Collections of personal income tax, VAT and corporate taxes have increased every year for the last three financial years, say South African Revenue Services (Sars) commissioner Pravin Gordhan said on yesterday.

Addressing Parliament's ad hoc finance portfolio and select committees, Gordhan said there had been a 4% growth in the collection of personal income tax.

There was a 14% increase in value added tax (VAT) collections and a 7% increase in collections of corporate income tax.

He added that in the last financial year tax offenders had collectively been sentenced to 84 years of imprisonment.

Sars had undertaken 6 258 criminal investigations which had led to 1 558 convictions. Fines amounting to R4,5-million were also paid.

He said that altogether R39,5-million had been repaid.

Suspended imprisonment had amounted to 107 years collectively. - Sapa