Tax Return over 40 days outstanding

<p>Hi, </p> <p> </p> <p>I filed my 2016 Tax return through eFiling and found that I would get a rebate of over R20,000. This was on the 28th of July 2016.</p> <p>I called the call centre a few days later to enquire as to the status of my return, as there was no additional information available at the time. I found out that a previous provident fund payment from a long time ago caused my SARS account to be "locked" and that I would have to find proof of payment and go to their offices to resolve it. </p> <p>I managed to contact the provident fund and get the paper work, that alone was a mommoth task of filtering through endless companies until I go the right one. </p> <p>I then went to my nearest SARS Office (Standerton) to ensure that everything was in order and processed on the 12th of October. I met with a friendly and competent consultant of SARS and was helped very quickly and effectively. Upon exiting the premises I got an sms stating that the first payment would be 01 Sept and a 2nd payment on the 30th of September. Everything sounds good, right?</p> <p> </p> <p>Wrong! It has now been nearly 40 days and a total of 11 unique calls logged with SARS regarding this matter. I have been given the "one-liner" by each and every consultant: "The request is with the relevent department and we have no turnaround on the matter" </p> <p> </p> <p>So I stopped calling last week. I then again called them today, only to find that the 21 days have passed (according to the consultant) REALLY?? And that NOTHING was done regarding my request. She has now escalated it for me ONCE AGAIN and I am the lucky owner of call reference number 13.</p> <p> </p> <p>She could not give me any turnaround time nor could she really offer anything else, except her word that she would escalate it for me. </p> <p> </p> <p>This is absurd and shows a dire need for management or refinement of internal structures. Pathetic and unacceptable by any standard!</p> <p> </p> <p>Now do take into account please: After the "hold" has been lifted I would still have to wait another good 2 - 4 weeks for the funds to be released (Provided I don't have to jog to my nearest SARS office, as they might magically need proof of residence + banking details) Which would mean that I am most certainly going to see the funding no sooner than December. </p> <p> </p> <p>I would most appreciate it if ANYONE from SARS can contact me to resolve this matter, as it has now honestly become too much of a joke. I simply do not trust any call centre agents any more and I want solid, concrete feedback on when I could expect to see movement in the RIGHT direction regarding this case. </p> <p> </p> <p>40+ days to remove a hold from an account, after the individual provided all the records you needed? Honestly... You cannot be serious.</p>