SARS warns of scam doing rounds
The scammers told the taxpayer that their investigation was part of a SARS' lifestyle audit.
THE South African Revenue Service (SARS) has urged the public to be vigilant of criminals purporting to be their employees.
It’s alleged that the group of criminals entered a taxpayer’s home pretending to be SARS employees, seized equipment, claiming it was part of SARS’ lifestyle audit. SARS has distanced itself from this, urging members of the public to be wary and know the processes followed when lifestyle audits are conducted.
Also read:SARS to investigate non-compliance in religious sector
“These persons who committed this crime were not SARS officials and their actions are unequivocally condemned. SARS officials do use search and seizure operations to obtain evidence if there are reasonable grounds to suspect non-compliance or tax crimes. However, a search and seizure operation by SARS is a criminal investigations tool and is not used to conduct lifestyle audits,” said the revenue service.
Also read: Pay up or face the music says SARS
SARS has reassured citizens that search and seizure operations conducted by their officials are conducted in a transparent way and in accordance with strict legislation and procedures. SARS concluded by saying the identity of any person claiming to be from SARS can be verified by contacting the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277.
For more news follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follows us Instagram.
