TAX AMNESTY APPLICATIONS GROW

Back on Track - Yay!


Don't forget to register people - this is a wonderful opportunity, don't miss it!

Tax amnesty applications grow

April 26, 2007

Johannesburg - The South African Revenue Service has added more than 1 000 new applications to the small business tax amnesty process through an extensive registration campaign across the country, the body said on Thursday. Several thousand Sars officials were joined by members of the South African Police Service and officials from the Department of Home Affairs in 30 towns and cities where 4 160 small businesses were visited during the most recent outreach programme. By late afternoon on Thursday, 1 106 new applications for amnesty were received while 2 218 application forms were handed out to businesses, said Sars.

The registration programme will continue until 31 May 2007 - the deadline for the small business tax amnesty period. Sars said in its statement that while the amnesty programme had the primary focus of broadening the tax base, it would continue its enforcement activities in instances of non-compliance with the law.

"Arising from work already done on the amnesty, 39 small business owners appeared in the Durban magistrate's court for failing to submit tax returns. “Three properties of businesses were also attached while 56 summonses were issued for outstanding returns due to Sars. At the same time customs officials confiscated 950 master cases of illicit cigarettes en route to Johannesburg."

In Gauteng, the Western Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga a number of illegal immigrants were detained by Home Affairs officials while counterfeit cigarettes and other illicit products were confiscated. "These efforts - registration and enforcement - must complement the policy and legislative interventions Sars has already put in place to broaden the scope of the amnesty," the revenue service said. - I-Net Bridge