South African Revenue Service (SARS)

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the tax collecting authority of South Africa.

Established in terms of the South African Revenue Service Act 34 of 1997 as an autonomous agency, SARS is responsible for administering the South African tax system and customs service.

SARS is a public entity of the National Treasury under the National Government of South Africa.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is mandated to collect all revenues due, ensure optimal compliance with tax and customs legislation, and provide a customs and excise service that will facilitate legitimate trade as well as protect the economy and society.

Vision

It is our vision to build a smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity that is trusted and admired.

Mission

It is SARS’ mission to optimise revenue yield, facilitate trade and enlist new tax contributors by promoting awareness of the obligation to comply with South African tax and customs laws, and to provide quality and responsive service to the public.

Strategic Intent

To give effect to its mandate, the strategic intent of SARS is to develop and administer a tax and customs system of voluntary compliance, and where appropriate, enforce responsibly and decisively.

Objectives

Below are the 9 strategic objectives of SARS:

  1. Provide clarity and certainty for taxpayers and traders of their obligations
  2. Make it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their obligations
  3. Detect taxpayers and traders who do not comply, making non-compliance hard and costly
  4. Develop a high performing, diverse, agile, engaged and evolved workforce
  5. Increase and expand the use of data within a comprehensive knowledge management framework
  6. Modernise our systems to provide digital and streamlined online services
  7. Demonstrate effective stewardship of our resources to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of quality outcomes and performance excellence
  8. Work with and through stakeholders to improve the tax ecosystem
  9. Build public trust and confidence in the tax administration system

How SARS does it’s job

SARS is heedful of the role of taxation in nation-building and therefore deem the tax system as an asset that belongs to the nation. In doing its work, the South African Revenue Service is guided by the code of conduct and the principles of SARS values:

  • Uncompromising regard for Taxpayer Confidentiality
  • Unquestionable Integrity, Professionalism and Fairness
  • Exemplary Public Service
  • Incontestable insights from Data and Evidence

SARS’ approach to promoting compliance is based on the three principles listed below:

  • SARS must make taxpayers aware of their obligations
  • Make it easy to meet the taxpayers
  • Act against those who break the law

Overseeing Department/Entity

Office Bearers/Management

Commissioner

  • Prof Edward Christian Kieswetter

Deputy Commissioner

  • Mr Johnstone Makhubu (Taxpayer Engagement and Operations)
  • Mr Carl Scholtz (Strategy, Enablement and Modernisation)

Chief Financial Officer

  • Mr Schalk Human

Chief Procurement Officer

  • Ms Bongiwe Mabanga

Senior Management

  • Ms Jeanneé Padiachy (Chief of Staff)
  • Dr Giorgio Raesich (Head: Liaison Unit)
  • Mr Franz Tomasek (Head: Legislative Policy Tax, Customs and Excise)

Communications Officers

  • Mr Siphithi Sibeko (Media Spokesperson)

Contact Details

The contact details of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) are listed in the table below.

Physical Address:Lehae La Sars Building, 299 Bronkhorst Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, Pretoria, Gauteng, 0181
Postal Address:Private Bag X923, Pretoria, 0001
Telephone:012 647 9999
Website:www.sars.gov.za