Month: July 2023

24 July 2023 – SARS will introduce enhancements to the Tax Directives process as indicated in the IBIR‐006 Tax Directives Interface Specification Version 6.503. Trade testing is planned to start on Wednesday, 16 August 2023 to prepare for the implementation of the software during the second quarter of this financial year. If the dates need to change, SARS will communicate accordingly.

Keep an eye on the I want a Tax Directive and Independent Software Vendors webpages.

Please follow these steps to submit test files:

Step 1:
Before testing can commence, you will need to email 10 taxpayer reference numbers to ncts@sars.gov.za to ensure the numbers are active. In the email subject line, use “Tax reference numbers for Trade Testing”. A maximum of 10 taxpayer reference numbers will be allowed.

Step 2:
You will be notified via the same email address to confirm when testing may commence.

For trade testing queries please email ncts@sars.gov.za.

Source: SARS Tariffs
Tax Directives: Trade testing starts 16 August 2023

21 July 2023 – Accreditation requires traders to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Customs Law and procedures, as per Section 64E(1)(b)(iv) of the Customs and Excise Act.

An external guide has been published to assist traders with the application and completion of the AEO sufficient knowledge competency assessment.

• SC-CF-37 – Sufficient Knowledge Competency Assessment for AEO – External Guide

Source: SARS Tariffs
Customs – Sufficient Knowledge Competency Assessment for AEO

21 July 2023 – Beware of a scam trying to enforce non-existent taxation charges on fund transfer.

Keep an eye on our Scams examples webpage.

Source: SARS Tariffs
Scam alert – SARS stop order

20 July 2023 – Until the 31 December 2020, goods exported from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) member states and from Mozambique to the United Kingdom (UK) were covered by the Southern African Development Community-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (the SADC-EU EPA).

As from the 01 January 2021 such goods were traded under the SACUM-UK EPA. The SACUM-UK EPA was negotiated and concluded while the UK was a member of the European Union (EU).

For more information, see the letter to Trade. 

Source: SARS Tariffs
System enhancements for the administration and interpretation of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Mozambique (SACUM) and the United Kingdom (UK) (SACUM-UK) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

20 July 2023 – The Alberton tax and Customs branches will be closing on 21 July 2023 at their current locations.

The Customs branch will be reopening temporarily as a Pop-up Branch in the training centre at the Alberton campus, 28 St Austell St, New Redruth, Alberton, on 24 July 2023. Operating hours:  08h00 – 16h00 Monday to Friday

The tax branch will be reopening at Alberton City Mall, shop 21 and 22, level 1(entrance number 10), cnr Voortrekker Rd and Du Plessis Rd, New Redruth, Alberton on 24 July 2023. Take note: From 24 to 28 July, a Mobile Tax Unit will be stationed at the old branch to serve the scheduled walk-in appointments. Operating hours:  08h00 – 16h00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 09h00 – 16h00 Wednesday. All current services will be offered at the new location via appointment.

Source: SARS Tariffs
Alberton branch closure

14 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 Friday 14 July 2023 from 18:00 to 24:00.

Customs Digital Platforms will not be available on Friday 14 July 2023 from 18:00 to 24:00.

Responses (CUSRES messages) to transactions submitted during this time will be delayed, however arrival and exit management functions are available at land border posts for all released declarations and manifests.

Stakeholders are therefore urged to submit priority Goods Declarations (bills of entry) and Road Manifest by Friday 14 July 2023 @ 17:00.

Source: SARS Tariffs
eFiling upgrade on 14 July 2023

13 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 available for a short while on Thursday evening 13 July 2023 from 22:00 to 22:10.

Source: SARS Tariffs
eFiling upgrade on 13 July 2023

13 July 2023 – Tax Court judgments

• SARSTC VAT 1373 & 13862 (VAT) [2023] ZATC JHB (3 July 2023)
• SARSTC 25334 (MPRD) [2023] ZATC JHB (31 March 2023)

Summaries are available on the Tax Court judgments page

Source: SARS Tariffs
Legal Counsel – Dispute Resolution & Judgments – Tax Court Judgments 2025–2023

12 July 2023 – The Yoco Online Payment scam is requesting unsuspecting taxpayers to click on a link to receive payment sent to their account. Please do not click on the phishing link, if in doubt, email phishing@sars.gov.za.

Keep an eye on our Scams examples webpage.

Source: SARS Tariffs
Scam alert – Yoco online payment

10 July 2023 – The SARS Online Query System has a new feature called the My Tax Status Dashboard providing Taxpayers, Registered Representatives and Tax Practitioners with a visual status of the progress of Personal Income Tax returns in terms of submission, verification/audit and refund processing.

You are now able to check the progress of your Personal Income Tax Return after submission. This enhancement aims to keep you informed so there is no need for you to phone the SARS Contact Centre or go to a SARS Branch office.

 

 

Source: SARS Tariffs
Launched – My Tax Status Dashboard