31 July 2023 – South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance deficit of R3.5 billion in June 2023, attributable to exports of R167.6 billion and imports of R171.1 billion.
See the full Media Release here.
Or visit the Trade Statistics webpage.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Trade Statistics for June 2023
31 July 2023 – SARS will again provide you an opportunity to test the updated e@syFile
Employer build before the formal release in mid-September 2023 for the Employer Interim Reconciliation.
The updated e@syFile Employer BETA version with enhanced features for download will be released to you on 14 August 2023. See the Business Requirements Specification here – SARS_PAYE_BRS – PAYE Employer Reconciliation_V22.1.1 for the Employer Interim Reconciliation submission period 202308.
During the testing period from 14 August 2023 to 6 September 2023, all online functionality will be disabled to prevent the incorrect submission of test data into the production environment. This means the application will default to offline mode. Certain menu options will also be disabled as a precautionary measure.
Enhancements will include:
You will be provided with a link in a follow up letter which will allow you access for testing purposes. Please note that this link is confidential and only available to selected individuals. In order to maintain its confidentiality, please exercise caution and do not share it with others.
SARS will analyse the feedback from the external testers during the test cycle. Please nominate a contact person to act as liaison and provide the person’s contact details to SARS.
Your consolidated feedback should be sent daily to the following persons:
Michelle Welgemoed (mwelgemoed@sars.gov.za) and Charlene Hoosen (CHoosen@sars.gov.za) who will log it with the relevant SARS development team to update the software. SARS will use the feedback to determine the frequency at which updated versions of the test software will be released, where necessary.
Thank you for assisting SARS with the testing of the application.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Updated e@syFile™ Employer BETA version with enhanced features will be released on 14 August 2023
28 July 2023 – Achieving our Vision 2024 of a smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity that is trusted and admired is of paramount importance. Pivotal to the delivery of our vision are our digital platforms & technology infrastructure. In order to provide clarity & certainty, make it easy for taxpayers & traders to comply with their obligations and building public trust and confidence, our technology assets have to demonstrate the highest levels of availability, robustness and security.
Pursuant to our Vision and Strategic Objectives, which include modernising our systems to provide Digital and Streamlined online services, we are hard at work ensuring that our digital platforms & technology infrastructure are available, robust & secure, by performing regular upgrades, enhancements, and maintenance.
In light of the above, eFiling may be intermittently unavailable on Saturday 29 July 2023 from 05:00 until 08:00 in the morning.
Source: SARS Tariffs
eFiling upgrade on 29 July 2023
27 July 2023 – SARS invites you to a webinar on Traders’ Rights today on Thursday, 27 July, with the Office of the Tax Ombudsman and the Border Management Agency.
SARS recognises the importance of the Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) traders and their significant contribution to the South African economy. Our strategic objectives include providing taxpayers and traders with clarity and certainty, as well as making it simple for them to meet their tax obligations. The aim of the webinar is to educate customs cross-border traders about their rights, and the channels to follow when their rights have not been upheld.
Examples of challenges that may infringe SMME traders’ rights can be unfair penalties, being asked for bribes and the lack of adherence to the SARS Service Charter turnaround times by SARS Customs officials, etc.
Other challenges may include the inability of female traders to conduct their business without sexual harassment and victimisation.
As an important stakeholder, we invite you to join this webinar, and to extend this invitation to other interested parties.
The details of the event are as follows:
Theme: Traders Rights Webinar
Date: Thursday, 27 July 2023
Time: 10:00-12:00
Platforms: Zoom and YouTube
Register in advance for this webinar on the following link:
https://sars-gov-za.zoom.us/s/97607806001?pwd=dE0rOVBac1dPbVdCQjlpb0NzTjhSdz09
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to log on to the webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the SARSTV YouTube channel after the event.
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/live/L53nLSlviac?feature=share
To view the presentation click here.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Reminder: Invite to webinar on SMME Traders Rights
26 July 2023 – SMME Traders Rights webinar
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) invites you to a webinar on Traders Rights in collaboration with the Office of the Tax Ombudsman and the Border Management Agency.
SARS recognises the importance of the Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) traders and their significant contribution to the South African economy. Our strategic objectives include providing taxpayers and traders with clarity and certainty, as well as making it simple for them to meet their tax obligations. The aim of the webinar is to educate customs cross-border traders about their rights, and the channels to follow when their rights have not been upheld.
Examples of challenges that may infringe SMME traders’ rights can be unfair penalties, being asked for bribes and the lack of adherence to the SARS Service Charter turnaround times by SARS Customs officials, etc.
Other challenges may include the inability of female traders to conduct their business without sexual harassment and victimisation.
As an important stakeholder, we invite you to join this webinar, and to extend this invitation to other interested parties.
The details of the event are as follows:
Theme: Traders Rights Webinar
Date: Thursday, 27 July 2023
Time: 10:00-12:00
Platforms: Zoom and YouTube
Register in advance for this webinar on the following link:
https://sars-gov-za.zoom.us/s/97607806001?pwd=dE0rOVBac1dPbVdCQjlpb0NzTjhSdz09
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to log on to the webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the SARSTV YouTube channel after the event.
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/live/L53nLSlviac?feature=share
Source: SARS Tariffs
Webinar on SMME Traders Rights
25 July 2023 – Transfer Duty Act, 1949
Source: SARS Tariffs
Legal Counsel Publications – Find a Guide – Transfer Duty
25 July 2023 – Kariega Branch will be relocating to Shop 57, Corkwood Square Mall, from the 1 August 2023.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Pop-up branch – Relocation
25 July 2023 – The Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment, which dismissed with costs, two appeals against orders of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria (case no 543/2021); and the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, Pietermaritzburg (case no 409/2022).
The first was an appeal against a winding-up order granted against the appellant, PFC Properties (Pty) Ltd (PFC), in favour of SARS, by the Pretoria High Court. The second appeal was against an order by the Pietermaritzburg High Court, in terms of which it dismissed an application to place PFC in business rescue.
The issue before the SCA was whether the conduct on the part of PFC and the De Robillard Family Trust’s trustees in launching the business rescue application, constituted an abuse of court process. The SCA held that that application should not have been considered by reason of its use in a scheme of abuse. The Court held that the business rescue application was a stratagem.
See the full media statement here.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Media release – SARS wins court battle against delinquent taxpayer
24 July 2023 – Tax Administration Act, 2011
Appeal from the Tax Court – whether undeclared receipts and deposits into taxpayer’s personal bank accounts and other accruals were income or the repayment of loans – a factual issue.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Legal Counsel – Dispute Resolution & Judgments – High Court Judgments 2025–2023
24 July 2023 – SARS clients are encouraged to make payments via EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) into the SARS public beneficiaries listed on the banking platform or eFiling.
Cash deposits to a SARS Customs and Excise bank account at any bank branch is no longer available as a payment option to SARS clients.
Source: SARS Tariffs
Amendments to the SARS Payment Rules
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