I submitted my tax return in May. I am permanently disabled and can claim medical expenses related to my disability.
I was informed by the SARS that I have been selected to be audited this year and they required proof of my claims for the tax period.
I uploaded all the documents in June.
SARS paid a portion of my claim and then requested a letter from my doctor confirming my disability and proof of my medical expenses.
My wife and I went back to SARS Richards Bay on 4 September to hand in the letter and to determine why my full claim was not paid.
We were informed that I needed to lodge an objection regarding the unpaid claim.
I had all the documentation and receipts and informed the SARS agent that all the documentation had been uploaded to my profile in June.
I requested her to take the documents, scan it and add it to my profile. She told me that they did not need the documents.
The objection was logged, but I received a notification from SARS that my objection was declined owing to:
• No supporting documentation had been supplied in support of the deductions.
• A list of medical expenses had to be supplied.
We then went back to SARS and was told that a new objection had to be logged and I had to include a letter explaining my claim.
I wrote the letter on 4 November providing details of each claim.
I used the same documents I scanned and added to my profile and wanted to hand to the SARS agent, and took it back to SARS Richards Bay on 10 November.
I was unable to access their offices owing to construction work.
My wife and I went back on 11 November. My wife took all the documentation and told the SARS agents that I could not enter their offices.
She was told that they could only assist her if I gave her written permission to hand in the documentation in on my behalf and complete a SARS consent form granting her permission.
The other option was that I should come there every day until I can access the office by myself or go to a different SARS office in another town.
What a farce.
T DE BEER
