Overview

Join us for an enlightening webinar with Frik Pretorius, Legal Specialist of the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO), and Theo Burrows as they unpack "Be a Smart Taxpayer". This session is designed to provide you with an understanding of the OTO's mandate. It will help you understand what systemic issues are and what systemic investigation entails. The will also review common tax practitioner mistakes.

During this session, they will delve into the impact of some court rulings on taxpayers' rights to be represented by tax practitioners at tax court, the impact of the Danwet ruling, and the Thistle Trust constitutional court ruling.

Webinar Content

• Introduce and develop the concept of “Be a Smart Taxpayer”: What it means to be a smart taxpayer. The positive impact of smart taxpayers on taxation.
• Review of the OTO's Mandate and Limitations: Understanding the OTO’s mandate and limitations is crucial for taxpayers and tax professionals alike, ensuring that expectations from the OTO are aligned with its statutory framework.
• Understand Systemic Issues and Investigation: This segment will shed light on the issues that are possibly systemic in nature. What a systemic investigation entails.
• Common Tax Practitioner Mistakes: Focusing on the common errors made equip participants with the knowledge to avoid these pitfalls, ultimately leading to smoother interactions with SARS and the OTO.
• Overview of Taxpayer Rights and Obligations: Understanding taxpayer rights and obligations is vital for ensuring compliance and safeguarding one's interests in any tax-related matter.
• Comment on key court cases and their impact on taxpayer rights: Right to representation. Right to fair tax administration and procedural fairness.

Competencies Development

After attending the webinar, participants will be:

• Know how to “Be a Smart Taxpayer”
• Understand the mandate and limitations of the OTO
• Understand systemic issues and systemic investigations
• Have insight into common tax practitioner mistakes
• Understand taxpayer rights and obligations
• Understand the impact of key court rules on taxpayer rights

Presenters

Theo Burrows

The Tax Faculty: Technical Advisor

Theo Burrows is a seasoned Tax Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in the corporate, non-profit, and small business sectors. In addition to being a practising independent tax practitioner, he serves the tax community as a technical advisor for The Tax Faculty.

The combination of ongoing tax education and practical experience enables him to competently address more complex tax issues of both individuals and organisations. He draws on all these skills and combines them with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the tax environment to provide tax advisory services to both taxpayers and tax practitioners.

Frik Pretorius

Acting Senior Manager: Legal Services and Systemic Investigations

Frik Pretorius was in private practice for six years before joining SARS as an Attorney in 1999. He was one of the first attorneys to start the Legal Department of SARS.

In 2006, he was appointed as the Legal Specialist of Gauteng South and was also involved in establishing the Alternative Dispute Resolution process as we know it today.

In his current role at the Office of the Tax Ombud, Pretorius is a Specialist: Legal Services, and provides comprehensive legal services across the organisation and is a member of the Operations Complaints Evaluation Committee and Dispute Resolution processes.

CPD

Attending this webinar and the successful completion of the online assessment will secure a certificate of completion for 1 hour of Tax CPD.

Event Investment

Complimentary access.