Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: SARS Conduct & Assessments

  1. #1
    Email problem
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Johannesburg, Gauteng
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Angry SARS Conduct & Assessments

    Hi there, I hope someone can help me as I am at the end of my wits with SARS. I have experienced the worst nightmare ever in the last few weeks with SARS and wish to know what I can do and what my rights are. SARS sent me a final notice to pay R78,000 immediately or action will be taken. The fact is, I have no idea what SARS is claiming for; I have received no assessment, no communication, no letter prior to this other than this letter. This stems from my returns from the 2005 & 2006 tax years where SARS have made mistakes in taxing me on lump sum payments for retrenchment & pension where the tax have already been taken into consideration. My tax consultant have submitted numerous requests for re-assessment and to date have not received any notification from SARS for these and now I have this looming R78,000 that needs to be paid - or else!!! I am really at my wits end and short of telling the SARS staff exactly what I think of them and know this will not help my case. Thank goodness I have a tax consultant that is dealing with this on my behalf, although we are not getting anywhere. It has been 2 weeks since this letter and numerous faxes with information and to no avail - there is absolutely no response from the SARS person... What is my rights and what should I do next... thank you... Veroshka

  2. #2
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    This is one of those issues with SARS it seems.....guilty until proven innocent.

    I think there are two things that you can do. Both need to be done calmly and carefully, taking note of names and the steps taken along the way.

    Firstly, phone SARS helpline 0860 12 12 18 and explain the situation to one of the people there. So far they have always been helpful and directed me to the correct person or action to take.

    If that does not help, then go and sit with someone at a SARS office. They have the ability to escalate it immediately. A letter or fax can just end up sitting on someone's desk getting no attention.

    Make sure you get the names and contact details of all the people you speak to, and subtly let them know you are taking down that info (conspicuously writing it down in front of people works).

    Get started now! Make sure that you do everything you can (and document it along the way) as soon as possible. Keep us up to date.

    I'll also try to find out some more about what can be done.....
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  3. #3
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Camping physically on the premises does tend to get better results than sending faxes, that's for sure.

    You might need to enter into an arrangement to pay off in instalments until the reassessment is sorted out.

    The "lack of communication" is probably because all the notices have been going elsewhere. Ask them where they are sending returns to clear that one up (probably to whomever has been doing your taxes).

  4. #4
    Email problem
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Johannesburg, Gauteng
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Thank you Dave and Duncan, your suggestions are welcome and valuable... Am already doing all those things by taking information down, times, what has been said, what needs to happen next and nothing seems to come to a head... It would prove to be difficult in making arrangements as I am not employed at the moment and have no income... This I do believe SARS will not understand... Will keep you up to date to what is happening... It is so sad that we have come to a world where people's pure and utter incompetence has such a huge impact on other's lives. And there is absolutely no recourse until such time you can prove your innocence...

  5. #5
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    2,346
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 254 Times in 209 Posts
    you are not alone...i visted my accountant on the same issue today he told me...when he contacted sars he was 220 in the que...it the goverment need i say more.

  6. #6
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    Veroshka, have you personally been into a SARS office, sat with someone and explained the situation?
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

  7. #7
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    2,346
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 254 Times in 209 Posts
    i decided to go to the sars office in pinetown...there was a small que...i waited patiently... the person behind the counter was a lot more plesant than the last person i delt with...i got a print out...found that the information given over the phone was incorrect...and my amnesty which was granted was not for the interest on outstanding money but the small bussiness one...i enquired how long it would still take before i would get confirmation...was told end of july...left.

    as i have an amount which the sars owes me i will wait for confirmation at the end of july then go back and hopefully settle these issues and balances outstanding if need be.

  8. #8
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by Veroshka View Post
    I am not employed at the moment and have no income...
    Hmm. Either you have done very well or are going through a rough patch
    I'll try not to assume either way.

    You're right - that is a problem. If you cannot offer reasonable prospects of paying off the debt out of income, the game becomes an asset hunt

  9. #9
    Email problem
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Johannesburg, Gauteng
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Hi guys, thank you for your input... it just feels like doom and gloom!!! Surely there are recourse, even against SARS??? SARS is not God and I find it extremely difficult to work with this...

    I have not done very well and have been unable to obtain permanent employment since April 2004 - 8 months lived on unemployment and then lived on contracts which are are most 3 months income for the year... it has been a very rough patch and am tired now... As for assets - I have very little and have been given "free" accommodation with two pensioners... for this luxury I drive them around and take care of their needs such as shopping, doctors, lunch dates with friends, etc... this I do during the day and at night I then have to try to generate and income!!! This is no life for anyone...

    My next step will be to go to the offices to talk to these incompetent people and hope for the best... the one thing that worries me is that my tax consultant seems to be happy to wait until such time SARS comes back to her!!! She has all the information and have asked her to send it to me... the only problem is that I do not know much about this and if left in my hands I probably will only bugger it all up and make it worse...

    Thanks again guys, appreciate your comments and input. Veroshka

  10. #10
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    2,642
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 94 Times in 77 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Veroshka View Post
    My next step will be to go to the offices to talk to these incompetent people and hope for the best... the one thing that worries me is that my tax consultant seems to be happy to wait until such time SARS comes back to her!!! She has all the information and have asked her to send it to me... the only problem is that I do not know much about this and if left in my hands I probably will only bugger it all up and make it worse...
    This is such a tough one, and one of the things that I struggle with. Your tax consultant does not have a problem - if things don't work out, then she doesn't have to pay the bill! Either you need to push her hard to get this resolved, or find out enough (just enough) to explain the situation to SARS yourself.
    [SIGPIC]Engineer Simplicity[/SIGPIC]
    Turn ideas into products | The Art of Engineering blog

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. SARS VAT scam
    By duncan drennan in forum Scam Alert Forum
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 23-Oct-08, 08:27 AM
  2. an unpleasant visit to SARS
    By murdock in forum Tax Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 25-Oct-07, 10:16 AM
  3. SARS closes old FNB accounts
    By Dave A in forum Tax Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 27-Aug-07, 10:09 AM
  4. SARS intensifies Small Business Tax Amnesty campaign
    By Snoopy_inc in forum Business Finance Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 21-Jun-07, 10:00 PM
  5. Tax Amnesty for Small Business
    By I Robot in forum News Archive
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 07-Jun-07, 08:18 AM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •