The South African Revenue Service has enlisted the services of third-party debt collectors to help it collect long-outstanding debt owed by taxpayers.
The collectors will focus on tax owed that is older than five years, where no payments or payment arrangements have been made with the service. Their services kicked in at the end of October.
SARS said that taxpayers should “kindly note” that it is a criminal offence to submit a return without making the necessary payment.
“It is a criminal offence for a person to wilfully and without just cause to fail or neglect to withhold and pay to SARS an amount of tax as and when required,” it said.
The taxman has taken a harsher tone in recent months as it has come under increasing pressure to collect more tax as current revenues have fallen short.
The medium-term budget policy statement on Wednesday revealed that tax collections came in R56.8 billion under what was budgeted in February.
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana revised the 2023 February Budget net tax revenue estimate from R1,787.5 billion to R1,730.4 billion, as a result.
Despite the under-collection, however, during the first half of the current fiscal year, SARS collected gross revenue totalling R1,016.3 billion, growing by 4.5%.
“This performance is on the back of strong gross collections from VAT, Fuel Levy and PIT- partially offset by lower gross collections from CIT as company profits remain under pressure,” it said.
Its collection efforts have not gone without riling people up, though. The group sent out “threatening” messages to tax representatives last month, which left a sour taste in the mouths of many, forcing the revenue service to apologise.
The group had threatened to initiate legal action against tax representatives, neglecting to mention several processes and initiatives that would first have to occur to assist in becoming compliant.
However, with third-party tax collectors, this process is already underway.
SARS said that taxpayers should check with SARS via eFiling or SMS to see if they have a balance owing to the taxman. In the event that money is owed, it said taxpayers should either:
In the meantime, the taxman has listed the third-party services it has approved for tax collections. Taxpayers are cautioned that these are the only approved collection services, and to be wary of scams.
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St Agnes is a public school situated in Woodstock, Cape Town.
Nimble Group actively supports St Agnes Primary School through the Partners for Possibility programme. We dedicate resources to a variety of initiatives aimed at creating an enhanced learning and recreational space, enriched student experience, and optimized day-to-day running of school operations.
Computer room upgrade Our dedicated team of IT technicians has upgraded the school’s IT hardware and software, creating a more user-friendly and modern environment for students and teachers using the computer room daily.
Playground painting and revitalization
Our enthusiastic volunteers devoted their time to painting vibrant murals and interactive games on the walls and paved areas of the playground.
Enriched student experience
Nimble strives to continuously improve the student experience by celebrating academic excellence, sponsoring prize-giving events, and more.
Day-to-day operational support
We also contribute to the school’s operational efficiency by offering administrative support and providing access to Nimble’s HR and Finance functions.
Nimble Group has taken the initiative to establish an Early Childhood Development Centre, which began operating in January 2019 in Woodstock, Cape Town. The centre operates under the guidance of Peak child, and while accessible to the public, primarily serves as a subsidized preschool for the children of Nimble staff.
Peak Child aims to equip children with the best possible foundation for life by providing affordable, high-quality preschools in close proximity to workplaces, catering to the needs of emerging middle-class parents. Since its inception, Peak Child has focused on collaborating with socially responsible employers to support their staff beyond conventional employee benefits.
Peak Child offers comprehensive programmes for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Through partnerships with prominent educational experts and local primary schools they ensure that children transitioning from Peak Child are socially, academically, and physically prepared for admission to any of Cape Town’s leading primary schools. Peak Child currently operates three schools, including Peak Child Nimble.
Nimble has made a significant investment in this project, with plans to replicate this model close to its Johannesburg offices.
The Altius Et Latius Trust is a school education initiative aimed at providing bursaries to historically disadvantaged students, enabling their attendance at top schools in Cape Town.
The primary goal of the trust is to promote equitable access to high-quality public education, fostering lasting transformation. Their objective is to support fifty talented learners in gaining admission to high-performing schools.
Nimble Group continually makes a substantial impact on this crucial initiative by providing essential resources for additional student support, such as tutoring, funding for school events or excursions, sporting equipment and more.
