The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) today officially launches its 2026 Taxpayer Awareness Campaign, “Smart Taxpayers Make a Difference,” in support of the 2026 Tax Filing Season, which commences on 1 July 2026. The campaign aims to educate taxpayers, promote informed participation, and encourage voluntary tax compliance, emphasising that every taxpayer can make a […]
Budget Speech 2026
INTRODUCTION Honourable Members, we have reached an important turning point in the management of our public finances. Five years ago, the outlook was stark. State Capture had hollowed out critical institutions and weakened state owned entities. South Africa had been downgraded to junk status by the last of the three major credit rating agencies in […]
Publication of the OTO’s draft report into alleged e-Filing Profile Hijacking
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) today,1 October 2025, publishes the Draft Report into alleged eFiling Profile Hijacking for public comment. The closing date for submissions is 31 October 2025. The draft report follows a systemic investigation conducted by the OTO into alleged eFiling profile hijacking. The investigation commenced in August 2024, following approval […]
Media Statement: Joint statement by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO)
SARS and the OTO note with concern the recent article published by Sowetan regarding the rising number of SARS eFiling profiles reportedly hijacked by cyber-fraud criminals, resulting in significant financial losses for taxpayers. At the time of the article’s publication, the OTO had not yet released the draft report for public comment, and the article […]
Media Statement: Postponement of the publication of the Draft Report on the Investigation into alleged SARS eFiling Profile Hijacking
2 July 2025: The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) announces the postponement of the publication of the draft report on its investigation into alleged SARS eFiling profile hijacking, initially scheduled for release for public comment on 7 July 2025. This decision follows a formal request from the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service […]
Invitation to participate in the eFiling profile hijacking taxpayer experience survey
On 15 August 2024, the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) announced that it sought and obtained approval from the Minister of Finance to conduct a review of possible systemic and emerging issues related to alleged SARS’s service failures in assisting taxpayers with eFiling profile hijacking timeously in terms of section 16(1)(b) of the Tax […]
The Office of the Tax Ombud launches the 2023/24 Annual Report
Following the tabling of the Office of the Tax Ombud (“OTO”) 2023/24 Annual Report by the Minister of Finance in Parliament on 18 September 2024, today, on 6 November 2024, – the OTO launched its 2023/24 Annual Report in collaboration with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (“SACCI”). In demonstrating its commitment […]
Office of the Tax Ombud launches its annual awareness campaign themed “Be A Smart Taxpayer”
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) today, 1 October 2024, launches its annual awareness campaign themed “Be A Smart Taxpayer”. The campaign aims to empower taxpayers to be smart, promote taxpayer rights and embrace tax compliance. It also serves to maximise awareness about the OTO brand and encourage taxpayers to utilise the free services […]
Tax Ombud to investigate complaints against SARS relating to service failure in assisting taxpayers affected by eFiling profile hijacking
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) confirms that it has sought and obtained approval from the Minister of Finance to conduct a review of possible systemic and emerging issues related to alleged SARS’s service failures in assisting taxpayers with eFiling profile hijacking timeously in terms of section 16(1)(b) of the Tax Administration Act 28 […]