Ugandan – South Africa based businesswoman and reality TV star Zari Hassan is in serious trouble with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) after failing to settle an outstanding tax debt.
Last week, SARS obtained a default judgment from the Johannesburg High Court, ordering Zari to pay a massive R5 million.
Court documents reveal that Zari initially owed just under R3 million in personal income tax. However, with penalties and interest charges adding R2.1 million to the original amount, the total debt now exceeds R5 million.
Before taking legal action, SARS sent Zari a final demand letter on August 9 of the previous year, urging her to either pay the debt in full or set up a payment plan. The letter warned that failure to comply would result in asset seizure and auction.
SARS gave Zari 10 days from the date of the letter to make full payment and even offered the option to apply for a payment plan or suspension if she intended to dispute the amount. However, she failed to respond, prompting SARS to pursue legal action.
With the court’s default judgment in place, SARS now has the legal right to seize and sell Zari’s assets to recover the debt. Documents also suggest that SARS could instruct third parties, such as banks or business partners, to direct any owed funds towards settling her tax bill.
If Zari Hassan wishes, she can apply to reduce the debt based on her living expenses and those of her dependents.
Zari, who will return for Season 3 of Young, Famous & African on Netflix, is not the only celebrity facing tax issues. Other high-profile figures targeted by SARS include Major League DJZ (R9 million), Tumi Masemola (R1.4 million), and stars like Bonang Matheba, AKA (Kiernan Forbes), Black Coffee, and Makhadzi, to name a few.
Despite several attempts to contact her for comment, Zari has not publicly responded to the matter.
SARS’ ongoing crackdown on tax defaulters sends a clear message that no one is exempt from fulfilling their tax responsibilities. Stay tuned for updates.
