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The South African Revenue Service is warning the public about people posing as tax practitioners or tax experts allegedly pocketing their tax refunds.
SARS said in a statement on Monday that these scamsters were offering to secure refunds from the Revenue Service.
"Businesses and other organisations must also beware of third parties such as unknown payroll companies who offer to assist them with their PAYE submissions."
The Revenue Service said it had been "inundated with desperate calls from honest taxpayers" who fell victim to these criminals and scammers who pocket the refunds for themselves and their accomplices as they often operate as syndicates.
"In some cases, these fraudulent submissions are the cause of delays that are experienced by law-abiding taxpayers when SARS has no other option but to verify the information that was submitted by scammers to SARS," the taxman said.
The Revenue Service warned taxpayers who were willing participants in such fraudulent activity in the hope of an illegal refund will be prosecuted along with the scammers.
Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam or may information on this should contact SARS anonymously using the number 0800 00 2870 or by anonymously completing an online form available on the SARS website.
