Tag: Tax Consulting SA

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has also announced many changes to this upcoming filing season and has already begun auto-assessing taxpayers from 1 July 2023. These changes must be clearly understood by taxpayers, so they can compliantly navigate this year’s filing season.

In the matter of Medtronic International v CSARS (33400-19) ZAGPPHC, Medtronic (the taxpayer) brought a review application against the commissioner of SARS (the commissioner). This was due to the taxpayer being a victim of fraud, perpetuated by a Medtronic employee, to the tune of approximately R460,000,000.00. This ultimately placed the taxpayer in non-compliance with SARS.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, had the unenviable task of delivering the annual Budget Speech. Over the last year, and especially over the last few months, South Africa has taken one knock after another.

Given the number of fraudsters and chance-takers in today’s market, hesitancy on the part of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is present and well-understood. Rather than simply handing out refunds to every VAT claimant without careful scrutiny, the SARS official appointed to the matter is obligated to correctly apply the law, even though it may take a little longer than expected.

Expatriate taxpayers awaiting approval of their non-resident status may be surprised to discover that South African Revenue Service (SARS) can track their flights into and out of South Africa. This is evident from the attached Request for Additional Supporting Documents letter, received by one of our clients.

Between 70 and 80 percent of South Africans do not have a will to protect their loved ones in the event of their untimely death. Unfortunately, this will not only burden the surviving family members with unnecessary emotional and financial stress but will also delay them gaining access to their rightful inheritance.

With 2022 filing season upon us, taxpayers are in great need of understanding what their current tax compliance status is with the South African Revenue Service (SARS); and if there is an outstanding tax debt, from where does such liability arise.

Gazetted in February 2022, the latest Critical Skills List added numerous skills that have been in short supply in South Africa for some time. The list was previously updated back in 2014. As world economies reopen, local enterprises can finally source expatriate talent to fill the persistent skills gaps keeping them from achieving their strategic objectives.

The 2022 Tax Season has started and taxpayers need to be cognisant of their tax compliance and if any outstanding debt is owed to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). As a practice, we are seeing SARS continue to aggressively follow collection steps against taxpayers with outstanding tax debt.

To be released from their local tax obligations in relation to foreign income, emigrating South Africans must be able to prove to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) that they have permanently left the country.