SARS to disclose NSFAS debtors' information

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Pretoria – The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is working together with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to help track down former students who fail to make repayments for NSFAS loans.

NSFAS has been included in the list of statutory bodies to which SARS can now legally disclose taxpayer information.

The promulgation -- issued by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on 8 July 2016 -- makes provisions for SARS to disclose to NSFAS debtors' names, their tax reference numbers, personal contact details, their employers’ names and contacts and other non-financial information.

This is in line with Section 24 of The NSFAS Act 56 of 1999, which states that “despite Section 4 of the Income Tax Act 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962), SARS must at the request of the board, furnish it with the name and address of the employer of a borrower, if such information is known to SARS”.

NSFAS spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo said he believes that working with State agencies would make it easier for NSFAS to track down all non-paying debtors.

“It will also make it easier for those who fail to make repayments, as provided in this act, to make arrangements for repayments before their names may be placed by the NSFAS board on any list of defaulting debtors published by any person or body whose business is to compile and publish such lists,” said Mamabolo.

Debtors who wish to make repayment arrangements or enquire on their loan balances may contact the NSFAS contact centre on 086 00 67 327 or email recoveries@nsfas.org.za with their personal details. – SAnews.gov.za