SARS rant - yes, what's new?!

[blunomore]

You have to hand it to SARS - they always know how to surprise and disgust you, all at the same time !

On 28 March we get an SMS from them saying we owe them, wait for it ... drumroll ... R117 000 for the 2009 tax year. Oh and they intend debiting our bank account with this amount 2 days later, on 30 March.

What in heck's name??? How did we get tax clearances from 2009 to 2011 if this amount has been outstanding all the while? Where do they get this ridiculous amount from ? Income tax returns were submitted, assessed and paid for this tax year, so why pull this amount out of thin air now?. Are they on drugs ? Did their mothers drop them on their heads as babies?

 

[Jola]

Did their mothers drop them on their heads as babies?

Something like that !

 

[RustyPrincess]

Did you phone them to confirm it wasn't a hoax sms?

 

[FrankCastle]

The gooverment is in deep shat financially so they pulling out all stops to collect from the unsuspecting public.
Audits are set to double for 2012.

Be afraid......

 

[Fader4]

sounds like op got trolled

 

[Celine]

blunomore have you contacted them and asked for a break down for this amount. pm me.

 

[blunomore]

Did you phone them to confirm it wasn't a hoax sms?

Only time will tell. SARS has access to bank accounts and can debit them. If the money is debited tomorrow, we will know that it was no hoax

Anyway, what would be purpose of such hoax?

 

[blunomore]

blunomore have you contacted them and asked for a break down for this amount. pm me.

We sent a letter on our law firm's letterhead requesting suspension of the payment and asked our auditor to object/appeal simultaneously.

 

[LazyLion]

My 69 year old Dad has been audited four times for tax in the last four years.
My 68 year old Mom has been audited twice for tax in the last four years.
Every time the audit came back clear and my Dad ended up claiming more tax back because he found more stuff he could claim for during the audit.

 

[hellfire]

SARS isn't unfair.
If you owe the tax; they will collect - but that doesn't make them wrong

 

[Edduck]

how do you know the sms is authentic? I would check with a SARS office ASAP to make sure someone is not trying to scam you...

 

[blunomore]

how do you know the sms is authentic? I would check with a SARS office ASAP to make sure someone is not trying to scam you...

How would I be scammed? SARS can access my bank account to debit it; strangers cannot unless I allow it, which I do not!

 

[blunomore]

SARS isn't unfair.
If you owe the tax; they will collect - but that doesn't make them wrong

I doubt we owe them that amount ... they may not be stupid, but they definitely are DISORGANISED AND INEFFICIENT if they give tax clearance and 3 years later they discover they are being owned.


Oh and by the way they are most definitely unfair!! We have had instances where they made mistakes and then chalk it up to human error ......... yet the taxpayer is not allowed to commit human error. Ridiculously unfair.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I colleague I work with also received the same type of message yesterday. Also some huge amount and that she had to pay by the 30th.

I wonder if it is not some systems error?

 

[ChilliGirl]

SARS isn't unfair.
If you owe the tax; they will collect - but that doesn't make them wrong

what if SARS "misplaces the money you paid them - using the refs that they want - & then want to charge you again adding penalties & interest?

 

[CodeMaster]

Well, my problems with SARS is the opposite...

About 2 weeks ago they paid just over 36K into my account. I gave them a call, and the woman checked my file and said it wasn't meant for me (duh!), and that I should pay it back.
When I asked her the procedure, she said I must just do an EFT, but she couldn't give me any kind of reference number to use.
I also asked her who is going to pay the banking fees associated with the transfer, and her answer was that I will pay

Anyway know of a contact within a SARS office that I can use so that I needn't go through their Call Centre?

I have been contemplating putting it into a 32day call-account, at least then when they come looking for their money, it will be available with interest.

 

[Mars]

what if SARS "misplaces the money you paid them - using the refs that they want - & then want to charge you again adding penalties & interest?

That happened to us. Sheesh it annoys me, we had to pay about R1500 in penalties cos some idjit with ham hands and palsy couldn't assign the money to the right place.
THEY screwed up, but I still have to pay the penalty.

 

[LazyLion]

Well, my problems with SARS is the opposite...

About 2 weeks ago they paid just over 36K into my account. I gave them a call, and the woman checked my file and said it wasn't meant for me (duh!), and that I should pay it back.
When I asked her the procedure, she said I must just do an EFT, but she couldn't give me any kind of reference number to use.
I also asked her who is going to pay the banking fees associated with the transfer, and her answer was that I will pay

Anyway know of a contact within a SARS office that I can use so that I needn't go through their Call Centre?

I have been contemplating putting it into a 32day call-account, at least then when they come looking for their money, it will be available with interest.

Just leave it where it is... they have the means from their side to take it back.

 

[blunomore]

Someone needs to take this nonsense to the Public Protector.

 

[The_Assimilator]

Well, my problems with SARS is the opposite...

About 2 weeks ago they paid just over 36K into my account. I gave them a call, and the woman checked my file and said it wasn't meant for me (duh!), and that I should pay it back.
When I asked her the procedure, she said I must just do an EFT, but she couldn't give me any kind of reference number to use.
I also asked her who is going to pay the banking fees associated with the transfer, and her answer was that I will pay

Anyway know of a contact within a SARS office that I can use so that I needn't go through their Call Centre?

I have been contemplating putting it into a 32day call-account, at least then when they come looking for their money, it will be available with interest.

That's very decent of you. I'd keep half the interest for myself.