Today heralds a milestone in the history of Inland Revenue and South African Revenue Service.
A specialist task team consisting of eighty three officials from Revenue Offices throughout the country started work in Johannesburg this morning.
This is the largest task team ever assembled by Inland Revenue and is evidence of the seriousness with which we view our mission towards improved client service and efficiency.
This team has been brought together for a period of three months for the purpose of addressing the backlog in assessments, audits, inspections and collections in the Johannesburg and Sandton Receiver of Revenue Offices. The team will in addition also assist these offices in finalising outstanding objections and appeals which have been outstanding for unacceptably long periods. This development represents the first visible steps of SARS's commitment towards improved service and efficiency and is furthermore evidence of Inland Revenue's commitment and role in the collection of the R1,5 billion additional tax referred to by the Minister of Finance in his budget speech.
This initiative is being supported by Receivers' of Revenue countrywide, all of whom are in the process of re-prioritising their workload to meet the challenges facing SARS.
I wish to appeal to all concerned to assist me by co-operating with the officials concerned so as to ensure that this all important project is successfully completed.
TREVOR VAN HEERDEN
COMMISSIONER FOR INLAND REVENUE
ENQUIRIES: MR SYDNEY POPE
TELEPHONE: 082-453-1637
FACSIMILE: 012-315-5869