SARS Issues Stern Warning to Employees & Taxpayers Who Collude to Defraud Revenue Service

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said it will not tolerate employees who collude with taxpayers to defraud the revenue service. 

This comes after two Sars employees were arrested on allegations of extortion after demanding money from a taxpayer in return for reducing or cancelling their debt.

Sars said the employees were nabbed during a sting operation after the taxpayer grew suspicious and contacted the police. 

The matter was handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks).

Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter issued a strong warning to employees and taxpayers who collude to defraud SARS.

“While I do not want to prejudge the issue, if it is true that our employees deliberately and intentionally set out to extort money from the taxpayer, then their conduct does not reflect the SARS values.

Sars said the employees will immediately be suspended and the matter dealt with speedily. 

Since 2019, fifteen individuals including seven employees have been arrested for collusive and corrupt behaviour related to tax and customs administration.