SARS outreach services help the poor
alexandra - Tax officials continue their two year old outreach programme for Alexandra residents at the Motsweding Centre.
Alex residents are lucky to have tax services at their doorsteps.
This is from the continuation of South African Revenue Services’ (Sars) three-year outreach programme which is provided every Wednesday at the Motsweding Centre.
This service is the state agency’s attempt to reduce overcrowding at its main centres in Randburg and Joburg CBD. Also, it helps reduce travel costs for the mostly low-income earners of this impoverished township. Queues of residents converge on the day at this centre for services that include tax queries, tax clearances and certificates, new registrations, submissions and bank verifications.
Mashego Paul of the branch operation and engagement unit said the services which started in 2010 as part of the agency’s education programme were in high demand with over hundred people attending on each occasion. It is provided in partnerships with ENSAfrica’s probono legal services and the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce.
Paul identified their challenges as the verification of addresses of hostel dwellers, tax details of employers and employees and the lack of photocopying facilities to help reduce costs incurred by their lowly-paid clients.
Paul concluded that their services which are very personalised to the liking of their clients, were likely to continue for a long time with the education component facilitated fortnightly by ENSAfrica.
Details ENSAfrica; 011 555 0980.
