The SA Revenue Service (Sars) has cleared itself of negligence in the case of a Sandton-based ICT firm that lost a R20m tax refund due to an alleged hacking of its Sars e-filing profile. Despite allegations of insider involvement, Sars conducted a thorough investigation to uncover any internal irregularities or complicity by Sars staff.
Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter stated that they found no negligence or liability on the part of Sars, absolving them of responsibility for the theft. However, Sars remains committed to assisting the company and law enforcement agencies in uncovering the source of the crime.
Kieswetter highlighted the pervasive threat of cybercrime and emphasized Sars’ ongoing efforts to enhance its technological infrastructure to combat such crimes. The Office of the Tax Ombud is currently investigating incidents of profile hijacking, a move welcomed by Sars as they collaborate to address this issue.
As cybercrime evolves globally, Sars remains vigilant and proactive in safeguarding against such threats to protect taxpayers and maintain the integrity of the tax system.
TimesLIVE