Ensuring Fairness
Dear Stakeholders The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is experiencing unforeseen challenges with its online submission of the tax complaints system. The system is not forwarding all the complaints received to the relevant mailbox; thus, the Office is unable to process those complaints. The OTO is encouraging taxpayers and taxpayer representatives, to utilise our […]
Media statement issued by National Treasury announcing a
three-month extension of Prof. Thabo Legwaila’s term as Acting Tax Ombud.
As this is the last issue of Fair Play for 2022, the editorial team has made sure it is a worthwhile read, with insights on important subjects in the tax recourse sphere, including delays in the payment of tax refunds and a new systemic issue. We also feature a farewell message from former Tax Ombud […]
Delays in the payment of tax refunds are still the most frequent complaints lodgedwith the Office of the Tax Ombud. This is despite the OTO previously compiling ahard-hitting report on the issue, together with recommendations on how the SouthAfrican Revenue Service (SARS) could resolve the matter. Now the OTO has identifiedanother SARS practice that contributes […]
Some taxpayers may be under the impression that the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) onlyassists taxpayers with complaints against the South African Revenue Service (SARS) if there aretax refunds at stake. The case featured in this issue illustrates the OTO’s commitment to helpingresolve all complaints received, even those many taxpayers might consider insignificant.
MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE TAX OMBUD FOR RELEASE ON 12 OCTOBER 2022 PRETORIA: OTO celebrates nine years of ensuring fairness by helping hundreds of taxpayers secure their refunds from SARS. This includes R215 million in top 10 tax refunds collectively paid to taxpayers through the intervention of the OTO. This is […]
Media Statement by the Office of the Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana regarding the appointment of the Acting Tax Ombud, following the expiry of the term of office of the first and only Tax Ombud, Honourable Judge Bernard Makgabo Ngoepe.
Nine years have passed in a flash and the Fair Play editorial team is grateful to have been part of the Office of the Tax Ombud’s success over the years. With the support of stakeholders at large, the OTO has positioned itself as a brand that promotes a fair tax administration system, with taxpayers’ rights […]
In July 2022, SARS issued more than three million income tax auto-assessments to individual non-provisional taxpayers. It is crucial to understand that the process for dealing with auto-assessments is slightly different from when an income tax return is submitted manually. If the wrong procedure is followed, it could have serious consequences for taxpayers.