08 August 2013 – Customs Bills submitted to Parliament

The Customs Bills, after having undergone an extensive consultation process, have now been submitted to Parliament. One of the major aims of the Bills is to create a balance between customs control and trade facilitation. As part of the overall policy review to achieve this aim, SARS reviewed its current policy of allowing goods to move on the basis of a manifest to inland terminals such as City Deep.

2 August 2013 – SARS Media Release – Responding to Mr JS Malema

On 27 June 2013 counsel for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), addressed a letter to Mr Julius Malema and his legal representative, cautioning Mr Malema to refrain from making false public statements about the state of his tax affairs and his engagements with SARS.

12 July 2013 – Media Statement by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan

On 24 March 2013 I said I would institute a thorough investigation into allegations against the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr Oupa Magashula, published in the media on that day. Following the outcome of a fact-finding inquiry into these allegations, Mr Magashula has resigned with effect from 12 July 2013.

SARS and SAICA sign MOU to help capacitate revenue collector

The Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr Edward Kieswetter, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South African Institute of Charted Accountants (SAICA), Mr. Freeman Nomvalo, have agreed to establish a mutually beneficial partnership to build capability in SARS.

Claiming home office expenses

SARS has recently published an update on its website in relation to home office expenses. This statement serves to provide additional clarity for individual taxpayers who may be considering submitting claims for home office expenses in their income tax returns that that can now be filed for the 2021 tax year.

Launch of Filing Season: Statement by the SARS Commissioner

It’s the first ever launch of a completely virtual Tax Filing season. There are no physical branches open for in person public engagement. For at least the next 6 weeks, as we find ourselves in the cauldron of the third wave, all engagements with taxpayers will be through our on line digital offerings.

Trade Statistics for May 2021

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for May 2021 recording a preliminary trade balance surplus of R54.60 billion.