officials visit small businesses in Durban to encourage amnesty process
8 September 2006
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today stepped up its national
campaign to encourage small businesses in South Africa to get their tax affairs
in order by applying for the small business tax amnesty.
SARS Commissioner Pravin Gordhan led a team of 150 SARS officials on
walkabouts to business premises south of Durban to engage potential taxpayers
about the amnesty and to better understand the environment in which a broad
spectrum of formal and informal traders conduct their business.
Areas covered include Isipingo, Umlazi, and Clarewood.
The small business tax amnesty was announced during Finance Minister Trevor
Manuelâs Budget speech in February this year.
The tax amnesty offers a unique window of opportunity to a wide spectrum of
small businesses to regularise their tax affairs and to grow their businesses
without fear of prosecution. It is also part of Governmentâs ongoing efforts to
assist small businesses access opportunities in the formal economy.
The public response to the amnesty during the first month â it commenced on
1 August 2006 â has been slow. To date SARS had received 3 454 enquiries,
issued 2 635 application forms on request and received 366 applications for
amnesty.
SARS has set up a dedicated Small Business Amnesty Call Centre (0860 12 12
20) to assist potential applicants. Educational material in all official
languages is available at all SARS branch offices and on the website
www.sars.gov.za.
Todayâs visit to formal and informal businesses gave SARS valuable insights
into the needs of such businesses, how they understand their tax obligations
and the levels of awareness about the amnesty. Many business owners required
more information and assistance from SARS to become tax compliant by applying
for amnesty.
These indicators highlighted the need for SARS to intensify its public
engagements and communication with taxpayers about the amnesty and to provide
greater capacity to taxpayers to facilitate participation for the amnesty
process.
SARS is very encouraged by the response from the majority of business owners
to todayâs outreach initiative and will extend these activities to other
economic centres over the next few weeks.
Enquires:
Adrian Lackay
Cell: 083 388 2580
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
8 September 2006
