SARS rant ...

[blunomore]

I owe SARS a few thousand rand in assessed tax.

I wrote them a letter, asking to be allowed to pay it in instalments. They ignored the letter and so I started paying off the tax in line with the request made in my letter.

Two or three months later, they called me asking me to pay the full amount. I make them aware of my request and they asked me to re-fax the letter containing said request. I do so. They fall silent again and I continue with my monthly payments as suggested in my letter.

They sent me a 'financial analysis' form to complete and send back. I do so and they fall silent again.

I continue with the payments.

They called me a few weeks later and indicate that they did not receive all the pages of the financial analysis I faxed them. I re-fax and they fall silent again. I continued the payments.

That is where I am at present

They need the financial analysis form in order to refer it to a committee who will decide on the request I made to them 209272947592745 months ago for permission to pay the amount in instalments!!!

I guarantee, by the time that committee has made their decision, I would have finished the last of my payments.

Taxwise, I am a small fish and I am amazed at the vigour with which they are pursuing me (as oppsed to the Brett Kebbles of the world), coupled with their idiotic approach to doing things.

SARS rant over.

 

[Hoof-Hearted]

I've had the same deafening silence from them regarding tin they owe me. Been waiting over a year for them to complete an "audit" as a pre-requisite to paying me.

You're also not the first "small fish" I've heard complaining about bullying from SARS

 

[sn3rd]

Well let's be honest... All the little fish in the sea add up to more volume than one or two sharks! So it makes sense for them to pursue you.

What doesn't make sense is that they seem so interested in pursuing you, but when you are organising terms, they fall silent. I'll bet if you stopped payments, they'd be on your case!

 

[Goblin]

I've done this before as well, but sent them 6 post-dated cheques with the letter requesting to do monthly payments. Why I sent 6 cheques, is that I heard that they want the debt to be settled in that time and they won't really budge on that.

 

[blunomore]

I've done this before as well, but sent them 6 post-dated cheques with the letter requesting to do monthly payments. Why I sent 6 cheques, is that I heard that they want the debt to be settled in that time and they won't really budge on that.

Well I am past the 6 month mark, so I imagine there will a heft sum of interest with a penalty .................................... which I plan to pay off in instalments

 

[remybfg10k]

So wait, if you had done your tax returns properly, and filed everything properly, you wouldn't be in this predicament?

 

[Goblin]

Suppose blunomore filled in and submitted his return on time, but it could be that his HR people did not deduct enough tax throughout the year and that is why he has to pay in.

 

[Goblin]

blunomore, if you PM me with your tax # I can find out if there is something on the SARS system for you. Have got a span of contacts there.

 

[sn3rd]

Suppose blunomore filled in and submitted his return on time, but it could be that his HR people did not deduct enough tax throughout the year and that is why he has to pay in.

her!!! she!!!

 

[Goblin]

her!!! she!!!

Eish, sorry Ma'am

 

[Turiko]

Don't you know SARS' mantra by now?

Pay now, argue later!@

 

[remybfg10k]

blu is self employed afaik

 

[blunomore]

blu is self employed afaik

We have a business but I draw a salary and so I do declare income to SARS.

@ Goblin: What do you mean by "find out if there is something on the SARS system for you"? You mean whether this committee have made a decision yet? I think the only thing there is for me at SARS, is a summons

 

[Goblin]

We have a business but I draw a salary and so I do declare income to SARS.

@ Goblin: What do you mean by "find out if there is something on the SARS system for you"? You mean whether this committee have made a decision yet? I think the only thing there is for me at SARS, is a summons

Sometimes there will be notes on the system as to who is working with your case and what the feedback is from the Tax Payer. The summons I can sort out as well. Know the prosecutor here in Pta.

 

[remybfg10k]

We have a business but I draw a salary and so I do declare income to SARS.

So back to my original statement blu, if you (and your employer, yourself!) had submitted your returns correctly there wouldn't have been any issues

 

[kaspaas]

I was also knocked by an unexpected tax bill as few years ago (ever tried to get an accountant disciplined by the accountants board...)

Anyway, I had the same hassles of lost documents. But I fortunately had the habit to drive to SARS and get them to stamp a copy of everything I handed in.

The long and short: I paid my dues over 18 months - with them complaining every 6 or so that I better speed things up.

As long as you pay a reasonable amount every month, they apparently won't be able to get a court order against you.

 

[remybfg10k]

Even worse is if they garnish your salary hehe

 

[Goblin]

So back to my original statement blu, if you (and your employer, yourself!) had submitted your returns correctly there wouldn't have been any issues

True, Blu should be a provisional taxpayer, and not enough was paid to SARS during the year.

 

[blunomore]

True, Blu should be a provisional taxpayer, and not enough was paid to SARS during the year.

Why? I draw a salary from the business, but the business is NOT in my name.

 

[remybfg10k]

Who's the business owner/HR director/tea maker in your business blu