Claims circulating on social media that the South African Revenue Service’s (Sars) systems have been breached have been dismissed by the tax authority as “false and unsubstantiated”.

In a statement issued on Monday (25 May), Sars said it had launched a thorough investigation after online reports and social media posts alleged that its digital systems had been compromised.

“At this stage, there is no evidence that Sars’s systems have been compromised,” the revenue service said.

The statement comes amid growing public concern over cybersecurity threats and online scams targeting taxpayers and businesses across South Africa. The group who alleged to have hacked Sars’s systems identified themselves as Nullsec Nigeria, and also operates under the name Anonymous Nigeria.

Sars said it continuously monitors its systems for suspicious activity and stressed that safeguarding taxpayer information remains one of its highest priorities.

“The protection of taxpayer information and the security of its digital platforms is sacrosanct and forms part of Sars’s core responsibility,” the organisation stated.

Sars added that maintaining secure digital infrastructure forms part of its broader drive to build “a smart, modern institution with unquestionable integrity” while strengthening public trust in the country’s tax administration system.

The revenue service also urged members of the public not to spread unverified information or rely on unofficial online sources when seeking information about Sars operations or services.

Authorities warned taxpayers to remain alert to scams and phishing attempts, especially messages falsely claiming to originate from Sars.

Sars encouraged taxpayers and traders to use only verified communication channels for accurate information and guidance. The organisation also directed the public to its official scams and phishing awareness page for advice on identifying fraudulent communication. For more visit https://www.sars.gov.za/targeting-tax-crime/scams-and-phishing/.