SARS is committed to serving South Africans

By the end of March 2025, SARS had collected a record gross amount of R2.303 trillion, representing year-on-year growth of 6.9% against estimated nominal GDP growth of 5.4% (2024/2025). In this difficult economic environment, SARS paid refunds of R447.7 billion to taxpayers, the highest-ever amount in refunds (versus R413.9 billion in the prior year), representing growth of 8.2%. This brings the collected net amount to R1.855 trillion, which is almost R8.8 billion higher than the revised estimate, and R114.0 billion more than last year’s R1.741 trillion.

Trade Statistics for February 2025

South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R20.9 billion in February 2025. This surplus was attributable to exports of R164.0 billion and imports of R143.1 billion.

Trade Statistics for January 2025

South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance deficit of R16.4 billion in January 2025. This deficit was attributable to exports of R149.0 billion and imports of R165.4 billion.

Media statement on Project Laduma

Tshwane, 7 February 2025 – On the 9 May 2024, the Pietermaritzburg division of the KZN High Court granted a preservation order to SARS in respect of the assets of the Shandi Trust. In November 2024, a separate preservation order was granted by the Durban High Court in favour of SARS over the assets of […]

More than 2 million taxpayers withdraw from their savings pot

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) wishes to announce that to date it has received 2,664 279 applications for tax directives for withdrawals from the Savings Withdrawal Benefit of the two-pot system. Of the total number of applications, 2 403 379 tax directives were approved for funds to be released. The remainder were declined for a variety of reasons, including incorrect Identity Numbers, incorrect tax numbers, amongst others.

Trade Statistics for December 2024

South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R15.5 billion in December 2024. This surplus was attributable to exports of R160.0 billion and imports of R144.6 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).

Preliminary figures on 2024-2025 Filing Season

he South African Revenue Service (SARS) thanks provisional taxpayers and Trusts for filing their annual Income Tax Returns for the 2024 tax year.

The filing season for provisional taxpayers and trusts closed on the 20th January 2025. There overall picture of provisional, trusts and non-provisional taxpayers is the following.