The revenue service has been attempting to make sure taxpayers file their returns on time with the slogan "pay your taxes or pay the price".

The reason for the intended clampdown was an "increase in taxpayers not submitting their tax returns by the stipulated deadlines", and not settling their outstanding debt with the revenue collection agency, SARS said in a statement. 

It said this was not limited to the current tax year, but included substantial non-compliance across previous tax years.

Pay up on time 

The revenue service said that, in terms of the Tax Administration Act, it was a criminal offence not to submit a tax return for personal income tax, corporate income tax, pay as you earn and value-added tax or VAT.

It said that failure to submit returns within the relevant period would result in fines imposed on a monthly basis per outstanding return, or even "criminal prosecution resulting in imprisonment".

Llewellyn Johr 27417794