Sars makes special arrangements for the national lockdown

DURBAN – The South African Revenue Services (Sars) is fully aligned and supportive to the overall Containment Strategy of Government, in response the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Sars is also sensitive to the economic distress and anxiety that is likely to result during this unchartered and unprecedented phenomenon.

As part of the containment strategy, the stringent 21 day lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa is a severe but necessary move to curb the spread of the virus, and flatten the curve of new infections.

Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said, “We wish to reassure people that Sars remains committed to providing the necessary services necessary for government to continue receiving the necessary tax revenues that fund the provision of public goods and services, whilst ensuring that the much needed refunds flow to taxpayers already experiencing hardship.  Even during this trying time, as part of our strategic objective, we will continue to provide certainty and make it easy for taxpayers and traders to interact with. 

“Sars remains critical for our country’s current and future economic and social development. In terms of the regulations governing the lockdown, Sars has been declared an essential service, which is vital to ensure” that the short-term and long-term economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are mitigated as far as possible,” added Kieswetter.