There is a huge difference between using the SARS eFiling system as opposed to if you use a Back-Office system!

Compare the differences in the table below

Tax Return Production

EFILING Analytics. SARS runs analytics and can tell exactly what you do including if you play “what if” on the traveling allowance. They may as well have a camera in your office.	BACK-OFFICE No Analytics. The first time SARS sees anything from a taxpayer is when the return is filed. Play “what if” without consequences.
On average, a high net worth taxpayer will be loaded 5-7 times on the eFiling website system before the return is Filed. This takes time and there is no control over the process other than manual controls. Each time you load you are monitored!	The first time SARS sees the tax return is when it’s filed via the Back-Office system. There is a huge advantage in building up a return on an external system independent of the SARS website as there is total control of every aspect.
There is difficulty in accessing the tax return data in a high-volume database as you have to log in each time and there are a number of key strokes to find the tax return. You cannot leave the return open as the system will take you out automatically forcing you to log in again. Any change you make on eFiling you have to save!	Access a tax return instantly irrespective of the size of the database and leave it open indefinitely. Changes are saved automatically and of course you will never be logged out.
There is no facility to automate the moving of the tax return around the office on the SARS e Filing website. One has to advise others by email or verbally or by printing it out for completion and review this taking time.	In building up a tax return the system allows the moving of the tax return around the office automatically through the various stages of preparation, signing and review. Co-workers can be informed automatically using status and sticky notes.
It is difficult for multiple people to work on and review one return.	Multiple people can work on and review the return easily.
There are glitches in saving returns where changes made to a return are often lost.	No saving of a tax return when building up a return as it’s automatically saved on the system. Provided the correct procedure is carried out there will never be a loss.
One can’t complete the return unless all the fields are completed resulting in the stepping through of many fields.	One only needs to complete the parts that have to be completed and the rest can be ignored.
Sending the form to a client can prove difficult with all the different browsers and different versions of Adobe.	Not applicable as a report pack in a PDF format can be produced and sent to the client for signature.
One cannot print the form until all the fields are completed.	A report can be produced  at any time during the building stage at any stage of production.
Running on the SARS e Filing website is a duplication to your own in-house systems and files. Returns have to be printed and filed in your own internal systems.	There is no duplication as all the data is processed internally on your own system and then communicated to SARS so that there is no duplication.
There is no automatic communication system on the SARS e-filing web site which allows you to communicate with your clients. All communication systems have to be made on another system or within your email system.	The back-office provides an integrated communication system with integrated emails letters together with digital signatures.
You have to load efiling to find assessments and notices which is timeous and tedious. Its very easy to miss a notice and be penalised.	There is a control system for assessments and notices which you can get at the touch of a button making sure that you don't miss any notice.

Provisional Tax

1. No Tax system in use. Use the e Filing website only	2. Use Back Office System in full interaction with SARS
Each taxpayer’s IRP6 to be retrieved one at a time which is very time consuming.	Globally retrieve IRP6’s into the Tax system for processing, manipulation and communicating with clients.
Calculate one provisional taxpayer at a time on the website. Time consuming as you have to access each taxpayer individually and make the changes individually. There is no global processing option.	Calculate provisional tax globally.
Have to check the figures being used against a manual tax file. Time consuming and impossible in a larger database.	Not necessary all automatic as a difference report is produced.
No quick method for checking the difference between SARS IRP6 figures and the correct basic amount figure.	Producing the difference report is an automatic function and will highlight the differences.
Medical credits have to be calculated manually.	The back office system will pull in the medical credits based on the last tax calculation taking the current rates into account.
No method of communication with clients. This is a manual very time consuming method and has to be done one by one on an email system.	Communication with clients is automatic with forms and letters being emailed to taxpayers in bulk.
There is no method to track and control the status like client confirmation unless a manual or spreadsheet is kept. This is very time consuming.	Ability to track and control the status automatically by making use of digital signatures.
E file IRP6 on the e filing website client by client which is very time consuming.	E file IRP6 from the Back Office application in bulk.