THE commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Edward Kieswetter, has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to combatting illicit trade and criminal economic activities.

His remarks come after SARS, through its Syndicated Tax & Customs Crime Division, carried out inspections as well as search and seizure operations on entities in the banking sector, tobacco and cigarette sector, alcohol, gold and clothing industries in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng.

“Those persons that systematically and deliberately set out to deprive what is due to the fiscus through fraudulent and other non-compliant activities will be confronted and dealt with in terms of the law. This kind of conduct will be made hard and costly,” Kieswetter said.

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The premises that were inspected and searched include the residential premises of certain individual taxpayers, gold industry and banking employees.

The operations are related to wider investigations and audits into illicit financial flows and illicit trade in gold, alcohol, clothing, cigarettes and tobacco products. 

SARS encouraged all taxpayers and traders to ensure that their tax and customs obligations are up to date and in compliance with the tax and customs laws.  

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