SARS to apply strict new penalties for outstanding tax returns

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will introduce a system of strict new administrative penalties against non-compliant taxpayers from 23 November 2009.

In effect, taxpayers have until 20 November 2009 this year – the final deadline of the 2009 Tax Season - to submit any outstanding returns in order to avoid being penalised under the new penalty regime.

The Administrative penalty regulations legally came into effect on 1 January 2009 and provide for the imposition of penalties for a range of non-compliance, including failure to register as a taxpayer, failure to inform SARS of a change of address and other personal particulars, and failure to submit tax returns and other documents to SARS.

SARS delayed the effective implementation of the new penalties to allow sufficient time for taxpayers to rectify any non-compliance and for SARS to develop its own systems to automatically detect non-compliant taxpayers, calculate applicable penalties and issue penalty notices to such taxpayers.

The implementation and details of the new Administrative penalty regulations have been communicated and explained to the professional bodies representing tax practitioners - the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the South African Institute for Professional Accountants (SAIPA) and the South African Institute of Tax Practitioners (SAIT) – who act as important intermediaries between taxpayers and SARS.

Two draft versions of the penalty regulations were circulated during 2008 for public comment.

The new Administrative penalties will be phased-in over a period of time, beginning on 23 November 2009 for taxpayers with outstanding income tax returns.

In the interest of fairness SARS will first impose the new penalties against repeat offenders – those taxpayers who have failed to submit returns for multiple years.

SARS believes that it is only fair on the majority of compliant taxpayers, who meet their tax obligations and willingly contribute their fare share to our country’s development, that tougher action against non-compliant taxpayers is needed.

It must be acknowledged that the existing penalty system SARS applies has proved to be inadequate in discouraging non-compliant behaviour. In 2007/08 more than 5.3 million returns due to SARS were outstanding and SARS had to institute legal action against 81 000 taxpayers.

The new penalty system, applicable in terms of Section 75B of the Income Tax Act (No. 58 of 1962, as amended), provide for recurring monthly penalties for each month that an income tax return remains outstanding.

The penalty amounts, for the first time, will be determined according to the taxpayer’s taxable income (see table below). These amounts range from R250 a month for taxpayers with an annual taxable income of up to R250 000, to R16 000 a month for taxpayers with taxable income over R50 million. A full schedule of penalties is available on the SARS website, http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=52276.

Taxpayers with multiple outstanding returns after 20 November 2009 will receive a penalty assessment notice in writing or electronically (for registered eFilers) of the imposition of a penalty in respect of each outstanding return.

Should they fail to submit these outstanding returns within 30 days, a second penalty – increasing by the same amount - will be applied. The new regulations allow for penalties to be applied each month or part thereof for up to 35 months.

Where a taxpayer fails to pay penalties by the due date, the penalty will be collected without further notice. As part of the collection process SARS will approach employers, or other parties in control of their funds, to act as agents in terms of Section 99 of the Income Tax Act. Such employers or third parties will be required to debit the outstanding amount from the defaulting taxpayer’s salary or other funds and pay it over to SARS. Failure by an agent to pay the amount to SARS constitutes is a criminal offence.

Taxpayers penalised under the new regulations may apply for relief from the penalties by completing a Remission Request form if there were reasonable or exceptional circumstances responsible for their non-compliance. Such applications will only be considered where the taxpayer has submitted the outstanding return/s. Taxpayers can object to the imposition of penalties by completing a Remission Request form and by providing any supporting documents as proof as to why penalties must not be imposed.

Submitting Outstanding Returns

Taxpayers who have outstanding returns for prior years are required to submit returns for these years on the 2009 tax form.

To make it easier for myfinance-online.co.za clients you can get your tax returns submitted and uo to date by following the link "Tax form online" under the Heading "Services" on our website.