Tax dispute | SARS and BP face off in court

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JOHANNESBURG – The Revenue Service and oil and gas company BP are going head-to-head in court.
SARS alleges the local division of the British multinational defrauded it of over R250-million in taxes.
It stems from three million gallons of diesel BP was meant to export to Zimbabwe in 2019, but never did.
Despite this, the company still claimed R220-million in tax rebates.
READ: SARS gets more into its coffers
In terms of SA tax law, the revenue collector can refund duties and levies on fuel for exporting.
SARS is now demanding over R270-million from the company.
It argues instead of transporting the diesel to Zimbabwe, it’s likely the diesel was sold locally.
BP has since approached the High Court in Pretoria asking that the dispute be referred to trial.