[imagesource:iol]

Many South African taxpayers might have had their hearts leap out of their chests when they received an SMS from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on Tuesday.

The threatening message from SARS warned them of criminal action for not submitting their income tax returns and instructed taxpayers to file their returns within 10 days to avoid further administration penalties and running the risk of a summons being issued against them.

However, the taxman says you can ignore it. That collective sigh of relief is as loud as the initial county-wide gasp upon receiving the bloody text:

NOTICE: SMSs from SARS regarding outstanding returns

If you have received a message regarding outstanding returns and the intended prosecution thereof, please do not respond or react, a follow-up correspondence will be sent out in this respect. In the meantime, please ensure…

— SA Revenue Service (@sarstax) October 25, 2023

SARS promised to provide further correspondence on the matter but urged taxpayers to make sure their tax affairs are in order.

But a lot of Saffas are decrying the threatening SMS as an unprofessional tactic to intimidate people into submission, per TimesLIVE. Along with SARS’ apology, it also confirmed that it has suspended the SMS service.

“The intended message was meant as a genuine and helpful reminder to taxpayers to file tax returns due and fulfil their legal filing obligation. Most taxpayers are honest and ordinarily appreciate such reminders. Honest taxpayers should not feel threatened by Sars but, unfortunately, the way the message was crafted had this effect.

The message regrettably refers to possible prosecution of taxpayers for their failure to file their returns as they are legally obligated to do. While Sars is empowered by law to remind all taxpayers who are still registered with Sars of their legal obligation to file their relevant returns by the due date, Sars does not commence legal action before engaging with taxpayers.

Image:timeslive

“Unfortunately, Sars reminders are ignored by some taxpayers, which means their situation escalates to levels where legal action may be required. Even then, they are reminded about their obligation to file the outstanding returns.”

Cue the outrage:

I receive a threatening sms yesterday from SARS for a company I deregistered more than 2 years ago.

I don’t think SARS speaks to CIPC folks at all.

It’s really unfair what is happening pic.twitter.com/oXiYOmDiun

— Constitution First 🇿🇦 (@Constitution_94) October 25, 2023

SARS accidentally sent every past and present company owner in the country an SMS notice that they are going to be prosecuted.

This is the kind of banana republic circus act that inches us closer to not taking SARS seriously. It only brings the tax revolt closer.

— Aaron (@LibertarianZA) October 26, 2023

The 2023 tax season for non-provisional taxpayers began on 7 July, recently closing on 23 October, confirmed The Citizen, while provisional tax-payers have until next year, 24 January, to file their income tax returns.

Go slow into this dark night, fellow South Africans.

[source:timeslive&citizen]