Trevor Noah’s mother Patricia Noah allegedly owes the taxman more than R50 million. The news comes after a second letter of demand from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) was issued to the mother of the world-renowned comedian, which threatened to seize her assets due to the outstanding unpaid taxes.
According to City Press, which has seen the final letter of demand dated 6 July, Patricia is instructed to pay a sum of R26 902 878.47. In November last year, the revenue collector issued a similar letter of demand which instructed the businesswoman to pay over R24.2 million in outstanding tax debt, making the total tax debt over R50 million.
The above-mentioned publication notes that the letter stated that Patricia had within 10 business days from the date of the letter of demand to apply any of the following remedies: “Payment instalments where you are unable to pay the full amount, suspension of the debt where you intend to submit or have submitted a formal dispute, compromise of a portion of the tax where this will provide a higher return to the fiscus than liquidation, sequestration, or other collection measure.”
The letter further read, “Failure to make full payment or use the above remedies may result in the following actions and possibly others: SARS may appoint any third party who presently or in the future will owe you money or hold money for you to settle your tax debt with this money.”
Patricia was also warned that her failure to pay could lead to a civil judgment being entered against her, whereby a warrant of execution may be issued for the Sheriff of the court to attach and sell her assets, states City Press.
The letter continued, “In addition to the above remedies and in anticipation that SARS may appoint a third party as set out above, you may, within five business days from the date of receipt of this letter of demand, apply to SARS for the following:
“If you are a natural person, you may apply for a reduction of the amount to be paid to SARS based on you and your dependants’ basic living expenses… If you are a non-natural person, you may apply for a reduction of the amount to be paid to SARS based on serious financial hardship.”
City Press notes that Patricia said the matter with SARS was resolved. “Although the judgment has not been rescinded, the court found in my favour. SARS has yet to respond to what I have tabled.”
