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2022 Legal and Policy

Legal and Policy - 14 July 2022

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SARS:

  • 13 July 2022 – You need to be aware of email scams, and so we’ve created a section on the website where we will post updates of any scams we have heard about. Similarly, we would like you to tell us about any emails you think are scams or phishing. To report or to get more information on phishing, please send an email to phishing@sars.gov.za or call the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870. To see all current SARS surveys, emails and SMSs, click here.

The latest scam purport to be a summons letter from SARS, see the alert here.

  • 13 July 2022 – Our Contact Centre is currently experiencing high call volumes.

The Contact Centre volumes status will be updated from time-to-time, please check back on this webpage on a regular basis.

The following Contact Centre queues are closed due to strike action:

  • PAYE
  • VAT
  • PCC (Practitioner)
  • Customs
  • Live Chat call back
  • Large Business centre
  • IVR call backs on all queues
  • HYEF:
  • Web
  • MobiApp

The following queues are open and all resources diverted to deal with tax season:

  • ITS
  • eBooking
  • eBooking
  • Return completion
  • Password resets

Please use our Digital Channels instead:

  • 13 July 2022 – SARS apologises for any inconvenience caused but due to the industrial action taking place across SARS, we are experiencing delays in servicing our taxpayers.

Whilst the below branches may be closed to the public, they will continue to honour virtual appointments, as booked. In the event that a virtual booking is not honoured please note that the branch will follow up to do the necessary service recovery.

Please continue to also make use of our digital services during this time.

A list of all tax branches that are closed today:

Gauteng:

  • Alberton
  • Benoni
  • Edenvale
  • Randfontein
  • Ashlea Gardens

Kwazulu-Natal:

  • Durban
  • Pietermaritzburg
  • Richards Bay

Western Cape:

  • Beaufort West
  • Cape Town
  • Paarl
  • Mitchells Plain

Eastern Cape:

  • Mthatha
  • Gqeberha
  • East London

Northern Cape:

  • Upington

Mpumalanga:

  • Mbombela
  • Emalahleni

Limpopo:

  • Giyani
  • Sibasa
  • Lebowakgomo
  • Polokwane
  • 12 July 2022 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) wishes to confirm that PSA and NEHAWU members have embarked on an industrial action as per the notice given by the union to SARS Management. The resumption of strike follows its temporary suspension by the PSA in May, and union leadership has indicated that they intend to remain on strike until SARS improves its wage offer

The dispute arose because of trade unions’ rejection of the available R70 million for baseline increases for bargaining unit employees.

SARS has communicated that it does not decide on its own funding, but is dependent on an annual allocation made through a process managed by National Treasury. The demand of labour of CPI plus 7% is simply unaffordable until the SARS receives further funding.

SARS remain empathetic to financial challenges caused by increasing food and fuel prices as well as other essential services. These conditions affect majority of South Africans including SARS employees.

SARS will always respect the constitutionally protected right of workers to strike within the strict provisions of the law, whilst at the same thing the necessary steps to fulfil its legal mandate and serve taxpayers and traders. The “no work, no pay” will apply for those employees that are participating in the industrial action.

SARS can report that the first day of industrial action has seen minimal disruption to its services. While some of its branches had to close down due to absence of workers, overall taxpayers have continued to interact with the organization through the wide range of on line services. SARS has rescheduled most of the appointments that have before the industrial action started.

SARS has furthermore put business continuity plans and other contingencies in order to continue to deliver essential service to taxpayers. We urge the public to utilize our website for further updates on how to engage with SARS to fulfil their required obligations.

Taxpayers are encouraged to avoid coming to a SARS office.

SARS appeals to labour to remain peaceful in their protest and to respect picketing rules as specified in the CCMA Picketing Rules issued.

SARS has demonstrated transparency in its financial position and willingness to engage the union leadership on ending the impasse. SARS has done everything in its power and within the available funding to extend the offer to trade unions, which remains available. SARS remains willing to continue engagements with the trade unions on the offer as well as the boarder Employee Value Proposition.

For further information, please contact SARSMedia@sars.gov.za

  • 12 July 2022 – SARS apologises for any inconvenience caused but due to Industrial Action taking place across SARS, we are experiencing delays in servicing our taxpayers. Please continue to make use of our digital services during this time.

The list will be updated throughout the day, so please check back from time-to-time.

The following tax branches and customs offices are closed:

Gauteng

  • Edenvale
  • Benoni
  • Randfontein
  • Springs
  • Boksburg

Kwazulu-Natal

  • Richards Bay
  • Pietermaritzburg
  • Durban

Western Cape

  • Cape Town
  • Mitchells Plain
  • Paarl
  • Beaufort West
  • Bellville

Mpumalanga

  • Mbombela

Eastern Cape

  • Mthatha
  • Uitenhage
  • East London

Northern Cape and Free State

  • Upington
  • Qachas (Border post)

Limpopo

  • Sibaza
  • Giyani
  • 11 July 2022 – Revised mobile tax unit schedules for Mpumalanga have been published.

For more information, click here.

  • 8 July 2022 – Mobile tax unit schedule: Limpopo

For more information, click here.

For more information, click here.

  • 7 July 2022 – SARS is aware that some refunds may be taking a bit longer to pay than the 72 hours that we communicated in our initial correspondence to taxpayers. SARS is currently processing large volumes of refunds and we expect to have processed these refunds by next week.
  • 7 July 2022 – The SARS Mbombela office reopened today. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Frequently Asked Questions: Deceased Estates (Issue 2)

NATIONAL TREASURY:

OECD:

Madagascar and Honduras join multilateral Convention to tackle tax evasion and avoidance- 11 July 2022

AuthorSAICA
DivisionLegal and Policy
Categories
Legal and Policy
Date14 July 2022