Tax and legal reasoning
Interpretation, SARS engagement, customs and excise issues, administrative appeal thinking, drafting and defensible submissions.
Evidence-led tax & compliance advisory · South Africa
Diesel refund, SARS & compliance advisory for complex matters.
Meridian Compliance & Advisory helps businesses solve difficult SARS, diesel refund, customs, excise, fuel management and operational control problems, especially where law, evidence, systems and practical implementation need to line up.
Serving South African mining, industrial and fuel-intensive businesses.
Tax · Compliance · SARS · Diesel Refund · Operational Strategy
Tax & SARS strategy
Disputes, submissions and audit support.
Diesel refunds
Eligible use, records, systems and claim support.
Operational controls
Fuel systems, reconciliations and implementation.
Evidence discipline
Facts, documents, litres, assets and risk.
Positioning
Advice is only useful when the business can prove the position it takes.
Many compliance failures are not caused by one bad legal answer. They happen because the records, systems, contracts, people and practical process do not support the tax or compliance position being advanced.
Operational reality
Fuel systems, meters, assets, site controls, data capture, reconciliations and the realities of implementation.
Evidence discipline
Connecting source documents, data, litres, activities, assets and business processes into a coherent evidentiary picture.
Services
Advisory support for businesses with complex compliance and operational risk.
Core advisory01
SARS, tax and dispute strategy
Support with SARS engagement, legal argument, evidence preparation, administrative appeals, dispute strategy and structured submissions.
- Audit response support
- Appeal and objection strategy
- Legal and factual submissions
Specialist area02
Diesel refund compliance
Reviewing eligible use, logbooks, source documents, fuel records, site controls and claim support for fuel-intensive and mining operations.
- Eligible-use analysis and record testing
- Audit preparation and claim support
- Practical compliance improvement
Implementation03
Fuel systems and controls
Designing and improving practical controls around dispensing, receiving, meters, assets, reports and reconciliations.
Specialist area04
Customs and excise advisory
Support on customs and excise interpretation, evidence, submissions and dispute preparation.
Learn more about customs & excise advisoryBusiness improvement05
Data analytics & workflow improvement
Compliance-oriented analytics, reporting, exception identification and practical AI adoption for evidence management and decision support.
- Fuel reconciliations and variance reporting
- Exception identification for audit readiness
- Evidence management and workflow improvement
Advisory06
Operational risk reviews
Assessing where process weaknesses, poor data quality, missing evidence or unclear accountability create business risk.
Experience themes
Built for matters where detail matters.
The strongest work usually happens before a dispute becomes a dispute: understanding the facts, closing evidence gaps, and making sure the business can support what it says.
Diesel refund and fuel compliance
Claim support, risk reviews, eligible-use analysis, source document testing and practical compliance improvement.
Diesel refund compliance advisory →SARS and customs/excise disputes
Evidence mapping, dispute strategy, legal drafting, response letters, appeal thinking and preparation for scrutiny.
SARS dispute support → Customs & excise advisory →Mining and industrial operations
Fuel management systems, site-level controls, receiving and dispensing records, meters, asset allocation and reconciliations.
Data analytics and AI-enabled productivity
Compliance reporting, exception identification and practical AI adoption for documents, analysis and internal workflows.
Data analytics advisory →Diesel refund audit response
Structured evidence review, eligible-use mapping and submission strategy ahead of SARS scrutiny, defensible position within weeks, not months.
How we support diesel refund audits →Fuel control system redesign
Closed reconciliation gaps across dispensing, receiving and asset allocation, stronger records and fewer compliance surprises.
Customs and excise dispute preparation
Mapped facts, documents and legal arguments into a coherent submission package ready for administrative appeal.
Customs & excise advisory →Operational control review
Identified where process weaknesses and missing evidence would undermine the tax position, then fixed the system, not just the paperwork.
SARS dispute support →Diesel refund resources: SARS legislation and judgments
Curated links to Schedule 6, SARS policies, forms and court cases published on the SARS website.
Browse resources →SARS objection: evidence checklist for a defensible submission
Deadlines, documents and factual proof before SARS tests the legal argument.
Read the article →Diesel refund audit: 7 evidence gaps that weaken your position
Common record failures that undermine claims before SARS tests the legal argument.
Read the article →SARS new diesel refund platform: what to prepare in 2026
Registration, logbooks and record changes as SARS decouples diesel refunds from VAT.
Read the article →Principal
Led by Gareth Mauck
Meridian Compliance & Advisory is led by Gareth Mauck, who advises South African businesses on evidence-heavy SARS, diesel refund, customs and excise matters, especially where legal position, operational records and practical implementation must align.
The work draws on experience in legal compliance, data and financial analysis, and mining and fuel-sector operations, helping businesses close evidence gaps before audits and disputes become expensive.
- Diesel refund compliance and SARS audit support
- Tax dispute strategy, objections and evidence mapping
- Customs, excise and fuel-system controls
- Mining and industrial fuel-intensive operations
“Rankings follow substance. The businesses that win audits and disputes are the ones that can prove their position.”
Evidence-led advisory for South African compliance matters.Approach
Calm, structured and commercially useful.
Frame the issue
Separate the legal, tax, factual, operational and commercial questions.
Map the evidence
Identify what proves the position, what weakens it and what is missing.
Build the strategy
Develop a defensible, practical plan that can survive scrutiny.
Improve the system
Turn the work into better controls, reports, records and decisions.
Good fit
Who this is for
Mining companies
Fuel-intensive businesses
Industrial operators
Tax teams
Compliance teams
Business owners
Attorneys
Consultants
“The best position is one the business can actually prove.”
Evidence-led compliance, not paper-thin theory.FAQ
Common questions about Meridian advisory
What services does Meridian provide?
Evidence-led advisory on SARS and tax disputes, diesel refund compliance, customs and excise, data analytics and compliance reporting, fuel systems and operational controls, and operational risk reviews for South African businesses.
Who is Meridian a good fit for?
Mining companies, fuel-intensive businesses, industrial operators, tax and compliance teams, business owners, attorneys and consultants dealing with complex, evidence-heavy matters where records and operations must support the position taken.
Does Meridian provide legal representation?
Meridian provides advisory and project-based support, strategy, evidence mapping, drafting and preparation. Legal representation is only provided where expressly agreed in writing.
How do I get started?
Email info@meridianconsulting.co.za or use the enquiry form below. Include the type of matter, your sector, urgency and any key deadlines.
Who helps with diesel refund audits in South Africa?
Meridian provides evidence-led diesel refund compliance support: eligible-use analysis, logbook testing, audit preparation and practical record improvements for mining and fuel-intensive businesses.
What is changing with the SARS diesel refund system in 2026?
SARS is launching a standalone diesel refund platform, separate from VAT, with mandatory registration and stricter logbook requirements. See our guide on the SARS new diesel refund platform for what to prepare.
When should I get SARS dispute support?
As early as possible, ideally at audit or assessment stage. Meridian helps with SARS dispute support, evidence mapping and structured objections before deadlines pass.
Contact
Let’s discuss the problem clearly.
For advisory, project-based or strategic support on tax, compliance and operational matters, get in touch by email or use the form below.
Helpful to include:
- Type of matter (SARS, diesel refund, customs/excise, data analytics, controls)
- Your sector and urgency
- Whether you need advisory, project support or a review
- Any key dates or deadlines