The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has paid out billions of rand in tax refunds to taxpayers, but some refunds may take longer to reach taxpayers.
IOL previously reported that the Revenue Service's auto-assessment period has come to an end, with the revenue service now allowing provisional and non-provisional taxpayers to submit their income tax returns.
The auto-assessment period, which ran from July 1 to July 12 2026, allowed taxpayers with simpler tax affairs to review assessments prepared by SARS using information received from employers, banks, medical schemes, retirement funds and other third-party data providers.
From July 13 2026, the filing season entered its next phase, allowing non-provisional and provisional taxpayers to submit returns. Non-provisional taxpayers have until October 23 2026, to file, while provisional taxpayers have until January 22 202.
While some taxpayers who were auto-assessed have already received their refunds, the SARS has outlined the factors that could delay refunds from being paid.
SARS explains why some taxpayers may wait longer for refunds
When you submit your tax return, the following may delay your refund from being paid (if a refund is due):
- If your banking details are incorrect.
- When your banking details have been identified for verification, the process can take up to 21 business days from the date all required supporting documents are received. Once the bank details validation process has been completed, the refund should be paid within 72 hours.
- If your Income Tax return is selected for verification, it may take up to 21 business days from the date all required supporting documents are received to conclude a verification, whereafter the refund should be paid within 72 hours.
- Where multiple tax years are submitted and are selected for the audit verification, the verification process will be finalised within 90 business days from the date all required supporting documents were received for all the tax years being verified.
- If your return is selected for audit, it could take up to 90 business days from the date of receipt of all the required supporting documents in a complete and correct manner unless alternative arrangements are communicated, whereafter the refund should be paid within 72 hours.
- If you have outstanding returns the refund will not be paid until all outstanding tax returns have been submitted.
- If you have outstanding debt on your account, the debt equalisation process may be initiated to deduct an amount from your refund and pay towards any outstanding tax debt prior to release of any credit available thereafter.
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