PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – Unicus Tax Specialists SA is strengthening its position as a specialist South African tax advisory firm focused exclusively on complex tax law, SARS disputes and Voluntary Disclosure Programme applications.
Unlike general professional-services firms, Unicus Tax Specialists SA does not provide accounting, auditing or routine tax-return completion services. The firm concentrates its resources on tax and tax law, with a particular emphasis on cases where taxpayers face disputed assessments, penalties, audits, unresolved SARS matters or historical tax non-compliance.
This specialist model allows the team to focus on difficult, high-value and time-sensitive tax matters affecting companies, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, professional advisers and other taxpayers.
More information about Unicus Tax Specialists SA is available at:
SARS Objections
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists taxpayers who need to challenge an assessment or decision issued by the South African Revenue Service.
A SARS objection is generally the first formal step in the tax dispute process. It requires carefully prepared legal and factual grounds, supporting evidence and compliance with the applicable procedural time limits.
The firm assesses the merits of the matter, identifies the relevant tax and procedural issues and develops an objection strategy based on the taxpayer’s circumstances. Its team can assist where an assessment appears factually incorrect, legally unsound or procedurally defective.
SARS Tax Appeals
When an objection is disallowed or only partly allowed, the taxpayer may need to proceed with a tax appeal.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists with appeal strategy, preparation and representation throughout the dispute-resolution process. This may include engagement with SARS, alternative dispute resolution, Tax Board proceedings or Tax Court litigation, depending on the nature and value of the dispute.
Each matter is approached strategically, with the aim of identifying the most effective route towards resolution rather than allowing a dispute to continue unnecessarily.
Learn more about the firm’s SARS objection and appeal services at:
https://unicustax.co.za/specialities/sars-objections-appeal/
Tax Dispute Resolution
Tax dispute resolution is one of the principal areas of specialisation at Unicus Tax Specialists SA.
The firm works on matters involving disputed income tax, VAT, PAYE, transfer duty, penalties, interest and other assessments or decisions issued by SARS. Assistance may be provided at different stages, including during an audit, after receipt of audit findings, following an additional assessment or once an objection or appeal is already under way.
The team also assists with cases that have become delayed, procedurally complicated or difficult to resolve through ordinary correspondence with SARS.
SARS Audit Assistance
A SARS audit can develop into a significant tax dispute if the factual information, legal issues and supporting evidence are not managed correctly from the beginning.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists taxpayers with understanding audit requests, preparing responses to SARS, evaluating preliminary audit findings and developing a strategy before an additional assessment is issued.
Early professional involvement may help a taxpayer identify the main areas of risk, preserve the necessary evidence and respond to SARS in a structured and legally informed manner.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution, commonly referred to as ADR, can provide an opportunity to resolve a tax appeal without proceeding directly to formal Tax Court litigation.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists taxpayers with preparing for ADR, presenting the factual and legal basis of the dispute and participating in negotiations with SARS.
The firm’s approach combines knowledge of tax law with practical dispute strategy, helping clients evaluate whether a negotiated resolution is appropriate for the matter.
Tax Board and Tax Court Representation
Certain tax disputes may need to proceed to the Tax Board or Tax Court when they cannot be resolved through objection, appeal or ADR.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists with litigation strategy, preparation of the case, management of evidence and coordination with advocates or other legal professionals where required.
The firm’s tax-exclusive focus supports a detailed understanding of both substantive tax law and the procedural rules governing disputes with SARS.
Voluntary Disclosure Programme Applications
The SARS Voluntary Disclosure Programme allows qualifying taxpayers to disclose previous tax defaults and apply for relief from certain penalties and potential criminal prosecution.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists individuals, businesses, trusts and other taxpayers with evaluating whether they may qualify for VDP relief, preparing the disclosure and managing the application process.
VDP applications require careful consideration of whether the disclosure is voluntary, complete and made before the taxpayer has been notified of an audit or investigation relating to the default. The firm helps applicants understand these requirements and prepare an application supported by the relevant information.
