R900m for SARS from non-compliant churches and luxury car owners

✔ Fact Checked by TDPel News Desk

By Samantha Allen

Published: April 5, 2022 | 7:48 AM

SARS’ auditors also targeted owners and entities of luxury vehicles who were not tax compliant. This allowed SARS to yield around R160 million in tax revenue.

SARS made the revelation through its preliminary tax revenue collection report. It was released by Commissioner Edward Kieswetter last week. The service collected more than R1.5 trillion between April 2021 and March.

A large amount of the money came from different sources. This included non-compliant churches and rich people with a fondness for luxury vehicles. SARS’ auditors took a look at 35 cases involving churches and other religious institutions.

More audits by the revenue service make up R1.5 trillion

The service stated that its findings on said institutions were made up of a broad scope of misrepresentations. The misrepresentations are with regard to the realist income and expenses of the bodies and individuals who were involved.

SARS’ auditors also conducted 25 lifestyle audit cases. This amounted to around R474 million, reports EWN. These audits mainly involved individuals whose lifestyles did not match up with their tax declarations.

Earlier this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa commended the revenue service. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa stated that it was well-established that Sars is one of the most efficient tools in SA to combat corruption.

SARS enjoys record-breaking year – rakes in more than R1.5 trillion

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced its preliminary revenue collection for the 2021-2022 financial year. For the financial year ending on 31 March 2022, SARS collected a gross amount of R1884,9 billion – up from R1540,5 billion collected during the previous year.

In terms of tax refunds, R321,1 billion (R290,7bn in the previous year) was returned to taxpayers. The net result is a collection of R1563,8 billion, which represents a surplus of R314 billion – 25 percent better than the previous year – and R16,7 billion better than the Budget Estimate.

r on Friday, 25 March. Commissioner Edward Kieswetter remarked that the revenue service’s 25th year was a record-breaking one.

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About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.