police affidavit stating I was not employed for those years and not liable for tax. I don't mind doing that however my concern is the internship I served in 2009.

TaxTim TaxTim says:
27 July 2015 at 17:49

You earned below the tax threshold in 2009 and therefore would not be liable for tax in this year. Your employer should have issued you with a IT3(a) which is used to report earnings of employees where no tax was deducted. (An IRP5 is issued in the case where tax was paid. )Therefore you can submit an affidavit stating the amount you earned in 2009 as well as explain reasons why you did not receive the IT3(a) from your previous employer. I can't foresee SARS having any issues with this as you did not owe any tax for 2009 anyway.

JEffect says:
28 July 2015 at 8:51

Thanks TaxTim,

This was the affidavit I drew up earlier before I posted this question. Would this suffice:

1. I am of the above mentioned particulars.
2. I wish to declare that in the year 2005, I was a scholar at [High School] and was not required to submit tax.
3. I also wish to declare that in the year 2010, I was a student at the [Tertiary Institution] studying for [Diploma Name] and also was not required to submit a tax return for that year.
4. I erroneously submitted a tax return for those years. I regret the mistake and had no intention to commit tax fraud.
5. I know and understand the contents on this statement. I have no objection in taking the prescribed oath. I consider the prescribed oath binding on my conscience.


Please let me know what I need to amend and feel free to correct where necessary.

TaxTim TaxTim says:
28 July 2015 at 14:14

That looks fine, if they ask for a tax return for 2009 then you can draw up a similar affidavit as I described in my previous post.

JEffect says:
28 July 2015 at 14:34

Hi TaxTim, this was very helpful. I have submitted the affidavit and now I just wait. Thanks so much for the assistance.

This entry was posted in Tax Q&A and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.




Submit your tax return right here!
Get started

 Do Your Tax Return Easily
 Avoid penalties
 Maximise your refund

Answer simple questions about your incomes and expenses. TaxTim does the rest. Just click click, submit.

Make tax easy

Blog Categories


Ask TaxTim

Got a question you want answered about tax?

Visit our helpdesk →

Get SARS Tax Deadlines in your Inbox
We'll tell you when you need to file, along with tax tips and updates.