“Good morning

Remember every time when you register the company on efiling it will require you to submit the proof of registration form summary and certify copy of ID, in order to validate the efiling registration.Or are you getting an error message say we couldn’t verified your company information and what details that you need us to verified with you .

Thank you

Regard,”

The email above was an email that I received, verbatim, from a South African Revenue Service (SARS) Consultant at the Large Business Centre division.

This individual is the relationship officer of a client that makes a significant contribution to our country’s economy, hence us having to consult with the SARS Large Business Centre specifically.

It is shocking to think that this person also represents our country’s Revenue Service, an institution that has access to not only our resources, but our personal and confidential details. A harrowing thought indeed.

On the 13th of October 2015, I phoned the SARS Call Centre, I was still frustrated by the above e-mail and in no mood for more incompetence, and then…I spoke to one of the most efficient, diligent, friendly and thorough SARS Consultants, and indeed, professional persons I had ever met. He not only answered my questions and emailed me the exact information I needed promptly, he also went above and beyond, explaining procedures to me and even verifying if there were any other issues on the client’s account. I was duly impressed.

SARS is also making an effort to root out the evils that have given it a bad name or a ‘reputation’ for incompetence. In the last tax newsletter that our tax department received, it was revealed that SARS has launched a platform for taxpayers to upload any grievances on e-filing, be it a rude consultant, an inefficient SARS branch or even a badly compiled email.

This all speaks of an institution that sees that it is flawed, but that tries in my opinion, harder than any other government institution, to better itself.

While we have a long way to go, I see hope for our Revenue Service. So next time you visit your SARS branch, be patient and try and see that change, for the better, is imminent.

Liezl Laughton

Trainee, Johannesburg