Under declaration warning from SARS

The_Ogre

The_Ogre

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So, I haven't worked at all during the 2023/24 tax year and have received no income (apart from a few UIF payments, and then the R370 SRD grant).

So, I was naturally quite taken aback when, yesterday, I received a mail from SARS claiming that it is illegal to under declare your income and listing a number of ways to pay my tax.

I'm still quite confused as to how they can claim that I've under-declared.

Neither UIF, nor the SRD grant trigger tax events.

I was actually thinking that maybe someone is getting some form of income using my ID number, but is this even possible?

I need some advice here
 
I'm sure they have some kind of automated trigger that kicks off a process whenever someone who declared tax previously suddenly does not .
I suspect the same whenever anyone is due a refund...straight to verification process
 
The_Ogre said:
So, I haven't worked at all during the 2023/24 tax year and have received no income (apart from a few UIF payments, and then the R370 SRD grant).

So, I was naturally quite taken aback when, yesterday, I received a mail from SARS claiming that it is illegal to under declare your income and listing a number of ways to pay my tax.

I'm still quite confused as to how they can claim that I've under-declared.

Neither UIF, nor the SRD grant trigger tax events.

I was actually thinking that maybe someone is getting some form of income using my ID number, but is this even possible?

I need some advice here
Click to expand...
They use your past declaration history and their systems have been triggered. Nothing to worry about.
 
SARS is alienating a lot of taxpayers with its constant barrage of threats. Instead of gaining the confidence of the public, it actively works towards p*ssing off taxpayers.
This obviously leads to resistance and I know of many people, myself included, who turn away projects because of the taxman. What is the use of me charging a client R100 000 for a job just to give the taxman R45 000?

If I got something back for that it would have been fine but now I have to hire private security because the police are useless, generate my own electricity, fix my own streetlights and potholes in the streets and the latest, find my own sources of water.
 
Stonemason said:
SARS is alienating a lot of taxpayers with its constant barrage of threats. Instead of gaining the confidence of the public, it actively works towards p*ssing off taxpayers.
This obviously leads to resistance and I know of many people, myself included, who turn away projects because of the taxman. What is the use of me charging a client R100 000 for a job just to give the taxman R45 000?

If I got something back for that it would have been fine but now I have to hire private security because the police are useless, generate my own electricity, fix my own streetlights and potholes in the streets and the latest, find my own sources of water.
Click to expand...
That's self defeating.
So you'll willingly earn less so you pay less tax?
 
The_Ogre said:
So, I haven't worked at all during the 2023/24 tax year and have received no income (apart from a few UIF payments, and then the R370 SRD grant).

So, I was naturally quite taken aback when, yesterday, I received a mail from SARS claiming that it is illegal to under declare your income and listing a number of ways to pay my tax.

I'm still quite confused as to how they can claim that I've under-declared.

Neither UIF, nor the SRD grant trigger tax events.

I was actually thinking that maybe someone is getting some form of income using my ID number, but is this even possible?

I need some advice here
Click to expand...
Have you submitted your tax return for the year, what comes up when you log into Efiling?
 
hellfire said:
That's self defeating.
So you'll willingly earn less so you pay less tax?
Click to expand...
The taxman and the lack of return on taxes paid has an effect on my incentive to work. I earn enough every month and it reaches a point where I cannot be bothered to earn more just to throw half my earnings into SARS' bottomless pit.
 
It's normal. You should still do your returns even if no income received. Will just be a null return. You'll get some penalties which you can ask for a waiver by doing a request for remission. Noone is using your information, so don't panic.
 
Stonemason said:
The taxman and the lack of return on taxes paid has an effect on my incentive to work. I earn enough every month and it reaches a point where I cannot be bothered to earn more just to throw half my earnings into SARS' bottomless pit.
Click to expand...
Then you earn a bit more for your retirement. Or your next of kin. Or for charity. Regardless of SARS
 
Stonemason said:
It shows that by increasing taxes past a certain point, governments actually reduce their revenue from taxes.
Click to expand...
Through avoidance, tax payers exiting the country, non-compliance etc.
I'd argue that it's not because people elect not to earn money because a percentage will be taxed
 
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