SOUTH African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, has warned that the revenue authority will not tolerate any transgressions of tax and customs laws.

The revenue service is ready to act firmly and professionally with those that engage in these practices, SARS said in a statement issued on Thursday.

SARS said its primary objective is to provide clarity and certainty for taxpayers and traders wishing to comply with their legal obligation by making its easy and seamless to do so.

The revenue collector has begun a process of enhancing its capability to detect and make it costly for those who are determined to be non-compliant.

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“Tax crime is not a victimless crime. It directly affects the poorest of the poor who are dependent on basic services including the social security safety net for old age pensioners, child grants and for tertiary education support targeting needy students as well as providing health services, among others.

“SARS is therefore determined to enforce the tax and customs laws of the country without fear or favour in a responsible manner when all other legal avenues have been exhausted. We want to remind taxpayers and traders to talk to SARS, before we come to talk to you,” he said.

Kieswetter highlighted enforcement actions across various industries and type of offences, including VAT fraud amounting to R5-billion, understatement in income tax declarations amounting to R4-billion, as well as custom offences.

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