Job Title
Senior Tax Attorney (Tax Disputes & Tax Debt)
Employment Type
Full Time
Experience
1 to 5 years
Salary
Negotiable
Job Published
28 April 2026
Job Reference No.
1318111896

Job Description

We are looking for a senior tax attorney who:
Thinks clearly under pressure and does not escalate unnecessarily
Is technically strong and comfortable standing behind their work
Can manage complex, high-value and high-risk SARS matters end to end
Understands that tax disputes are both legal and strategic is comfortable mentoring juniors while still carrying their own load
Wants to build something long-term, not simply “hold a senior title”

If you expect heavy structure, rigid hierarchies, or minimal responsibility, you will not enjoy this environment.

  • We operate in a high-performance, delivery-driven environment.
  • Structures are actively being built and refined.
  • Senior team members are expected to contribute to both technical outcomes and process maturity.
  • We are actively building a diverse tax legal team and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who meet the requirements.

The Role

  • You will join the firm as a Senior Tax Attorney within the tax legal team, taking responsibility for the management, strategy and execution of tax dispute and tax debt matters.

You will:

  • Run complex SARS disputes and tax debt matters independently
  • Act as a technical and strategic resource within the team
  • Supervise and guide junior attorneys on active matters
  • Engage directly with SARS, clients, counsel and executives
  • Contribute to the development of internal systems, standards and templates
  • This role has clear progression into leadership, depending on performance and appetite.

Key Responsibilities

SARS Disputes & Litigation (Core Function)

  • Lead disputes across tax types (Income Tax, VAT, PAYE, penalties, understatement penalties)
  • Draft and review:
  • Requests for reasons
  • Objections and appeals
  • ADR requests and settlement proposals
  • Legal submissions and representations
  • Strategise dispute positioning, evidence and escalation risk
  • Prepare and manage dispute chronologies, bundles and legal arguments
  • Brief and liaise with counsel where matters escalate to formal litigation

Tax Debt Management & SARS Engagement

Lead:

  • Suspension of payment applications
  • Deferred payment arrangements
  • Compromise / write-off applications
  • Draft high-quality representations for remission of penalties and interest
  • Engage with SARS collections and legal divisions strategically, not reactively
  • Manage prescription risk, payment exposure and enforcement timelines

Technical Oversight & Research

  • Interpret and apply the Tax Administration Act, Income Tax Act and VAT Act in live matters
  • Review and refine junior attorneys’ research and drafting
  • Draft internal opinions and technical guidance notes
  • Stay current on case law, SARS interpretation notes and administrative developments

Team Leadership & Quality Control

  • Supervise junior attorneys on disputes and tax debt files
  • Review key documents before submission to SARS or clients
  • Ensure consistency of approach, tone and technical accuracy
  • Contribute to the development of templates, checklists and internal processes

Client and Internal Stakeholder Management

  • Act as the primary legal contact on allocated matters
  • Participate in and lead client calls and meetings
  • Communicate risks, strategy and progress clearly and commercially
  • Escalate issues appropriately, with solutions proposed

 

Skills

Industries