Media Statement- Issued By The Office Of The Tax Ombud

MEDIA STATEMENT

ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE TAX OMBUD  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAX OMBUD TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST SARS RELATING TO ALLEGED UNDUE DELAY IN THE PAYMENT OF REFUNDS

The Tax Ombud, Judge B M Ngoepe, confirms that he requested, and obtained, the approval of the Minister of Finance to review the alleged prevalent undue delays by the South African Revenue Service in paying out tax refunds. The Minister’s approval was required in terms of section 16(1)(b) of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011. This will be the first such review and follows recent amendments to the Act; the amendments came into operation on 18 January 2017. The review will be on all categories of tax refunds.  

The approach to the Minister was prompted by the number of complaints received by the Tax Ombud from taxpayers.  Both SARS and external stakeholders have already been notified. SARS has indicated that, as usual, it will co-operate, and, as it was the taxpayer themselves who pressed for the review, the office of the Tax Ombud also calls on them to co-operate so that the matter is expeditiously dealt with. The Office of the Tax Ombud will therefore be engaging both SARS and concerned taxpayers.  It is hoped that, as a contribution towards facilitating tax collection, the air will be cleared and/or necessary recommendations made at the end, if need be.

Issued by the Office of the Tax Ombud

Pearl Seopela, Senior Manager: Communications and Outreach

Mobile: +27 82 906-1404 e-mail: PSeopela@taxombud.gov.za

For more information, please contact Mr Jack Malatji at the office of the Tax Ombud on 081 772 8731; e-mail:JMalatji@taxombud.gov.za  

Notes: The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is an independent and impartial state institution that provides a simple, free and impartial channel to seek a resolution for a service, procedural or administrative dispute taxpayers might have already unsuccessfully tried to resolve through SARS’ complaints management channels. The OTO seeks to maintain balance between SARS powers, on one hand, and taxpayer rights and obligations on the other.

27 March 2017