While no details were provided in the Budget Review document, it did say the office is intended to provide taxpayers with a low-cost mechanism to address administrative difficulties that cannot be resolved by SARS. The national Treasury said it will increase its focus on cross-border cooperation.

It said parliament has approved the Tax Administration Bill, which incorporates the common administrative elements of current tax law into one piece of legislation.

On the voluntary disclosure programme, it said SARS had captured 17938 applications for relief, concluded R941-million agreements and collected R718-million in related tax.

On high net worth individuals, it said "there is room for improvement in the service offered to this segment and compliance", and hinted this would be a focus area during 2012.

In addition, the document said SARS would improve its audit capability and align declarations to International Financial Reporting Standards where possible over the next 12 months.

The Treasury said the transformation of SARS customs is starting to gain momentum and additional steps will be taken over the next year to achieve fully integrated electronic customs capability.

Tax policy research projects to be undertaken or completed in 2012/13 include: reforms to the primary, secondary and tertiary rebates; taxation of financial instruments (including derivatives); taxation of income from capital - to be reviewed to ensure greater equity and minimise opportunities for tax arbitrage; VAT treatment of public passenger transport and implementation and transport fuel tax.