Fairness for all: Case 25
Gradient Banner | Office of the Tax Ombad

Many taxpayers are unaware that they have a right to approach the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and request remission of administrative penalties. Although SARS has many options for dealing with such requests, including allowing, partially allowing or disallowing requests, the revenue collector must respond within a reasonable time. The case below, a rare complaint […]

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Fair Play 30 – Women’s Month
Womans Month Fair Play | Office of the Tax Ombud

Welcome to Women’s Month, where we acknowledge and celebrate women’s incredible contributions in the tax sphere. The timing could not be better to welcome our new Tax Ombud, Ms Yanga Mputa. We look forward to her tenure as head of this important institution.

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Fairness for all: Case 24
Customer Response Poll | Office of the Tax Ombud

The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) does not often receive cases involving Turnover Tax Return (TT03) complaints against the South African Revenue Service (SARS) but ensures that when it does, such matters are efficiently dealt with. The case below, which helped secure a tax refund of over R24 000, illustrates the OTO’s commitment to […]

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Fair Play 29
About Us | Office of the Tax Ombud

As we prepare for the new Tax Season, this edition of Fair Play covers various issues of interest to taxpayers and tax practitioners, especially when they believe they are not receiving fair treatment from the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

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Fairness for all: Case 23
Marketing Consent | Office of the Tax Ombud

Delays in the payment of tax refunds continue to affect taxpayers. This is despite theTax Ombud identifying certain root causes of the delays as systemic issues – meaningproblems that are regarded as the underlying cause of a tax complaint that affects orwill affect a number of taxpayers.

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Fair Play 28
| Office of the Tax Ombud

Ten years has a special ring to it, and for the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO), it represents commitment and achievement. We are excited to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the OTO, which by now has a substantial track record in serving as a free, fair recourse mechanism for South Africa’s taxpayers.

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Fairness for all: Case 22
| Office of the Tax Ombud

The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) continues to receive many complaints about non-payment of refunds and delays in finalising disputes lodged. Not all complaints received within these categories are due to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) not adhering to timeframes, but rather to a lack of awareness among taxpayers about all the applicable […]

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Fair Play 27
| Office of the 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 […]

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Fairness for all: Case 21
| Office of the 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 […]

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Fairness for all: Case 20
Profile | Office of the Tax Ombud

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.

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