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AttorneyOS Directory

Tax Law attorneys in South Africa

Find a tax attorney in South Africa: SARS disputes, objections and appeals, the Tax Court, voluntary disclosure, tax debt and the Tax Ombud.

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Plain-language guide

What a tax attorney does.

A tax attorney deals with SARS when the numbers are in dispute or the stakes are high: objections and appeals against assessments, alternative dispute resolution and the Tax Court, requests to suspend payment, voluntary disclosure of past non-compliance, tax debt compromises and deferrals, audits and requests for information, and the tax structuring of transactions, estates and emigration.

When you need one

  • SARS has raised an assessment you believe is wrong, or added understatement penalties.
  • You have undeclared income or assets and want to regularise before SARS finds them.
  • SARS is collecting a disputed debt from your bank account or salary.
  • You are selling a business, emigrating or restructuring and the tax consequences are significant.

How fees usually work

Objections and appeals are hourly, often with a fixed fee for the first stage. Tax Court litigation and voluntary disclosure applications are substantial pieces of work. Many tax attorneys work alongside your accountant, so agree who does what to avoid paying twice. Ask for the written estimate the Legal Practice Act requires.

Questions to ask before you instruct

  • Is my objection still within the time limit, and if not can it be condoned?
  • Should I apply to suspend payment while we dispute the assessment?
  • Do I qualify for the voluntary disclosure programme, and what relief does it give?
  • What is your estimate for each stage of the dispute?
See the listed practitioners

General information about South African law and practice, not advice on your matter. The practitioners listed on this page give that advice.

Tax attorney questions

How long do I have to object to a SARS assessment?

A taxpayer may first request reasons and must lodge the objection within 80 business days of the assessment, or of the reasons if they were requested. SARS can extend the period on good cause. An appeal against a disallowed objection must be lodged within 30 business days of the disallowance.

Do I have to pay SARS while I dispute an assessment?

In principle yes: the obligation to pay is not suspended by an objection or appeal. A taxpayer may however apply for suspension of payment, and SARS may not take collection steps from the date of the application until ten business days after it has decided on it. Interest continues to run on any amount ultimately found to be due.

What is the voluntary disclosure programme?

A permanent programme under the Tax Administration Act that allows a taxpayer who is not under audit to disclose a default voluntarily. A successful application brings relief from understatement penalties and criminal prosecution, though the tax itself and interest remain payable. The disclosure must be complete and made in the prescribed form.

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