What is the Tax Ombud, and what do they do?

The Tax Ombud is an independent office that investigates complaints against the South African Revenue Service (SARS). We help taxpayers resolve disputes, ensure fair treatment, and promote a just tax system.

How can I lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud?

You can lodge a complaint online through our website, by email, or by post. Our website provides detailed instructions and forms to assist you.

I received a tax assessment I disagree with. What can I do?

You can lodge a formal objection with SARS within a specified timeframe. If you're dissatisfied with SARS's response, you can escalate the matter to the Tax Ombud.

I'm having trouble with SARS's eFiling system. Who can I contact for help?

You can contact SARS directly through their eFiling helpdesk or visit a SARS branch. If you're still experiencing difficulties, you can lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud.

I'm concerned about a SARS audit. What should I do?

Cooperate with the SARS auditor and provide all necessary documentation. If you believe the audit is unfair or excessive, you can consult with a tax advisor or lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud.

I'm having trouble with SARS's debt collection process. What are my rights?

SARS must follow specific procedures when collecting debt. If you believe SARS is not following these procedures, you can lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud.

I'm a small business owner and I'm struggling with SARS compliance. Where can I get help?

Consider consulting with a tax advisor or seeking assistance from SARS's Small Business Support Unit. If you encounter issues with SARS, you can also lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud.

I'm a foreign national living in South Africa. What are my tax obligations?

Your tax obligations will depend on your specific circumstances. You may need to file a non-resident tax return or a resident tax return. Consult with a tax advisor or contact SARS for more information.

I've received a tax refund that is incorrect. How can I rectify this?

Contact SARS directly to resolve the issue. If you're unable to resolve the matter, you can lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud.

I'm concerned about data privacy and security with SARS. What can I do?

SARS has strict data privacy and security protocols. If you have concerns about how SARS is handling your personal information, you can lodge a complaint with the Tax Ombud.

Choose your tax practitioner wisely!

͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌

Choose your tax practitioner wisely

Dear Stakeholder,

As tax season approaches, we encourage you to choose your tax practitioner carefully. Engaging with an unregistered or non-compliant tax practitioner can expose you to serious risks, including:

• Incorrect or incomplete tax returns

• Penalties and interest charges

• Potential exposure to fraud or criminal liability

Remember: You are responsible for your tax returns even if someone else files them on your behalf. Your practitioner must be legitimate, qualified and registered with relevant controlling bodies and with SARS.

Choose wisely, choose registered tax practitioners

Working with a registered and accredited tax practitioner ensures:

Compliance with SARS regulations.
Proper representation and expert advice.
Accountability and recourse if things go wrong.

What to look for in a legitimate tax practitioner

They must be registered with the relevant authorities
They must have a valid practitioner number
They must provide you with a copy of your return and all submissions
They should not promise guaranteed refunds without first reviewing your financial records

Spot the signs of a bogus tax practitioner:

Promises of HUGE, unbelievable refunds. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Requests for sensitive personal information via unsecured channels like WhatsApp or SMS.
Pressure to sign documents without fully understanding them.

Don’t take chances - know your rights!

Verify credentials: Check if a tax practitioner is registered with a Recognised Controlling Body (RCB) and SARS. Check here.
Demand transparency: Insist on clear communication about fees and services before you commit.
Power of Attorney (POA): Understand what you are signing up for! A POA grants your practitioner significant authority with SARS. Download here

COMMON ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE OTO

Taxpayers seeking assistance with the Tax Ombud often complain that their tax practitioners:

Fail to submit necessary information during verification, leading to additional assessments, penalties and interest
Miss deadlines for disputes, making incorrect assessments
Operates without proper registration, putting you at risk
Submits returns late, resulting in penalties and interests
Do not keep them informed about their tax matters
Advises on unethical or non-compliant practices

Choose wisely and protect yourself from unnecessary stress and financial loss.

NB: CHOOSE WISELY, ALWAYS VERIFY YOUR TAX PRACTITIONER’S CREDENTIALS

The information provided in this document is protected by applicable intellectual property laws and may not be copied, distributed or modified for any purpose without the explicit consent of the OTO. The information was correct at the time of publication but may have subsequently changed. This newsletter is for information purposes only and cannot be considered to be a legal reference. The use of this information by any person shall be entirely at that person’s discretion. The Office of the Tax Ombud does not expressly or by implication represent, recommend or propose that services referred to in this document are appropriate to the needs of any particular person. The OTO does not accept any liability due to any loss, damages, costs and expenses, which may be sustained or incurred directly or indirectly as a result of any error or omission contained in this newsletter. The information does not supersede any legislation and readers who are in doubt regarding any aspect of the information displayed in the newsletter should refer to the relevant legislation or seek a formal opinion from a suitably qualified individual.

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TaxOmbud 87 Frikkie De Beer St Menlyn Pretoria, Gauteng 0181 South Africa

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Newsletter 3

Choose your tax practitioner wisely

Choose wisely, choose registered tax practitioners

What to look for in a legitimate tax practitioner

Don’t take chances - know your rights!

COMMON ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE OTO

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