Branch Stakeholder Meeting Minutes

Transcription

1 Branch Stakeholder Meeting Minutes Minutes of the meeting held: Date: 27 March 2014 Time: 09:00am Venue: Umhlanga Ridge office Present: SARS: Vikash Ganpath Laven Moodley Xolani Hlongwane Ramcharan Himla Singh-Vat Audit Wendy Price-Vat Audit Dashnie Govender- PA Stakeholders: In attendance: Vaughan Simpson Robin Gowlding Fred Akal Aneel Dowlath Janine Bissett Liz Keytel Taneel de Villiers Claudio Raghoo AM Bateman Kelda Perumal Shakilla Bakool Rajesh Bakool Zama Bekwa Sumitha Neermul Mondi Zondi Elicia Smit Page 1

2 Natasha Dookie Sheryl Ramnarain J Reddy Sue Bagoo Gren Kuppa Siphelele Chiune Sharon Gounden Shamitha Rampersadh Gugu Lushaba Sheralyn Elson Krishnie Deshnee Moodley Charmaine Naidoo Henri D Argert Kajal Sookdhoo Cynthia Grainger Pam (PKF) Shanitha Dundraj Harry Eaton Nicole Isrilal Lawrence Chetty Apologies: Vevegan James Fiona Seager Brent Slade Sachin Vir Junpath Absent: None Item No. Item 1. Welcome & Opening Laven Page 2

3 1.1 The Chairperson opened the meeting and welcomed all in attendance. 1.2 All SARS representatives were introduced. 2. Notice of meeting 2.1The notice of meeting as circulated was taken as read. 3. Apologies 3.1 Listed above. 4. Confirmation of agenda 4.1The agenda was confirmed with no additions. 4.2The next National Stakeholder meeting will be communicated in due course 5. Acceptance of minutes from previous stakeholder meeting 5.1 Accepted. 6. Matters arising from previous meeting 6.1 None. 7. New Stakeholder Matters Agenda Items 7.1 National Operational Stakeholder Forum Appointments with branch/no Shows, SARS has agreed with the RCB S that if the tax practitioners do not pitch up for their appointments, the penalty will be imposed to the tax practitioner and they will not be allowed to make an appointment with the TPU for 2 months communicated to the stakeholders that the Tax Administration Act requires all tax practitioners to be registered with a recognised controlling body.- SARS will start denying services to tax practitioners who are not registered in terms of section 240 of the TAA at our office. 7.2 Notice of objections Objections to be raised within 30 days of assessment If the NOO exceeds 30 days but is less than 51 days, reasonable reason to be supplied when lodging the NOO If the NOO exceeds 52 days, exceptional reasons need to be supplied Kindly note: Objections to individual and company Income Tax assessments to be lodged via NOO and not an ADR Employment Tax Incentive ETI is and incentive aimed at encouraging employers to hire young, less experienced work seekers. It was implemented with effect from 1 January Page 3

4 7.3.2 The eligible employer may claim the incentive for 24 months Any qualifying employee employed from 01 October 2013 onwards, employer is entitled to claim the incentive with effect 1 January 2014 for the employee Employer has to be in good standing with SARS. No returns or payments are outstanding in the month they want to claim the incentive Failing which the tax incentive will be rolled over to the next month ETI is only available to South African citizens aged between years unless they work in special economic zone Theses economic zones still need to be determined by the minister of finance. 7.4 Modernisation update Tax Clearance process Auto Approve-this is when the agent captures the TCC, SARS system may automatically approve the TCC without human intervention. TCC can be printed immediately. Auto Decline- TCC system will automatically decline TCC if taxpayers are not in good standing with SARS. If non - compliance is remedied, a new TCC may be applied for. Where a status change is requested, these cases will be routed to Compliance division for resolution. Kindly Note : Compliance division is not based in the Branch Office. TCC will reflect the trading name as recorded on SARS systems and not what is captured on the TCC Application Enhanced Registration Process Registration process with regards to Income Tax, VAT and PAYE is being enhanced. Maintenance of registered particulars will follow the same process. The new process in terms of registering for various tax products are as follows: Registration Process- focuses only on whom SARS wants to register(individuals, companies, trust, body corporates, etc ) Subscription process- focuses on what tax products the legal entity want to register for. These changes will decrease the administrative burden with regards to registering for various tax products. IT77, VAT101, EMP101 will still need to be completed and the necessary material need to be attached. SARS will have established links with Department of Home Affairs and CIPC to verify registration details of the applying entity. Page 4

5 7.5 General Matters VAT Audit Wendy advised stakeholders of the VAT ADR process, and how cases are drawn. Some practitioners raised concerns on cases not yet finalised. Wendy requested for them to escalate those cases, as per escalation list. Himla Singh is the contact person, and she will investigate Escalation Process Practitioners were advised that updated escalation list is sent, with every appointment confirmation, and they were encouraged to use this channel to direct their queries that are not resolved within TAT. Practitioners advised that there is no contact person for appeals cases on the list. Wendy advised that the contact person is Kim Dean, and we will request for Kim Deans details to be updated on list Revenue year end initiatives advised that as part of the revenue collection drive, branches are involved in a process of calling clients to advice of outstanding debt. Advised practitioners that in their visits they might see our staff with headsets at the counter, this is due to the RVO initiative Tax Crime and Corruption advised that there has been a sudden influx of scams reported to SARS, as practitioners they are encouraged to visit SARS website to keep abreast of the latest scams, and to inform their clients to be aware of these scams. They were also encouraged to report to SARS any incidents they might encounter. To access the latest scams, visit SARS website, click on Tax crime and corruption. Wendy Price 8. Date of next meeting: To be communicated. Laven 10. Closure Laven Meeting terminated at: 10:30 am Chairperson: Laven Moodley Date: Page 5