ARTICLE · 05 DECEMBER 2012

SARS Is Getting Tougher

ENS

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Imminent new tax laws geared towards improving SA’s revenue collection numbers will give the South African Revenue Service (SARS) significant new investigative and punitive powers.

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Imminent new tax laws geared towards improving SA's revenue collection numbers will give the South African Revenue Service (SARS) significant new investigative and punitive powers.

If you weren't already weary of the taxman, it is now time to "get very scared".

The powers will come into effect with the Tax Administration Bill (TAB), expected to be promulgated in the next four to six weeks, according to Dr Beric Croome, a tax executive at law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENS).

"If taxpayers appear on the radar of SARS for non-compliance or suspicion of non-compliance, they will very quickly find out the added powers that SARS enjoy as a result of the amendments," says Ernie Lai King, also a tax executive at ENS.

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