Tax Alert: Efiling Profile Hijackings – We Need Your Input!
Leanne Young - Senior Corporate Tax Consultant | PKF Durban
We have waited with bated breath for the release of the Draft Report into alleged eFiling Profile Hijackings from the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO), which was published on 01 October 2025. This report is already making waves across the tax community, and here is what you should at the very least know about it:
- Tax practitioners and individual taxpayers are the most frequent targets.
- Most hijacking attempts involve Personal Income Tax (PIT) and Value-Added Tax (VAT).
- Fraudulent transactions range from below R10,000 to well over R100,000!
Read the full Draft Report
If you are wondering how and why these digital hijackings happen with such ease and little prevention, the OTO has identified several key weakness and vulnerabilities, including
- Inadequate authentication processes.
- Delayed fraud detection.
- Delayed responses from SARS.
- Low digital security awareness among taxpayers.
Here is your chance to take on the fight and tackle this alarming trend of eFiling profile hijackings.
The OTO is calling for public comment before 31 October 2025, and PKF is here to help you make sure that your voice is heard and action is taken. We are inviting you to be part of PKF’s commitment to protecting taxpayer rights and strengthening the integrity of the tax system. To support this, PKF is preparing a formal submission to the OTO – and your input matters!
All it takes is a few minutes to share your input by completing a short 3 question survey to collate the following information:
- What you think of the report?
- Have you or your client(s) experienced eFiling hijacking - and if so, can you share the details on a named or an anonymous basis?
- What changes would you like to see?
Send us your feedback – whether it’s a quick thought, a detailed summary of your experience, or a suggestion for reform and hijacking prevention. At PKF, every voice matters and your input helps shape a collective insight that drives meaningful change and contributes to a stronger, safer tax system for all.
Let’s work together to ensure taxpayer rights are protected and digital fraud is tackled head-on.
Deadline for comments: 31 October 2025
Should you require assistance, please contact your nearest PKF office.