Judgment No. CCZ 7/2014 9
Const. Application No. 41/2014
granted against past invasions of a right nor can there be an interdict against lawful conduct.
Airfield investments (Pvt) Ltd v Minister of Lands& Ors 2004(1) ZLR 511(S); Stauffer
Chemicals v Monsato Company 1988(1) SA 895; Rudolph & Anor v Commissioner for Inland
Revenue & Ors 1994(3) SA 771.
The applicant accepted in the founding affidavit that the respondent acted
lawfully in enforcing the obligation to pay the tax notwithstanding the noting by it of the appeal
to the Fiscal Appeal Court against the correctness of the assessment. It did not allege any
unlawful conduct on the part of the respondent which would justify the granting of an interdict.
It also accepted that at the time the respondent put in place measures to collect the tax, the
provisions of ss 36 of the VAT Act and 69(1) of the Income Tax Act were binding on it. That
means that the applicant had no prima facie right in existence at the time not to pay the amount
of tax it was liable to pay to the fiscus. Sections 36 of the VAT Act and 69(1) of the Income Tax
Act protect a duty, not a right.
The provisions are designed to remove any doubt in the mind of the taxpayer, as
to whether an appeal to the Fiscal Appeal Court, or a decision of a court, would have the effect
of suspending the obligation to pay the tax assessed to be due and payable.
Sections 36 of the VAT Act and 69(1) of the Income Tax Act provide that the
Commissioner may, by a directive in appropriate circumstances give the appeal to the Fiscal
Appeal Court the effect they prohibit on the obligation to pay the assessed tax.
The
Commissioner may, in the exercise of discretion, and upon consideration of the facts presented to