About SARS

What SARS does

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the nation’s tax collecting authority. Established in terms of the South African Revenue Service Act 34 of 1997 as an autonomous agency, we are responsible for administering the South African tax system and customs service.

Our Strategic Intent

To give effect to our mandate, our strategic intent is to develop and administer a tax and customs system of voluntary compliance, and where appropriate, enforce responsibly and decisively.

It is our vision to build a smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity that is trusted and admired.

Our 9 Strategic Objectives

  • Provide CLARITY and CERTAINTY for taxpayers and traders of their obligations
  • Make it EASY for taxpayers and traders to comply with their obligations
  • DETECT taxpayers and traders who do not comply, making non-compliance HARD and COSTLY
  • Develop a HIGH performing, DIVERSE, AGILE, ENGAGED and EVOLVED workforce
  • Increase and expand the use of DATA within a comprehensive knowledge management framework
  • Modernise our systems to provide DIGITAL and STREAMLINED online services
  • Demonstrate EFFECTIVE STEWARDSHIP of our resources to ensure EFFICIENCY and EFFECTIVENESS in the delivery of quality outcomes and performance excellence
  • Work with and through STAKEHOLDERS to improve the TAX ECOSYSTEM
  • Build PUBLIC TRUST and CONFIDENCE in the tax administration system

How we do it

We are heedful of the role of taxation in nation-building and therefore deem the tax system as an asset that belongs to the nation.  In doing our work, we are guided by the code of conduct and the principles of SARS values:

  • Uncompromising regard for Taxpayer Confidentiality
  • Unquestionable Integrity, Professionalism and Fairness
  • Exemplary Public Service
  • Incontestable insights from Data & Evidence 

Our approach to promoting compliance is based on three principles. We must make taxpayers aware of their obligations, make it easy to meet them and act against those who break the law.

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