Here are some top guidelines . The list is by no means definitive but these are some indicators and even some common misconceptions.

• When a business offers you an attractive discount for cash and no receipt it may be  because they are not going to declare VAT to SARS.
• When an employer fails or refuses to provide you with an IRP5.
• If you notice significant fluctuations in your tax deductions in your monthly pay slip. It needs looking into.  
• Driving expensive cars and living in expensive neighbourhoods don’t always equate to tax crime. People have different priorities.
• Beware of scams and phishing. There is a steady increase in email scams and phishing attacks in which the SARS brand is being abused.  Members of the public are randomly emailed with false “spoofed” emails made to look as if these emails were sent from SARS but are in fact fraudulent emails aimed at luring unsuspecting taxpayers to disclose private and confidential information such as bank account details. Examples include emails that appear to be from returns@sars.co.za, or refunds@sars.co.za indicating that taxpayers are eligible to receive tax refunds. These emails contain links to fake forms and malicious websites made to look like the “real thing”, but with the objective to trick the unwary into entering personal information such as bank account details which criminals then extract and use for criminal activities. To see the latest scams which are being sent visit our web page about scams.

Please note these are scams and taxpayers should take note of the following:

• Do not open or respond to emails from unknown sources. 
• Beware of emails that ask for personal, tax, banking and eFiling details (login credentials, passwords, pins, credit/debit card information, etc.) as SARS will never ask taxpayers for such information in an email. 
• SARS will not request your banking details by phone, email or websites. 
• Beware of false sms’s

Click here to learn about Identity Fraud

To report or to get more information on phishing, please send an email to phishing@sars.gov.za or call the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 00 2870.