Pearl Thusi Disputes Reported R15 Million SARS Tax Debt

South African actress and media personality Pearl Thusi has disputed reports that she owes the South African Revenue Service nearly R15 million in unpaid taxes, describing the reported figure as “grossly incorrect and therefore misleading”.

According to a report by the Sunday Times, published by TimesLIVE, SARS issued Thusi with a final demand relating to an alleged outstanding tax debt.

Documents cited in the report reportedly show that the demand was dated August 6 and electronically filed on September 2. The documents identify Thusi by her full name, Sithembile Xola Thusi, and state that she had failed to pay tax for one or more tax years or periods.

The reported amount is made up of several components. According to the documents, the alleged debt includes almost R9.8 million in personal income tax, approximately R5.2 million in interest and a further R20,000 in administrative penalties.

The documents reportedly do not specify which tax years or periods the alleged outstanding amount relates to.

Pearl Thusi Challenges Reported Amount

SARS has reportedly given Thusi 10 business days to settle the alleged debt or pursue remedies available to her under the tax system.

These options include applying for an instalment payment arrangement or requesting the suspension of the debt if she intends to formally challenge the amount.

If the dispute is not resolved, SARS could take additional steps to recover the money. These could include applying for a civil judgment and obtaining a warrant of execution, which could allow a sheriff to attach and sell assets belonging to Thusi.

The revenue service could also seek to recover the alleged debt through third parties that hold money belonging to Thusi or owe her money.

However, the Queen Sono actress has rejected the reported R15 million figure and has stressed that while she acknowledges owing SARS money, the amount publicly reported does not accurately represent what she owes.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Thusi confirmed that there is an outstanding amount but strongly disputed the figure cited in the report.

“While I acknowledge that there is an amount owing to SARS, the figure quoted is grossly incorrect and therefore misleading,” she said.

The actress also said she takes her responsibilities as a taxpayer seriously and is communicating directly with SARS to resolve the matter.

Her comments appear to distinguish between acknowledging an outstanding tax obligation and accepting the nearly R15 million figure reported in connection with the SARS demand.

SARS spokesperson Siphithi Sibeko declined to comment specifically on Thusi’s tax affairs, referring to taxpayer confidentiality rules that prevent the revenue service from discussing an individual’s private tax information.

The dispute therefore remains centred on the accuracy of the reported figure and the amount ultimately determined to be outstanding, with Thusi indicating that she is working directly with SARS to address the matter.