Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and AI into its work. The revenue authority in 2024 reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise the debt recovery process.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms). With the help of AI SARS is also monitoring cryptocurrency traders. In the 2025 budget,the Minister of Finance highlighted that through the use of AI in its fraud risk detection and verification work, SARS had been able to prevent the leakage of over R95bn in impermissible refunds, recovered R20bn in revenue and dismantled an illicit tobacco and gold scheme.
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years by the minister of finance for its modernisation programme. Recently, SARS warned non-compliant owners of crypto assets that it has resorted to greater use of AI, machine learning and algorithms to process its work.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI. In SARS' focus in 2025/26 will be on addressing the tax gap to improve revenue collection. This will be done by improving taxpayer compliance and trade facilitation by leveraging AI and data science.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
SARS has been increasingly employing AI and machine learning algorithms to trace criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and AI into its work. The revenue authority in 2024 reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise debt recovery.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms). With the help of AI, SARS is also monitoring cryptocurrency traders. In the 2024 budget, the finance minister highlighted that through the use of AI in its fraud risk detection and verification work, SARS had been able to prevent the leakage of over R95bn in impermissible refunds, recovered R20bn in revenue and dismantled an illicit tobacco and gold scheme.
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years for its modernisation programme. It is now expanding this strategy to also target non-compliant owners of crypto assets . In the 2025 budget, SARS was allocated R7.5bn over the MTEF, part of which is meant for collections of debts and to improve modernisation. AI forms part of SARS' modernisation journey from 2024.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI. SARS' focus in 2025/26 will be on addressing the tax gap to improve revenue collection. This will be done by improving taxpayer compliance and trade facilitation by leveraging AI and data science. Using AI to detect non-compliance remains part of SARS' collection efforts. AI is baked into SARS' strategy as per annual performance plans - artificial intelligence strategies will enhance treasury and risk management.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
Deploy AI and machine learning algorithms to trace criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and AI into its work. The revenue authority in 2024 reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise debt recovery.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms). With the help of AI, SARS is also monitoring cryptocurrency traders. In the 2024 budget, the finance minister highlighted that through the use of AI in its fraud risk detection and verification work, SARS had been able to prevent the leakage of over R95bn in impermissible refunds, recovered R20bn in revenue and dismantled an illicit tobacco and gold scheme.
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years for its modernisation programme. It is now expanding this strategy to also target non-compliant owners of crypto assets . In the 2025 budget, SARS was allocated R7.5bn over the MTEF, part of which is meant for collections of debts and to improve modernisation. AI forms part of SARS' modernisation journey from 2024.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI. SARS' focus in 2025/26 will be on addressing the tax gap to improve revenue collection. This will be done by improving taxpayer compliance and trade facilitation by leveraging AI and data science. Using AI to detect non-compliance remains part of SARS' collection efforts. AI is baked into SARS' strategy as per annual performance plans - artificial intelligence strategies will enhance treasury and risk management.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
Deploy AI and machine learning algorithms to trace criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and artificial intelligence into its work. The revenue authority has recently reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise the debt recovery process.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms).
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years by the minister of finance for its modernisation programme.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
SARS has been increasingly employing AI and machine learning algorithms to weed out criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and artificial intelligence into its work. The revenue authority in 2024 reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise the debt recovery process.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms). With the help of AI SARS is also monitoring cryptocurrency traders.
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years by the minister of finance for its modernisation programme.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
SARS has been increasingly employing AI and machine learning algorithms to trace criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and artificial intelligence into its work. The revenue authority in 2024 reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise the debt recovery process.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms). With the help of AI SARS is also monitoring cryptocurrency traders.
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years by the minister of finance for its modernisation programme. Recently, SARS warned non-compliant owners of crypto assets that it has resorted to greater use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and algorithms to process its work.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
SARS has been increasingly employing AI and machine learning algorithms to trace criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Since 2020, SARS has sought to integrate data-driven insights, self-learning computers and artificial intelligence into its work. The revenue authority in 2024 reported the success of this process in improving its revenue collection efforts. The compliance programme has particularly benefited from the process which has in part sought to optimise the debt recovery process.
View DetailsIs it working?
SARS has been able recover R210bn for the first 11 months of the 2023/24 tax year with the help of AI and proactive measures (with R70bn of this coming from AI/debt propensity algorithms). With the help of AI SARS is also monitoring cryptocurrency traders.
Actions
In 2023, SARS was allocated R1bn over three years by the minister of finance for its modernisation programme. Recently, SARS warned non-compliant owners of crypto assets that it has resorted to greater use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and algorithms to process its work.
Are there plans?
Following recorded success, SARS continues to seek potential employees skilled in data science and AI.
Is it on the agenda?
SARS has placed AI at the centre of its efforts to maximise, modernise and optimise revenue collection.
Goals
SARS has been increasingly employing AI and machine learning algorithms to trace criminality and tax non-compliance.
Departments / Govt Institutions