SARS NEEDS TO RELOOK AT THEIR INTERNAL PROCESSES!!!!

It's incredibly frustrating to deal with such inefficiencies, especially when you've been diligent about your tax responsibilities. My experience highlights several key issues with the current process at SARS:

Inconsistent Timelines: The 21-day period for document submission and responses seems arbitrary and adds unnecessary delays, especially when you've already prepared everything in advance.

Delayed Submission and Processing: The auto-assessment period delaying manual submissions, followed by delayed processing even after submission, complicates things further for taxpayers.

Poor Communication: The lack of communication about the status of your return and audit process is particularly concerning. It leaves you in the dark and adds to the stress of the situation.

Unfair Treatment: Seeing others with similar documents and circumstances get their returns processed faster only adds to the sense of unfairness.

Customer Service Issues: The poor customer service, including being hung up on and getting inconsistent information, exacerbates the frustration.

It sounds like systemic changes are needed to make the process more efficient, transparent, and fair. Documenting your experiences and providing feedback to SARS might help, although systemic issues often require larger, coordinated efforts to address. Engaging with a tax professional or advocate might also provide additional support and potentially expedite your case.