The following content was published in Newsflash 2023/29 – SARS Notice: External Debt Collectors

SARS NOTICE: EXTERNAL DEBT COLLECTORS – HANDOVER

SARS has issued a notice with regards to the appointment of external debt collectors who will be actioned to collect debt on overdue accounts.

SARS NOTICE:

Dear Tax Practitioners,

Notice of possible taxpayer handover to external debt collectors

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has started the process to notify taxpayers with outstanding debt of older than 5 years of its’ intent to hand them over to external third-party debt collectors from October.

These debt collectors will assist with overdue accounts where taxpayers have been repeatedly contacted, sent letters of demand detailing options for debt resolution, but have failed to settle their accounts or formalise payment arrangements with SARS.

Taxpayers who receive a notification from SARS and fail to make payment arrangements or settle their debt immediately will be notified via letter that their debt has been handed over to SARS appointed debt collectors.

SARS has assigned dedicated consultants to help affected taxpayers with handover-related questions through a dedicated mailbox. Taxpayers can use SARS eFiling/MobiApp to request a payment arrangement.

Sincerely,

THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
August 2023