Johannesburg, 23 Feb 2001
In line with Trevor Manuel`s Budget 2001 aim of bringing tax on-line, SARS has appointed a select handful of e-Filing Service Providers to assist in building relationships with the tax-paying public by making the tax paying process a more efficient one.
As the central motto for the new South African public service is Batho Phele - People First, to give the motto meaning - the government has identified a need to transform the relationship between the public sector and the citizens it serves. Through Siyakha - a dynamic new programme of transformation - the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has taken the lead in transforming the organisation into one that prizes efficiency above bureaucracy and customer relations above authoritarianism.
One of the e-Filing providers appointed - JSE listed Unihold - has subsequently developed the platform for TaxBreak, a secure, encrypted electronic link to SARS for hassle free filing and payment of corporate returns. And in a further effort to ensure convenient electronic filing, the provider announced today the formation of an alliance with Ernst & Young - one of the world`s leading business advisors, providing services in assurance, corporate finance and tax and Butterworths, leading publishers of tax information in electronic format.
Ernst & Young`s contribution includes supplying practical technical guidance and support by alerting taxpayers to the purpose of questions posed in tax returns and indicating the possible consequences of a response, The benefits to taxpayers is that while the new system will provide interactive assistance in completing tax returns this will come with the assurance that the technical advice furnished is legally correct.
Butterworths` part to play in the alliance is to make available a substantial body of knowledge which will assist taxpayers in completing their income, VAT and PAYE returns, as well as other returns not governed by SARS.
"Ernst & Young is thrilled to have formed an alliance with Unihold & Butterworths in this exciting initiative. We see the alliance as a great amalgamation of expertise, technology and content, in providing a practical solution to both corporates and in future, to the man on the street. We are particularly well positioned to provide knowledge and add value to taxpayers in keeping them informed of developments, and more importantly, in suggesting pragmatic tax savings ideas to ensure that the users of this service experience bottom line benefits." comments Juliet Lubbe, Marketing Director at Ernst & Young.
The team is confident that the system will be highly beneficial to the SA corporate market as TaxBreak will offer guaranteed delivery of returns and payments, lower costs associated with submissions, reminders, on-line queries and history, tax calculators and intelligent forms. Confidentia lity and security are guaranteed through the use of encryption, security links and password protection. The Web based application also includes additional services such as tax advice and consultancy. "We believe that our platform combined with the expertise that Ernst & Young and Butterworths bring to the alliance - will make TaxBreak an integral part of SARS return and payment process and will benefit taxpayers, the country and traders, in that corporates will be exposed to a guaranteed on-line tax service providing reduced costs with numerous benefits." comments Sheldon Quarmby, a Director of TaxBreak.
For more information please contact TaxBreak on Unicall 0860111401, Sheldon Quarmby on (011) 709-7000 or visit www.taxbreak.co.za
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