I need to share my frustration! For almost two years I have been working with a tax consultant in South Africa trying to resolve a serious financial issue regarding my mother’s pension. For some reason best known to the tax authorities in South Africa, my mother has, over the last two years, been charged tax, a lot of tax, on her meagre pension.
As I have explained in previous posts, my mother is in a care home. We have had to sell her house and buy an annuity to ensure she can have a good quality of life. My father had always worked really hard and my mother was very careful with their money to the point where we felt that they were missing out on some of the ‘fun’ things in life. But they were determined that they would have enough money for their old age.
So why is life so unfair? The tax my mother now pays is significantly more than she would have to pay in England. Her financial advisor gave me the name of a tax consultant they have dealt with in South Africa. In good faith I contacted the manager and was given a consultant to take on my mother’s case.
I understand that SARS (South African tax office) have been unreasonable in their requests for documentation, albeit my mother has lived in this country for seventeen years and paid tax, in this country, for fifteen of them. The only change in her circumstances is the fact that she is desperately in need of every penny and not able to save anything.
Over the last eighteen months I have supplied the tax office and SARS with everything they have requested. I have had mountains of documents certified as true copies, letters from solicitors, proof from the UK tax office that my mother pays tax in this country and from the UK government that my mother is a British citizen and her permanent place of residence is the United Kingdom!
My issue is that I live in England and cannot run backwards and forwards to a SARS office each time they issue another ludicrous request. My mother has dementia. I have a Power of Attorney over her finances and health and welfare hence the fact I have appointed a tax consultant on her behalf. But I am also totally reliant on the tax consultant for her help and advice. My mother has paid for this and, in good faith, I presumed that the issue would have been resolved within a few months (allowing for delays and the ineptitude of the tax office). Nothing happens quickly in South Africa but throw in the fact that my mother can’t present herself at a local branch, I wasn’t naive enough to expect a timely resolution.
I now find myself in total despair! Not only do I have to put up with idiotic requests from SARS, but the tax consultant obviously does not see this case as warranting any priority! On numerous occasions I have had to chase for an update! I have tried to remain civil. I am aware that I’m not her only client, but have finally flipped!
I have just sent ‘Joyce’ a scathing email. I was promised an update last Thursday. It is now almost a week later. Unacceptable after continued broken promises and delays. If nothing is received by close of business today I’ll report her to her manager. This probably won’t serve any useful purpose but I need to do something.
However, I seriously dread having to start the process all over again! I can already feel the pain, frustration, rage and sheer disbelief at some of the ridiculous requirements that have been thrown at me over the last couple of years! I doubt ‘Joyce’ would transfer the file to another tax consultant should I be lucky enough to find one!
i think I’ll sleep on it. Tomorrow is another day and could bring a result. I’m leaving shortly to go to the care home with my friend to give the residents a Christmas’ exercise class. I have downloaded Christmas songs so we should all have some fun! Isn’t that what life should be all about? 👠
Jenny Burrell 