SARS is a ****

I am lodging a formal complaint regarding my attempts to resolve an Admin Penalty of R3,000.00 reflected in the correspondence I received from SARS dated 29/07/2025.

1. SARS Correspondence Received

The notice I received states the following:

VAT: R0.00

CIT: R0.00

PIT: R0.00

PAYE: R0.00

UIF: R0.00

SDL: R0.00

Admin Penalty: R3,000.00

I was instructed to:

Make full payment, or

Provide a deferral request (with 10% upfront),

And send proof of payment or the deferral request within 10 business days from receipt of the email.

2. My Response

I responded to SARS using the same correspondence address and sent all required information, but I did not receive any reply or acknowledgment.

3. SARS Website System Errors

I have attempted to resolve this matter through your online services, but I am unable to proceed because:

a) SARS AI Assistant Not Working

When trying to use the SARS Chatbot, I receive the following error:

“SARS AI Assistant Unavailable The SARS AI Assistant chat cannot be loaded at this time.”

I have checked:

Internet connection

Browser settings

Cookies and iframe settings and refreshed multiple times — the issue persists.

b) Unable to Book a Branch Appointment

When attempting to book an appointment to visit a SARS branch, the system shows this error:

“Sorry! It seems that the URL you are looking for no longer exists or has been moved.”

This prevents me from securing an appointment to resolve this matter in person.

4. Request for Urgent Assistance

Due to the above issues — lack of response, broken online functionality, and inability to book a branch visit — I am unable to comply with SARS instructions through no fault of my own.

I respectfully request the following:

Written confirmation of the exact Admin Penalty amount currently outstanding.

Clarification on whether SARS has taken any additional amounts beyond the R3,000 penalty stated.

A direct contact method (email or phone) for resolving this matter with an agent.

Assistance in either finalizing the payment or submitting the deferral request, as the SARS systems are currently blocking all attempts.