The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has revealed that about R8 billion has already been paid out in tax refunds within just 72 hours
Image: Picasa
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has revealed that about R8 billion has already been paid out in tax refunds within just 72 hours of the opening of the 2026 filing season.
The tax season officially kicked off on July 1 2026, with more than 1.9 million taxpayers already auto-assessed. The revenue service said the early payouts show that its new digital systems are working.
"As at the end of July 1, 2026, more than 1.9 million taxpayers were auto-assessed, with about R8 billion in refunds paid out in 72 hours," SARS said.
"The improvements form part of SARS’s commitment to excellent service and its vision to build a smart, modern SARS with unquestionable integrity. SARS aims to give clarity and certainty, and to make it easy for taxpayers to comply with their obligations."
The revenue service added that the rollout is part of a wider push to modernise tax administration through expanded digital platforms, better data use and automated assessments.
This includes pulling information from employers, banks, medical schemes and retirement funds to pre-fill tax returns and reduce the need for manual input from taxpayers.
“Our goal is to make compliance effortless for honest taxpayers”, Dr Johnstone Makhubu, SARS Commissioner, said.
“Every enhancement introduced this filing season is designed to improve service, reduce complexity, and give taxpayers greater confidence when engaging with SARS. We want taxpayers to spend less time dealing with administration and more time benefiting from our modern digital services.”
The revenue service said that more than six million taxpayers are expected to be auto-assessed this year, as it continues to expand its use of technology to speed up refunds.
“Through innovation, data-driven processes, and digital transformation, SARS is creating a filing experience that is simpler, faster, and more convenient,” Makhubu added.
“The objective is clear: to make it easy for taxpayers to comply while improving service, creating certainty, and fostering trust in the tax system.”
Makhubu also warned taxpayers that they should remain alert to scams during filing season, including phishing messages and fake refund schemes.
He said SARS will never ask for passwords, one-time PINs, banking details or login credentials via email, SMS or phone calls, and urged taxpayers to only use official SARS channels.
“Taxpayers should be cautious of anyone who guarantees a refund or requests sensitive information without proper verification. Protecting personal information remains a shared responsibility between SARS and taxpayers.”
IOL Business