Pretoria — Individual taxpayers have until the end of today to submit their annual income tax returns with the deadline set for today, said the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on Friday.

By the end of Thursday, SARS had received over five million tax returns. Of these returns 4 million were for 2012 while 991 048 were outstanding returns from previous years.

"This represents an increase of about 22% in returns submitted if compared to the same period last year. More than 96 628 returns were submitted yesterday and that number is expected to grow to more than 100 000 today," said SARS spokesperson Adrian Lackay.

Call volumes at the SARS contact centre had also escalated sharply. On Thursday the centre had answered 39 784 calls and this number is also expected to increase today. The centre will open until 8pm tonight to help taxpayers with completing their returns.

For assistance with how to file a tax return, taxpayers can use the Help-You-eFile function on eFiling (www.sars.gov.za or www.sarsefiling.co.za), call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277, or visit a SARS branch office until 4pm today.