SARS signals clampdown on undeclared crypto income

SARS signals clampdown on undeclared crypto income

SARS expects crypto-assets to be treated with the same level of diligence as traditional financial instruments. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) this week published draft regulations for the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and is inviting the public to comment. This marks an important step in bringing South Africa in line with global standards on…

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SARS commissioner wins govt tech leader award

SARS commissioner wins govt tech leader award

SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter takes home the government technology leader award. (Photograph by SITA) South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Edward Kieswetter walked away with the coveted technology leader award at this year’s Digital Public Service Awards. Hosted on the sidelines of the State Information Technology Agency’s (SITA’s) GovTech 2025 conference, the awards recognise excellence,…

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SARS comes after social media influencers

SARS comes after social media influencers

SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is calling on social media influencers to declare their earnings, warning that income received in cash, products or services is taxable under the Income Tax Act (ITA). This comes as the country sees a surge in influencers, driven by expanding digital connectivity and the rise…

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Sars ups surveillance with AI

Sars ups surveillance with AI

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has entered its AI era — and the taxman is watching more closely than ever. With artificial intelligence now scanning bank records, crypto trades, and lifestyle mismatches, there’s nowhere left to hide. Sars is modernising its operations by integrating advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen tax…

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SARS comes after social media influencers

SARS pays out R10.6bn in refunds as AI upgrades bear fruit

SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter. More than three-quarters of taxpayers have already received auto-assessments, and refunds worth R10.6 billion have been paid out, according to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), as its investment in artificial intelligence (AI) begins to show significant returns. The auto assessments and refunds were processed ahead of the official start of…

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SARS seeks advanced AI to boost tax collection

SARS seeks advanced AI to boost tax collection

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system featuring “digital twinning” capabilities. This initiative aims to enhance automated decision-making and is a key part of SARS’s broader strategy to modernize its IT platforms and significantly boost tax collection. Read: Honor unveils the world’s…

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Sars turning to AI to collect more tax

Sars turning to AI to collect more tax

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has issued a request for information (RFI) for an advanced AI system with “digital twinning” capabilities to assist with automated decision making as its seeks boost tax collection. The move is part of the tax agency’s wider plan to modernise its IT platforms. Sars has requested companies with the…

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