Learn more about the firm’s VDP application support at:
https://unicustax.co.za/specialities/voluntary-disclosure-program-vdp/
Penalty and Interest Disputes
Tax penalties and interest can significantly increase the value of an amount claimed by SARS.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA assists taxpayers with disputes involving understatement penalties, administrative penalties and interest. The firm evaluates whether SARS applied the correct legal provisions, whether the penalty percentage is justified and whether grounds exist for remission, reduction or objection.
These matters often require a combination of tax-law analysis, procedural knowledge and supporting evidence relating to the taxpayer’s conduct and circumstances.
Suspension of Payment Applications
A disputed SARS assessment may create an immediate collection risk while the objection or appeal remains unresolved.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA can assist with applications requesting the suspension of payment of a disputed tax debt. These applications require a clear explanation of the dispute, the taxpayer’s financial position and the factors SARS must consider under the Tax Administration Act.
A properly managed suspension request may help protect the taxpayer while the underlying dispute proceeds through the appropriate process.
Tax Opinions
Although Unicus Tax Specialists SA primarily focuses on dispute resolution and VDP matters, the firm may provide formal tax opinions where specialist interpretation of tax law is required.
A tax opinion can help a taxpayer, board, professional adviser or organisation understand the legal treatment of a transaction, arrangement or disputed position.
The firm’s opinions are informed by tax legislation, case law, SARS guidance and the practical implications of how the issue may be approached in a real-world dispute.
SARS Ruling Applications
Unicus Tax Specialists SA may also assist with applications to SARS for tax rulings where advance certainty is needed regarding the tax treatment of a proposed transaction.
A ruling application requires the relevant facts, legal provisions and proposed interpretation to be presented accurately and comprehensively.
This service may be relevant to businesses, investors and professional advisers considering material transactions where uncertainty could create future tax risk.
Tax Training
Unicus Tax Specialists SA provides specialist tax training and educational resources for tax practitioners, accountants, lawyers, businesses and other professionals.
Training may address tax dispute procedures, SARS audits, penalties, important judgments, legislative developments and practical tax-law issues.
The objective is to help professionals understand not only the technical rules but also how those rules operate during audits, objections, appeals and other interactions with SARS.
Access Unicus Tax training and updates at:
https://unicustax.co.za/training/
Professional Case Support
The firm also works with auditors, accountants, lawyers, advocates and other tax professionals who require specialist assistance with a client’s tax matter.
Professional advisers can engage Unicus Tax Specialists SA for strategic input, dispute support, VDP applications, technical analysis or assistance with a particularly complicated SARS matter.
This collaborative service allows the original adviser to remain involved while drawing on the firm’s focused tax-dispute expertise.
A Tax-Exclusive Specialist Practice
Unicus Tax Specialists SA deliberately limits its work to tax and tax law.
The firm does not position itself as a general accounting, auditing or legal practice and does not ordinarily provide routine tax-return completion services. Its focus is on specialist matters where tax law, SARS procedure, evidence and dispute strategy intersect.
This specialist approach is designed for taxpayers and advisers who need practical assistance with significant or difficult tax problems rather than general compliance administration.
About Unicus Tax Specialists SA
Unicus Tax Specialists SA is a tax-exclusive specialist firm based in Pretoria, South Africa.
The firm assists companies, individuals, trusts and professional advisers with SARS objections, tax appeals, tax dispute resolution, alternative dispute resolution, Tax Board and Tax Court matters, SARS audits, Voluntary Disclosure Programme applications, penalties, interest, suspension of payment applications, tax opinions, SARS rulings and specialist tax training.
Unicus Tax Specialists SA does not provide accounting, auditing or routine tax-return completion services. Its work is focused on complex tax-law and SARS-related matters.
Media Contact
Company Name: Unicus Tax Specialists SA
Contact Person: Unicus Tax Team
Email: Send Email
Address:5 Impala Avenue, Irene Link Commercial, Building C Ground Floor Unit 4
City: Pretoria
State: Gauteng, 0157
Country: South Africa
Website: https://unicustax.co.za