The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) has invited taxpayers and taxpayer representatives to participate in a survey on their experiences regarding the hijacking of eFiling profiles.
As Moonstone has previously reported, tax practitioners and taxpayers are being targeted by hackers who gain unauthorised access to eFiling profiles, change banking details, and divert tax refunds. In some cases, fraudsters have even altered company director details at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission to change registered tax representatives.
Read: Cybercriminals ramp up their attacks on tax practitioners
In August last year, the OTO announced that it had obtained approval from the Minister of Finance to conduct a review of possible systemic and emerging issues related to alleged service failures by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in assisting taxpayers timeously with eFiling profile hijackings. This followed complaints and queries received by the OTO from taxpayers and industry bodies, as well as a workshop with SARS, taxpayers, and industry bodies in June 2024.
Read: Tax Ombud to investigate widespread taxpayer profile hijackings
The OTO describes “systemic issues” as “underlying problems that can be considered as the root causes of complaints affecting or likely to affect many taxpayers in the tax system. These issues often pertain to how specific SARS systems operate, how they formulate and implement policies, practices or procedures, and how they apply or ignore legislative provisions.”
Read: Tax Ombud to investigate widespread taxpayer profile hijackings
“The OTO is appealing to taxpayers and taxpayer representatives to participate in the survey on their experiences and challenges regarding eFiling profile hijacking. The objective of the survey is to collect information that will assist the OTO in its investigation and compilation of the report thereon,” the Office said in a statement this week.
The survey will be open until the close of business on 5 March 2025.
Click on this link to access the survey, or download the survey form by clicking on this link and email the completed form to communications@taxombud.gov.za. The survey can also be accessed on the OTO’s website.
