noncompliant taxpayers
5 October 2007
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today continued enforcement actions
against taxpayers who have failed to submit their income tax returns.
With assistance from the South African Police Service (SAPS) three people
were arrested by midday in Pretoria on charges of contempt of court. Warrants
of arrests were also issued for a further 26 individuals on similar charges in
the Groenkloof and Garsfontein areas in Pretoria.
The contempt of court charges relate to cases where taxpayers have
outstanding returns but failed to appear in court to be charged.
The arrests form part of various enforcement initiatives which are part of
SARS's 2007 Filing Season campaign.
In addition to the arrests, SARS is today also serving more than 500
summonses on taxpayers across the country who have outstanding returns. The
summonses are legal warnings for taxpayers to appear in court on a particular
date to face charges of non-submission of returns.
SARS has identified thousands of alleged multiple offenders across the
country, who owe SARS more than 450 000 outstanding tax returns. While the
Filing Season period traditionally focussed on extending services and
assistance to taxpayers to complete their returns, a situation cannot continue
where delinquent taxpayers are not brought to book.
Summonses have been served to individuals in the following areas:
* Cape Town: 26 summonses
* Port Elizabeth: 30 summonses
* Durban: 350 summonses
* Gauteng: 132 summonses
These actions will continue. SARS must urge taxpayers to submit their
returns early as queues at branch offices are expected to grow over the next
three weeks.
The deadline for the submission of income tax returns is 31 October
2007.
Enquiries can be made or posted on this address:
Media Liaison
Pretoria Head Office
299 Bronkhorst Street
Private Bag X923
Pretoria
0001
Website - http://www.sars.gov.za
Issued by: South African Revenue Services
5 October 2007
Source: South African Revenue Services (http://www.sars.gov.za)
