TAX ombudsman, retired judge Bernard Ngoepe, has vowed to be unflinching in his pursuit to protect the public from exploitation by the tax authorities.
Ngoepe was appointed to head the office by former finance minister Pravin Gordhan last year to resolve the tax woes of ordinary South Africans.
The former high court judge president said he had always felt "the South African Revenue Service (SARS) was too aggressive" in its dealings with taxpayers.
Speaking to journalists of the Times Media group yesterday, Ngoepe said he was convinced that South Africa needed such an office to serve as an independent watchdog on tax matters.
However, he expressed concern at the fact that millions of people had no knowledge of the office and the services it provides.
An annual report of recommendations and criticisms on SARS will be given to the finance minister to bring before parliament.
Although the recommendations of the report are not legally binding, Ngoepe said it would be difficult for SARS to refuse to implement them without providing good reason.
The office assists members of the public free of charge and has received more than 500 complaints within its first financial year. Information on how to approach the ombudsman has also been made available online in all 11 official languages.
Tax ombudsman CEO Advocate Eric Mkhawane said 80% of complaints resolved by the office in its first six months of operation came out in the favour of taxpayers.
Mkhawane said this indicated the pressing nature of challenges faced by South African taxpayers.
The office is also endowed with certain powers such as having full access to SARS records.
Mkhawane said this made room for impartial investigations, allowing the office to uphold its role in protecting taxpayers' rights.
While Ngoepe expressed intentions to reach out to many, including the marginalised and illiterate, Mkhawane said expansion was likely to take place at a later stage.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Tax ombudsman helps hundreds of taxpayers
TAX ombudsman, retired judge Bernard Ngoepe, has vowed to be unflinching in his pursuit to protect the public from exploitation by the tax authorities.
Ngoepe was appointed to head the office by former finance minister Pravin Gordhan last year to resolve the tax woes of ordinary South Africans.
The former high court judge president said he had always felt "the South African Revenue Service (SARS) was too aggressive" in its dealings with taxpayers.
Speaking to journalists of the Times Media group yesterday, Ngoepe said he was convinced that South Africa needed such an office to serve as an independent watchdog on tax matters.
However, he expressed concern at the fact that millions of people had no knowledge of the office and the services it provides.
An annual report of recommendations and criticisms on SARS will be given to the finance minister to bring before parliament.
Although the recommendations of the report are not legally binding, Ngoepe said it would be difficult for SARS to refuse to implement them without providing good reason.
The office assists members of the public free of charge and has received more than 500 complaints within its first financial year. Information on how to approach the ombudsman has also been made available online in all 11 official languages.
Tax ombudsman CEO Advocate Eric Mkhawane said 80% of complaints resolved by the office in its first six months of operation came out in the favour of taxpayers.
Mkhawane said this indicated the pressing nature of challenges faced by South African taxpayers.
The office is also endowed with certain powers such as having full access to SARS records.
Mkhawane said this made room for impartial investigations, allowing the office to uphold its role in protecting taxpayers' rights.
While Ngoepe expressed intentions to reach out to many, including the marginalised and illiterate, Mkhawane said expansion was likely to take place at a later stage.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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