Unwavering dedication to protecting your interests with precision and expertise
Result-driven approaches
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Pieterse Sellner Erasmus TRM Tax Attorneys has its head office in Cape Town and a growing national footprint, with offices in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Rustenburg, Stellenbosch, and the Durbanville and Bellville areas of the Western Cape. Internationally, the firm maintains a satellite office in the United States of America.
Our specialist firm offers comprehensive tax law services across all areas of taxation, from dispute resolution to international tax structuring.
View All 30 Practice AreasOur leadership brings decades of combined expertise in tax law, providing strategic guidance and expert representation across all areas of taxation.
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A bank may freeze an account on another bank's warning, and SARS may then collect from it without a final demand. For the account holder who cannot explain the payment, the civil loss is often only the start.
The Tax Administration Act already stops SARS from collecting while a suspension request is pending. The recent judgments, and a Tax Ombud complaint open for more than eleven years, show that the protection on paper is not reaching taxpayers in practice.
Picture this: SARS issues an assessment, and something on it is simply wrong: an expense added back twice, a donation receipt captured incorrectly, or a processing slip on SARS's end. Your first instinct might be to object. However, launching a formal objection has its own deadlines, forms and procedures, and if you get the process wrong, you can lose your right to challenge the assessment altogether.
Many business owners assume that once an entity has ceased trading and become dormant, its tax affairs can simply be left unattended. Unfortunately, this can create a significant and often overlooked risk: personal liability for the entity’s outstanding SARS debt.
The questions we are asked most often about SARS disputes, tax debt and working with us.
All FAQsWe provide comprehensive tax law services including tax dispute resolution, SARS audits and investigations, tax debt management, international tax structuring, transfer pricing, VAT disputes, customs and excise matters, voluntary disclosure applications, and general tax advisory services. Our team handles both domestic and international tax matters.
You can schedule a consultation by contacting us via phone at +27 (0) 21 569 6050, sending an email to info@trmlaw.co.za, or completing the contact form on our website. Our team will respond within 24 business hours to arrange a suitable time.
We have offices in Cape Town (Head Office), Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Johannesburg, Rustenburg, and an associated office in the USA. We serve clients across South Africa and internationally, with particular expertise in African and cross-border tax matters.
If you receive a letter of audit from SARS, it's important to respond within the specified timeframe. We recommend seeking professional assistance immediately. Our team can review the audit notice, help you understand your rights, prepare the required documentation, and represent you throughout the audit process to ensure the best possible outcome.
Yes, you have the right to dispute any SARS assessment you believe is incorrect. The process involves filing an objection within 30 business days of the assessment. If the objection is unsuccessful, you can appeal to the Tax Board or Tax Court. Our tax litigation specialists have extensive experience in representing clients through all stages of the dispute process.
Under the Tax Administration Act, taxpayers are generally required to pay disputed tax amounts while their objection or appeal is pending. However, you can apply for suspension of payment under Section 164 if you can demonstrate that paying would cause serious hardship or that there are reasonable grounds for believing the assessment is incorrect. We regularly assist clients with these applications.
Our team of specialist tax attorneys is ready to provide you with practical solutions and complete peace of mind.
