ILLICIT GAINS: The Smoking Gun: SARS goes after illicit cigarette trade

The illicit cigarette market has bloomed, thanks to the disintegration of the South African Revenue Service, say researchers from the Economics of Tobacco Controlled Unit at the University of Cape Town, who conducted a study.

To work out just how big South Africa’s illicit cigarette habit is, Vellios and her colleagues relied on two national studies – the All Media and ProductsWhat we did was compare cigarette sales as reported to the government, and we get that information from national treasury data, and we compare those numbers to what people say they smoke in national surveys. The gap between those numbers is used to estimate illicit trade,” explains Vellios.

Research commissioned by the TISA suggests that 42% of cigarettes smoked in townships and sourced from informal trading stores are illicit.Even SARS had to admit that it was initially thought that most illicit cigarettes were coming through South Africa’s ports of entry. In fact, most illegal cigarettes are manufactured within South Africa, often during midnight production runs, that the taxman knows nothing about.

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Saudi oilfield attack lifts oil, but recession concerns cap gainsUS and China trade deputies could advance negotiations over ending a trade battle between the two countries, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

ISS TODAY: China is proving key to reducing Africa’s wildlife traffickingISS TODAY: China is proving key to reducing Africa’s wildlife trafficking By Deo Gumba and Richard Chelin for ISS TODAY
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

Big talk but little action on illicit financial flowsNew report highlights huge cost of illegal transfer pricing, but the problems are global and systemic, says the UN
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Cash-strapped Denel has not paid Sars since April, says unionTrade union Solidarity goes to court to force Denel to pay Sars tax contributions deducted from employees’ earnings
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Bleak Opec report caps crude rise due to attack on Saudi oil facilityConcerns about a recession limit oil price gains, while traders look for signs of progress in US-China trade talks
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Richards Bay Sars branch closed after ‘property, vehicle damaged’Taxpayers experiencing service issues in the area have been urged to contact the Sars contact centre on 0800 00 7277.
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »