12 December 2007
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today embarked on a campaign to
reduce the number of outstanding returns nationally. Filing tax returns is a
key indicator of tax compliance and tax morality. Nationally there are six
million returns outstanding.
SARS's analysis of the tax register indicates that KwaZulu-Natal has the
highest number of outstanding tax returns per geographical or residential
spread. The analysis is based on residential codes and residential addresses in
11 geographical areas across the country and effectively points to the fact
that the province accounts for about half of all outstanding returns nationally
SARS's management in partnership with the eThekwini Metro Council this morning
addressed a public meeting to express concerns about the low levels of tax
compliance in the metro a large number of business owners and tax
practitioners.
SARS will continue to engage stakeholder organisations in order to improve
the levels of tax compliance in the country and will conduct similar campaigns
in other cities. Two main projects will guide this campaign:
1. Multiple offenders: Nation
Tax base analysis or case management indicate that:
* 28 300 non-compliant individuals
* responsible for 500 000 outstanding returns.
2. Geographical spread: Nation
* 134 000 taxpayers are responsible for 440 000 outstanding returns, spread
geographically over 11 residential areas.
* SARS will also continue its enforcement efforts against tax defaulters.
* In KwaZulu-Natal 58 warrants of arrest were executed in past three days and a
further 20 warrants will be executed tomorrow.
* A further 11 individuals who are refusing to co-operate with SARS will also
be arrested in the province. In Gauteng 52 individuals appeared in court over
the last two days for outstanding returns.
* A further six will appear in court during the next 48 hours
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
12 December 2007
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za)
