Tax

Tax evasion goes far beyond legal tax avoidance. It is the practice of illegally hiding income or profits to avoid paying tax, costing countries over $500 billion a year. In many cases, tax crime and hidden owners depend on opaque ownership structures that conceal who really owns assets, where transactions are flowing, and other patterns of criminal behaviour.

Social influencers in South Africa must declare all income, including non-monetary compensation, as clarified by the South African Revenue Service (SARS)! On 5 September 2025, SARS issued a media release. It stated its zero-tolerance position regarding social influencers and undeclared income.

Thousands of South Africans who have traded or invested in crypto assets may soon face severe penalties. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has started issuing letters to individuals suspected of undeclared crypto gains. Experts warn that those who fail to act now risk not only hefty fines but also potential criminal prosecution.

The Skills Development component of B-BBEE scorecards has created a large and robust training industry. However, while many organisations deliver quality learnerships and skills programmes, an alarming number exploit the system and the corporate sponsors of learnerships. The consequences extend far beyond financial loss.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially discontinued the printing and posting of all system-generated letters, effective 31 May 2025. From this date forward, all correspondence will be delivered electronically via eFiling and other digital platforms. This shift reflects the fact that SARS discontinues printed letters as part of its broader digital strategy.

We welcome the positive changes announced by National Treasury on 23 July 2025. These changes should assist the country in creating a budget and budget process that is efficient and effective. They aim to address the needs of South Africa, its people and the unique challenges and trade-offs we face.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is no longer the passive revenue service many South Africans remember. With an injection of R3.5 billion from the national budget and the ominous launch of “Project AmaBillions”, SARS has entered its most aggressive enforcement phase in years.

Since the South African Revenue Service (SARS) introduced the Crypto Revenue Augmentation Unit, many taxpayers who have traded, invested in or used crypto assets for purchases have received Audit and Request for Relevant Material Notices.

In a tightening economy, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is under increasing pressure to collect every cent it can. This effort is critical to shoring up the South African fiscus. While many compliant businesses play by the rules, it is becoming clear that some large corporations are pushing the envelope too far. Some do so unintentionally, but others proceed with eyes wide open.

In a significant win for taxpayers on the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) “narrow” approach to the ability to claim input Value-Added Tax (VAT), the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) recently ruled in favour of Woolworths Holdings (Woolworths), the group holding company, affirming its right to claim over R8 million in input VAT.