Faster processing of tax returns and quicker payment of refunds: that is what the new Siyakha programme launched by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) promises taxpayers.
The programme, launched this week, will cost R130 million and will be phased in over three years.
At the core of the plan is the rationalisation of SARS and the distribution of its 11 000 employees into processing centres, service centres and compliance centres.
This means people who process returns will be able to concentrate on processing, without having to answer telephones, SARS head Pravin Gordhan says. And people whose job is compliance can concentrate on compliance.
Inland Revenue offices across the country will be transformed into SARS service centres where taxpayers' queries can be handled. Six processing centres and seven compliance centres will be created.
The processing centres will deal with registration of new taxpayers, maintain taxpayer files, assess returns and process payments. Greater efficiency should lead to faster processing of returns, Gordhan says.
The Siyakha (We are building) programme will be launched in KwaZulu-Natal next October and then spread through the other provinces in 2002 and 2003.
Audit, collection and special investigations will be performed through the compliance centres instead of through SARS branches.
Part of the new plan is the upgrade of information technology systems so that taxpayers will be able to submit returns electronically. The Customs and Excise arm of SARS is also being revamped, with tougher regulation of registrations, better controls over goods in transit and in bonded warehouses, and more efficient processing and risk management, Gordhan says.
Down the line, all this should enable SARS to hone in on tax defaulters and collect the approximately R14 billion due in unpaid taxes. Which in turn, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has promised, will make tax cuts possible.