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Tax Ombud launches #TaxpayersRightsMatter campaign

Will be focusing on customer-centricity and making it easier for taxpayers to access its services.
Tax collection is under pressure, but the service provided by Sars in its interactions with taxpayers ‘should not deserve reprehension’. Image: Moneyweb

The mandate of the Tax Ombud includes “to review and address any complaint by a taxpayer regarding a service matter, or a procedural or administrative matter arising from the application of the provisions of a Tax Act by Sars [the South African Revenue Service] … and review … any systematic and emerging issues related to a service matter or the application of the provisions of this act or procedural or administrative provisions of a tax act”.

With this in mind, the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) has launched a digital awareness campaign termed #TaxpayersRightsMatter about its services this filing season, with the overarching objective of protecting the rights of taxpayers.

OTO CEO Professor Thabo Legwaila commented that Covid-19 has restricted the physical engagement with taxpayers, necessitating the OTO to turn to digital media. “We are optimistic that our campaign will reach more people who need to know about our services and how we protect their rights as taxpayers.”

Read: Balancing Sars’s powers and duties with taxpayers’ rights and obligations

The OTO will be focusing on customer-centricity and making it easier to access its services, and will provide free and impartial assistance to taxpayers who have a tax complaint against Sars.

Ombud can be a disgruntled taxpayer’s first port of call

Moneyweb asked Legwaila to clarify whether taxpayers must first have exhausted all internal remedies provided by Sars before the OTO can be approached, because taxpayers who do not know how to do this have no one to turn to. Legwaila said that these taxpayers can ask the OTO for assistance. The OTO will not turn a taxpayer away.

Legwaila recognises that the economic devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will likely cause Sars to be robust with its collection measures: “We understand the economic challenges faced by individual taxpayers and businesses, and we are here to ensure that tax compliance is not an additional problem or drawback for taxpayers. Taxpayers should continue to be treated fairly and justly, to ease their compliance burden. Tax collection is under pressure, but it should continue to be carried out in an administratively fair manner, with correct and legislated procedures followed, and the service provided in interactions with taxpayers by Sars should not deserve reprehension. We urge and support tax compliance, and the objective of the OTO is to ensure that taxpayers’ rights are not trampled on by the revenue collector.”

Legwaila understands that in financially lean times, and with the government having to collect taxes, taxpayers can feel overwhelmed and be under pressure. Legwaila adds that: “Little attention is placed on the rights of taxpayers, as taxpayers and the revenue collector place these rights on the backburner. But it is precisely at this time that the rights of taxpayers need attention and someone to champion these and ensure they are put in the spotlight.

Rights and compliance

“It is also noted that when taxpayers are not aware of their rights, they feel more compelled to pay their taxes than feeling patriotic – which means that morality drops and non-compliance increases.”

Moneyweb asked Legwaila to comment on the common complaint from taxpayers that, whereas Sars penalises taxpayers who miss a deadline, Sars does not itself adhere to deadlines.

Legwaila replied that this is a systemic issue that was reported on in its systemic issues report published in June, and that Sars should update its systems to ensure that employees meet the deadlines.

Sars has not yet replied to the Tax Ombud’s systemic issues report. Where Sars does not adhere to time frames, taxpayers should be reported to the Tax Ombud.

Any service provided by Sars that is unprofessional, or, where the proper procedures have not been followed by Sars, falls within the OTO mandate.

Legwaila emphasised that taxpayers must be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Moneyweb mentioned that many taxpayers are afraid to make a complaint to Sars, for example, where a Sars official treats them with disrespect, or, where the official fails to provide a service, as this will place a target on the taxpayer. Legwaila replied that taxpayers have the right not to be victimised.

“The OTO will do its utmost to protect taxpayers’ rights. Our vision is to strengthen the taxpayer’s trust and confidence in the tax administration system, and our mission is to be an efficient, independent, impartial and fair redress channel for taxpayers.”

Taxpayers can contact the Office of the Tax Ombud on 0800 662 837 or complaints@taxombud.gov.za, or visit its website for more information about when and how to lodge a complaint

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It’s about equality for all tax payers – irrespective.
We in the townships welcome this. For too long has the privileged members of our society enjoyed too much clout from SARS at the expense of the poorer tax payers. Everybody here in the township pay their taxes whilst the rich and privileged squabble with SARS all the time, entering payment arrangements, not having emoluments against their pay, given time to submit tax returns etc.
We in the township (Bonteheuwel)
– always pay our tax on time;
– submit our returns in paper format (no internet)
– never dispute amounts. We trust the government and it’s officials.

Its about time that we are all treated equally.

Agree, Mr Watkins.

I also live in a township (on my title deed it says something about a ‘township establishment’)

The poor need to be treated more fairly indeed. In fact, the bulk of the tax-burden is carried by the majority poor, especially those under R7,000pm taxable income….their rate goes up to 0%. It’s unacceptably high.

You TRUST the government? Good luck…

#TaxpayerRightsMatterButANCTaxDodgerRightsMatterMore

I wonder with what moral authority are the SARS people collecting money from the productive sector of society when they obviously must know that a large portion of this money is used to pay for a grotesque bloated
and mainly useless civil service sector, for a corrupt and diabolically inefficient government as well for corrupt and bankrupt state enterprises. With the crazy Covid response the ANC government has painted itself finally in to a well deserved financial corner. VIVA !

If #TaxpayersRightsMatter then go after the corrupt ANC cadres, the VAT cheaters, the Cash-and-carry’s, the illicit cigarette and alcohol traders, etc. etc.

I have noted this year that SARS is trying all its tricks to NOT pay out amounts owed by THEM to taxpayers.

My personal experience is that they owe me money for the 2020 tax year. This after I sent in all the documents they require from me, and after they issue a completion letter….What do they do…They go and open up my 2019 return, asking for supporting documentation. Even though 2019 was finalised last year already and they paid me the monies then owed.

So, obviously as I have an OPEN return now, they don’t want to pay me what is owing for 2020. And ofcourse, they are taking their bloody time to verify the docs that I sent in…

This flagrant abuse of us taxpayers, will just encourage more and more people to NOT pay what is supposedly owed to SARS.

End of comments.

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