Malema owes R20 million in tax

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is chasing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema to recover R20 million it says he owes in tax.

According to IOL, SARS claims that Malema owes R18 million for arrears on his taxes, plus another R2 million in interest for the 2005 to 2011 tax years.

Malema approached the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday to declare a compromise agreement with SARS in 2014, where he would only have to pay part of the amount owed, as binding.

However, SARS claims Malema breached the terms of the agreement, and is now liable to pay the full amount.

It said that Malema was not forthcoming with all his assets, failing to declare a property he took ownership of in Polokwane in 2009. Further, Malema did not disclose “a number of material facts” to SARS, entitling the group to cancel the agreement, it said.

Malema said the Polokwane property deal never went through – which he said he disclosed to SARS in 2012 – and maintained that he has settled his debts and does not owe SARS a cent.

Malema accused SARS of reneging on the agreement, keeping his money, and now holding him liable for the original assessments.

Judgement was reserved in the matter.