Fairness for all: Case 30

Taxpayers often find themselves caught in complex disputes due to administrative errors or delays by SARS in processing their objections. When these issues result in unfair financial burden, the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) serves as an independent mediator, ensuring that taxpayers are treated fairly. In this case, the OTO played a crucial role in addressing a systemic issue – delays in responding to suspension of payment requests – which led to unnecessary debt collection actions against a taxpayer whose objection had already been allowed and finalised. Through its intervention, the OTO not only helped resolve the individual case but also highlighted broader inefficiencies within SARS’s processes that need to be addressed.