The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has launched the Large Business Forum to foster voluntary compliance and strengthen the relationship with South Africa’s largest corporate taxpayers.

“The forum creates a space where Sars and taxpayers can solve challenges together, share insights and drive innovation. This partnership enhances the integrity of our tax system, supports business growth and contributes to South Africa’s fiscal stability for the benefit of all stakeholders,” says Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.

The large and international business segment collectively contributed R600-billion in taxes in the 2024/25 financial year.

The forum represents the first of many engagements that will be held with large business taxpayers and is an extension of Sars' enhanced service engagement, Sars says.

This platform also aligns with international best practice by prioritising proactive engagement and collaboration with major corporations.

Cooperation is at the core of Sars’ engagement with large businesses and it works with these companies, following a relationship model, to ensure clear lines of communication and swift resolution of issues through a Sars relationship executive.

By establishing predictable points of contact, Sars enables businesses in the fast-changing digital environment the opportunity to address concerns quickly and efficiently. Given the complexity of corporate tax matters, Sars works closely with these corporations and their tax advisers to simplify and find solutions to tax-related challenges, it says.

This collaboration deepens understanding, builds trust and strengthens the partnership between Sars, businesses and their advisers, says Sars.

“By working together with our largest contributors and their advisers, we build a tax system that is robust, fair and responsive to the needs of our nation,” says Kieswetter.

Specifically, the Large Business Forum aims to enable the sharing of perspectives and challenges through sector-focused forums, and help the large and international business segment gain deeper insights into the economic, commercial and global pressures affecting large businesses.

Further, the forum will aim to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Sars' large and international business segment service offering and share Sars’ concerns regarding compliance risks, aggressive tax planning and illicit activities.

This Large Business Forum will also provide thought leadership on practical implications of tax reforms, and strengthen relationships between Sars and large businesses.

The Forum will have its terms of reference drawn up and will take a decision on the frequency of meetings and how its business will be conducted, Sars adds.

“Compliance is voluntary when earned through mutual trust, professionalism, ethical engagement and genuine partnership,” says Kieswetter.