The SA Tax Ombud has been officially launched by the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan.

Its objective is to review and address complaints by taxpayers regarding service, procedural or administrative issues relating to their dealings with the SA Revenue of Service (SARS).

Gordhan says, “As the 2013/14 preliminary tax and customs revenue announcementillustrated, our tax policy framework has proven to be resilient during the global economic turmoil that has tested South Africa’s public finances, its economic policy framework and its regulatory environment.”

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the millions of taxpayers in our country who have provided the state with the means to fund its programmes which, in a virtuous cycle, will stimulate growth, job creation and generate higher future revenue. We owe them our deep gratitude and a commitment to spend this money wisely, honestly and efficiently. But also we owe to these taxpayers a tax system that treats them fairly.”

“The Tax Ombud is an additional and free avenue to deal with complaints by taxpayers that cannot be resolved through SARS’s internal mechanisms. The Tax Ombud’s office draws on comparable institutions in Canada and the United Kingdom.”

The Ombud is intended to be a simple and affordable remedy to taxpayers who have legitimate complaints that relate to administrative matters, poor service or the failure by SARS to observe taxpayer rights.

The Tax Ombud reports directly to the Minister of Finance and the Ombud’s annual report will be tabled in parliament by the Minister.

As announced in October 2013, retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe is the Tax Ombud.