SARS and you?
For the purposes of this article, “marriage” refers to any relationship. In this article, we focus on your relationship with SARS. For the purposes of this article, SARS is the tax man in South Africa. This can be changed to the local tax authority in your country.
For all marriages to succeed there are several factors that must present in order for it to work or last a long time. Here are a few:
- Commitment
- Communication
- A relationship
- Compromise (give and take)
- Etc
The list is certainly not complete and is tailored to each specific couple. Marriage can be likened to you and SARS.
Hear me out on this one, please. This analogy can be used because most of the factors can applied to your relationship with the South African Revenue Service. Let’s look at the list above:
-
Commitment –
- YOU must be committed to do your submissions on time
- South African Revenue Service are committed to helping wherever possible
-
Communication
- You must communicate with SARS. Not everyday but if anything changes.
- The South African Revenue Service, despite what people say, ALWAYS sends communication out to the taxpayer. You must make sure it is received. Not only received but dealt with in a timely manner. Ensure your details are correct.
-
Relationship
- I am certainly not saying take SARS out for coffee, but you can build a history of goodwill with SARS
-
Compromise
- It is a give and take as with always things in life.
- People think that the South African Revenue Service only take your money and never give anything back.
- Absolutely incorrect! The South African Revenue Service have several allowances and credits given to you. You just must know about them and comply to benefit from them.
Fortunately, there is always a reconciliation that can occur between yourself (or a company) and the South African Revenue Service.
.How is your relationship with SARS?
Have you been neglecting this?
Are you a taxpayer that says there is no communication anymore (or ever)?