E-filers and tax practitioners can still submit tax returns tomorrow and Sunday as penalties will only be imposed from Monday, the SA Revenue Service (SARS) said today.

"We don't want to call it an extension because our call centre will only operate until 8pm tonight (Friday) to assist e-filers," said spokesperson Adrian Lackay. He said this amid concerns that thousands of tax payers willing to file their returns were stuck in long queues across the country, with operations at the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg hindered by a  power failure.

In Durban, 900 people were still in queues at 4pm. Lackay said however that taxpayers inside SARS offices when the branches closed at 6pm would be given a chance to file tomorrow. Tickets with "unique numbers" will be issued to all those inside the branches at 6pm and they will be required to produce them before filing on Saturday. Those without tickets will be turned away.

"This is an operational matter to assist taxpayers in queues because they have demonstrated a willingness to submit on time and their willingness to comply with the law," said Lackay. Although the e-filers have some sort of extended time, they will get no help from SARS officials as the call centre was expected to close from 8pm tonight. -Sapa