EmNew Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Hi, Just in case any of you are in the same boat as I am:You're subject to an assurance audit after submitting your tax return (which can take up to one year!!!) , are due a refund, and you are planning on leaving SA and closing down all bank accounts before the SARS audit will be completed, you CAN apply to have your money paid into an overseas account once the audit is finalized.You need to email a written request for the refund to be made into a foreign account to one of the following people - jmentz@sars.gov.za or hsmitvantonder@sars.gov.za, and need to attach to that email the following:One page of your Australian bank statement - bank stamped, indicating movement etcCertified copy of your passport detail pageLetter from your Australian bank confirming bank name, account number, branch name, branch sorting code, SWIFT number, name account inCertified copy of proof of Australian residential address NB - each attachment cannot exceed 2MB in size and must be in .doc or .pdf format 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugo2 Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Important part that is missing from above: Your SA bank must update SARB that you are resident temporarily abroad = in doing that they ask you to undertake not to use your SA credit card abroad. If you did not do that before you closed the account Good dayPlease see attached letter from the SA Reserve Bank regarding additional requirements for the transfer of the refund to be processed.Applicant must contact any of the below South African Banks and request them to confirm to the SARB Financial Surveillance Department (FinSurv) whether the applicant is:(a) a foreign national temporarily working in South Africa;( a South African resident temporarily abroad (not formally emigrated); or© an emigrant from South Africa.The contact persons below will be in a position to guide the applicant in this regard. Authorised Dealer Contact person Telephone number e-mail address ABSA Bank Limited Wade Henning 0118465866 Wade.Henning@absa.co.za Avril van Boom 0113507426 Avril.vanBoom@absa.co.za FirstRand Bank Limited Angela Pereira 0875777202 Angela.pereira@fnb.co.za Shabnam Baker 0875777199 Shabnam.baker@fnb.co.za Nedbank Limited Herbert Mufhadi 0116678061 HerbertMu@nedbank.co.za Johnny Earle 0116678060 Johnnye@nedbank.co.za The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited Glen Sommerville 0114154037 Glen.Sommerville@standardbank.co.za Carwyn Rhode 0114154038 Carwyn.Rhode2@standardbank.co.za Bidvest Bank Limited Jan Lombard 0114073216 Jan.Lombard@bidvestbank.co.za Investec Bank Limited Jennie Richmond 0112867262 jrichmond@investec.co.za Mercantile Bank Limited Charles Sekele 0113020592 csekele@mercantile.co.za On receipt of the relevant confirmation, we will submit a fresh application to FinSurv for authorization to transfer the funds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmNew Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Thanks Hugo2. This post was for if you have absolutely no local accounts left and perhaps only an SARB Blocked account which SARS will not pay into. I specifically asked SARS about that scenario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadEnoughofJuju Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Take it from someone who closed their bank account attached to SARS. It's not a good idea if there is a review pending and you are due a refund. It's extremely difficult to get your banking details changed from here and you will also not be able to apply for a tax clerance certificate until that refund is paid and your tax affairs are settled. If at all possible, leave at least one bank account open and update SARS with those details before you leave. I know it's a pain but it's easier than the pain you will experience from Aus (even with a tax accountant) trying to sort out your tax affairs.P.S. Also make sure you are registered to use eFiling before you leave.I spoke to SARS about 6 months ago and asked the same question about having the refund paid into a blocked account and the ladies answer was "no, absolutely not, under any circumstances." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavePE Posted August 4, 2018 Report Share Posted August 4, 2018 I know this thread is a few years old but bumping up as it's tax time again. I'm due a refund by SARS and don't have any South African bank accounts open. Does anyone have a current contact at SARS, preferably an email, that I could request a refund to my Australian bank account? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettsj Posted August 3, 2019 Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 Hi All, Does anyone have any updated information on this, the latest advice I have been given is to fly back to SA to go into SARS and verify myself...not doing that obviously. Would appreciate any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted August 3, 2019 Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 There has been no change. A South African bank account is still required. No way around it it seems... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyN Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 Hi, anyone know if I can get my SARS return paid into my wife's active bank account in SA (or another family members') as mine is closed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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