Amanda Visser

Montagu

Business Journalist at Freelance

Financial journo writing about tax and all things regulatory

Articles

Investigation into eFiling hijackings highlights the vulnerabilities

1 week ago | citizen.co.za | Amanda Visser

A lot of fingers are pointing to the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and some of the banks following a recent survey conducted by the Office of the Tax Ombud to get to the bottom of last year’s surge in hijackings of tax practitioner and individual taxpayer eFiling profiles. The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is finalising a draft report into its systemic investigation into the origins of the hijackings and the effect on taxpayers and practitioners.
Investigation into eFiling hijackings highlights the vulnerabilities

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Amanda Visser

19 hours agoBosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo Declaration of Gaza Tribunal condemns Israeli genocide of Palestinians-SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - MAY 29, 2025: The Sarajevo Declaration of the Gaza Tribunal, a “people’s tribunal” established as an independent initiative to investigate Israel's ongoing war crimes in Gaza, condemned the Israeli "regime" and its actions on Thursday, May 29.
Looming tax deadline and glitches cause frustration

1 week ago | citizen.co.za | Amanda Visser

In the run-up to this year’s filing season, employers are battling to meet the deadline for submission of their annual employer reconciliation declarations to the South African Revenue Service (Sars). The deadline is Friday. Employers experienced glitches after Sars released an updated version of e@syFile, the software used to reconcile and validate the payroll data and electronic employee tax certificates submitted to Sars.
Looming tax deadline and glitches cause frustration

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Amanda Visser

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to infrastructure development as a central pillar of economic growth and social …
Budget | Citizens benefiting from only a quarter of spending

1 week ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

The 2025 budgetary process has raised questions about the robustness of South Africa’s policy framework. The focus has been on politics rather than economics. In their analysis of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s third attempt at getting his Budget to stick, financial specialists believe economic policies do not match the country’s realities. KPMG chief economist Frank Blackmore says most of the Budget is spent on paying public servants and servicing debt.
Pressure on Sars to prevent tax increases in 2026

2 weeks ago | citizen.co.za | Amanda Visser

The pressure is on the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to collect sufficient outstanding revenue to prevent additional tax increases of R20 billion in 2026. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in his third budget for 2025 that he believes Sars will be able to raise an additional R35 billion that will be sufficient to close the current revenue gap.
Pressure on Sars to prevent tax increases in 2026

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Amanda Visser

We are here to improve trade and investment relations: Ramaphosa navigates tense talks with TrumpSouth Africa has a crime problem, not a white genocide problem and the investments being sought from the US will go a long way in assisting the …
SCA upholds pre-commencement tax debts in business rescue

2 weeks ago | moonstone.co.za | Amanda Visser

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has drawn a clear line in the sand on the vexing issue of pre- and post-commencement debt when it comes to the tax liability of companies in business rescue. The court found that the “re-quantification” of a tax debt in an additional assessment (post-commencement of business rescue) does not create a new (post-commencement) liability. The date on which the debt becomes payable is irrelevant.
Taxpayer battling with a crypto tax nightmare for months

3 weeks ago | citizen.co.za | Amanda Visser

A taxpayer has been battling with the South African Revenue Service (Sars) for months after receiving an additional assessment of an eye-watering R1.5 million from crypto trade income. The taxpayer made only one deposit of R185 000 with a crypto trading platform in 2021, and subsequently withdrew about R70 000. He was left with an additional assessment of more than R1.7 million after penalties were included.
Taxpayer battling with a crypto tax nightmare for months

3 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Amanda Visser

A taxpayer has been battling with the South African Revenue Service (Sars) for months after receiving an additional assessment of an eye-watering …