Over 1,000 people owe SARS over R10m each - Godongwana
In a written response, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said that while 1,156 individuals owe amounts over R10 million, the total number of companies in the same position sits at 2,901.
FILE: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana at the Land Bank media briefing, on its conclusion on the liability solution with its lenders, 9 September 2024. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said that over 1,000 people owed the South African Revenue Service (SARS) exorbitant amounts exceeding R10 million each.
Godongwana also said that the money owed by these individuals was valued at just over R61 billion, which included capital, interest and penalties.
The finance minister was responding to a written parliamentary question from ActionSA’s Alan Beesley, who also asked him about the total number of foreign nationals found to have breached the country’s tax laws.
In a written response, Godongwana said that while 1,156 individuals owed amounts over R10 million, the total number of companies in the same position sits at 2,901.
The companies, according to Godongwana, owe SARS R215 billion, including capital, interest and penalties.
On foreigners breaking South African tax laws, Godongwana said the country’s tax base was based on the tax residency of the taxpayer as well as the source of the income.
“SARS does not readily carry data on the taxpayer’s nationality,” said Godongwana.
He was also questioned about SARS' rate of collection, saying that for the 2023/24 financial year, the revenue that was finally collected over the full financial year was R1.7 trillion.
With regards to underfunding, Godongwana said that SARS had engaged with the Ministry of Finance and the Standing Committee on Finance.