Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP)

What is the permanent Voluntary Disclosure Programme?

The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in terms of the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011, has made provision for the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) to be permanently available to a qualifying individual, company or trust that seeks to voluntarily disclose and regularise their tax affairs. This step is aligned to the SARS’ strategic objective, which seeks to provide clarity and certainty as well as make it easy and seamless for taxpayers and traders to comply with their obligations.

SARS would like to encourage all taxpayers who may be in default on their tax affairs, to approach SARS via the Voluntary Disclosure Programme. By coming forward willingly, such taxpayers will receive the help and advice from SARS to expedite the resolution of their request. Where through its own investigative processes SARS discovers non-compliance, it will not avail this opportunity to non-compliant taxpayers but will act within the remit of the law to deal with non-compliance.

SARS is firmly committed to the pursuit of strategic intent, which is to promote voluntary compliance whilst lowering the cost of compliance. To this end, we want all taxpayers to understand that they always have an opportunity to regularise their tax affairs. While voluntary compliance is our first preference, SARS is refining its capability to detect and make it hard an costly for non-compliant taxpayers.

Who can apply?

Taxpayers who have tax defaults with SARS and would like to be granted relief from penalties, and avoid possible criminal prosecution can voluntarily disclose their outstanding tax affairs. Tax defaults, range from submitting inaccurate or incomplete information or the failure to submit information to SARS requested in relation to any tax type that SARS administers, excluding duties and levies charged under the Customs and Excise Act, 91 of 1964.

The Voluntary Disclosure Programme is a unique opportunity for defaulting taxpayers to regularise their tax affairs, SARS encourages concerned taxpayers to make use of this legal instrument.

Requirements of the programme

A defaulting taxpayer will be granted relief under the programme if the application meets the following requirements:

  • The disclosure must be voluntary;
  • The disclosure is full and complete in all material respects;
  • The disclosure involves a default which has not occurred within five years of the disclosure of a similar default;
  • The disclosure involves a behaviour referred to in the understatement penalty table in Section 223 of the Tax Administration Act;
  • The disclosure would not result in a refund due by SARS; and
  • The disclosure is made in the prescribed form and manner.

How to apply?

Prospective applicants can apply for VDP via SARS eFiling.

Success criteria

Successful VDP applications will culminate into an agreement that will cover amongst others:

  • The material facts of the defaults disclosed;
  • The amount payable by the taxpayer including the understatement penalty separately reflected;
  • The relief granted by SARS under the Tax VDP;
  • Payment arrangements and dates in respect of tax payable; and
  • The fact that the relief may be withdrawn if SARS subsequently determines that the disclosure did not constitute a valid and complete disclosure under the Tax VDP.

Need help?

Documents

Although the application form is only available under eFiling, the documents in the block below are of importance to you.
 

Useful links

VDP FAQs

Q: Why is there a VDP?

A: The purpose of the VDP is to enhance voluntary compliance in the interest of good management of the tax system and the best use of SARS resources

Q: What does SARS want to achieve with the VDP?

A: The VDP aims to encourage taxpayers to come forward on a voluntary basis to regularise their tax affairs with SARS and avoid the imposition of understatement penalties and other administrative penalties.

Q: Which of the tax types are included under the VDP?

A: The VDP is applicable to all taxes administered by SARS (excluding Customs and Excise).

Q: Who may apply for VDP?

A: Any individual, company or trust that wants to voluntarily disclose their tax affairs to SARS, provided they qualify for the VDP.

Q: Are there any requirements for a valid VDP application?

A: Yes. In order for an application to be valid, the following requirements should be complied with:

  • The disclosure must be voluntary
  • It must involve a default which has not occurred within five years of the disclosure of a similar default by the applicant or a person referred to in section 226(3) of the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011.
  • It must be full and complete in all material respects
  • It must involve a behaviour referred to in column 2 of the understatement penalty percentage table in section 223 of the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011.
  • It must not result in a refund due by SARS
  • It must be made in the prescribed form and manner.

Q: What happens if a VDP application is incomplete?

A: An incomplete VDP application is discarded by the VDP unit without further notice to the applicant.

Examples of these are –

  • where the applicant does not reflect a description of the default
  • if the source code is absent
  • if the application relates to outstanding tax returns of which SARS is already aware  

Q: Where do I find an application form? 

A: The application form is called the Voluntary Disclosure Application Form (VDP01) and can only be accessed via the SARS eFiling system

Q: Do I need to be registered for eFiling to apply for VDP?

A: Yes. It means that you first need to register on the eFiling system before you can apply for VDP.

Q: What happens if my application is approved?

A: An agreement is concluded between SARS and the applicant that reflects the outcome of the application process

Q: Can I object and appeal against a VDP assessment?

A: No. The VDP assessment gives effect to the VDP agreement, and typically includes the disclosed additional taxable income and, depending on how long ago the default occurred, interest and and penalties not subject to relief.

Q: Can I request a remission of interest and/or penalties raised in a VDP assessment?

A: No. The interest and penalties form part of the VDP agreement as well as the VDP assessment, both of which are final and binding.

Q: What must I do if I have made an application for VDP?

A: The following are important to note:

  • It is not necessary to request re-confirmation of VDP applications.  If the eFiling system recognised the application, then the application is on the VDP register and will be processed
  • The applicant will be contacted when the application is allocated to a VDP evaluator for processing.  Additional or outstanding supporting documentation may then be submitted
  • A VDP application may at any time be cancelled by sending an email to [email protected]
  • Corrected or amended tax returns that related to a VDP application can be submitted to SARS through normal channels at any time before the VDP application is processed. If the return is assessed by SARS before the VDP application is processed, understatement and non-compliance penalties that are eligible for VDP relief will be waived when the VDP application is processed and a VDP agreement concluded
  • No late submission penalties or interest are eligible for VDP relief; these must be paid on assessment

Q: Can a representative person apply for VDP on behalf of the taxpayer?

A: Yes, a representative person may apply for VDP on behalf of the taxpayer.

Q: What are the requirements for a representative person to apply on behalf of the taxpayer?

A: Both the taxpayer and the representative taxpayer must be registered on eFiling and the representative taxpayer must be linked to the tax types and profiles.

Q: What if the following message ‘An anonymous application must be submitted where the applicant is not registered for the tax type that the VDP Application is for’ is displayed when submitting a VDP application?

A: This is an indication that either the taxpayer or the representative person is not registered for the tax type on eFiling and the tax type is not linked to the profiles.

Ensure that the taxpayer and the representative are linked on eFiling and the tax type is active on eFiling before submitting a VDP application via eFiling. If there are any issues, phone the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277.

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