Karabo Ntanzi
The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in collaboration with the Office of Tax Ombud (OTO), held the first stakeholder engagement in the Northern Cape. Amongst the delegates were Tax Consultants, SMMEs, NPOs, and individual tax payers. The objective was to inform the public about OTO services, educate taxpayers about how to resolve disputes with SARS and support taxpayers with tax-related issues.
Both institutions, OTO and SARS, expressed the importance of compliance and for taxpayers to understand their rights and obligations.
The engagement was held over three days, effective from Thursday, 5 March. One hundred and sixty-five (165) delegates from Frances Baard assembled at Horseshoe Motel for information sharing sessions. The National Lottery and SEDA were also offered an opportunity to present their services and products. They also stressed the importance of being tax compliant when seeking assistance from their organisations.
OTO and SARS consultants were at the venue to assist those who had challenges with compliance.
On Friday and Saturday, OTO and SARS took their services to the Diamond Pavilion Mall. The exercise yielded good results, 300 taxpayers were assisted, including shoppers who made use of the opportunity to resolve their taxes. Citizens were made aware of the importance of checking their tax status.
SARS Free State and Northern Cape Relationship Manager, Tozie Mazitshana, said, “We exist for a higher purpose, driven by passion and doing good for our people. Being compliant is not just good for you, but contributes to the growth of our country’s economy, which in turn benefits all South Africans and Africa as a continent.”
The Relationship Manager explained that the funds collected by SARS are used to build the country’s infrastructure, such as schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, airports, to provide government services and to improve the quality of life for the country’s citizens, including paying public servants and SASSA grants.
Mazitshana further indicated that, for optimal functionality, the SARS system is live to ensure immediate compliance and accuracy; hence, taxpayers are encouraged to register for e-filing. She also warned citizens against submitting fraudulent claims and the use of bogus accountants.
The OTO was established in 2014 as an advocate to resolve complaints between taxpayers and SARS. Their services are free, each client is allocated a consultant, and they are available on line via e-mail or at the call centre. Their system is attached to SARS for easy accessibility. The office is operating within the legislation and can only make recommendation to both parties because their responsibility is to correct mistakes made by either party.
For the 2024/25 financial year, OTO received 4847 complaints about SARS, of which 99% of the cases were in their favour against SARS, totalling R167m refunds.
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