Filing Season 2026 Has Begun – Unlock the Power of Done!
After You Submit Your Return
What Happens if You Owe SARS
Provisional Taxpayers Should Take Note
Filing Season 2026 Has Begun — Unlock the Power of Done!
Auto Assessment notices were issued to selected taxpayers from 1–12 July 2026 to mark the beginning of the 2026 filing season.
Auto Assessment makes filing easier, but taxpayers must still review their information carefully. Make sure you:
- Check your personal information, contacts, and banking details.
- Confirm income against IRP5 and other records.
- Ensure deductions are included.
- Keep supporting documents in case SARS requests them.
If the Auto Assessment is correct, no further action is needed — you are done. SARS will process any refund due and pay within 72 hours when valid.
Note: If you did not receive SARS’s official SMS or email confirming that you were auto-assessed, check your Auto Assessment status on the SARS digital channels: SARS Online Query System or WhatsApp (0800 11 7277).
Taxpayers who were not auto-assessed or do not agree with their Auto Assessment must submit their annual Income Tax Returns (ITR12) via SARS eFiling or SARS MobiApp from 13 July to 23 October 2026. These digital channels are convenient, allowing you to file from anywhere and at any time.
Note: If you disagree with prepopulated third-party data on your return (e.g. for your medical aid or retirement annuity), contact the relevant institution and ask them to correct your information with SARS before you submit your return.
For more information, go to: How does Auto-Assessment work | South African Revenue Service.
After You Submit Your Return
Once your return has been processed, SARS will issue a Notice of Assessment (ITA34). You can also view this notice on the SARS Online Query System, SARS WhatsApp (0800 11 7277), SARS MobiApp, or eFiling.
ITA34 summarises your income, expenses, and deductions, and shows if you are due for a refund or whether you owe SARS.
Note: When the verification section on your IT34A is marked “Yes”, you must provide supporting documents within 21 days to verify that the details and amounts declared to SARS match your original records.
Refunds
A negative amount on your ITA34 means SARS owes you money. The refund is usually made within 72 hours.
Before contacting SARS about a delayed refund, check the refund status on WhatsApp or check if any of the following apply:
- Your banking details need verification. This may take up to 21 business days, and payment should follow within 72 hours once validated.
- Your return has been selected for verification. SARS may take up to 21 business days to finalise the verification, after receiving all required documents.
- Your return has been selected for audit. SARS may take up to 90 business days to finalise the audit, after receiving complete and correct documents.
- You have outstanding returns, incorrect banking details, or tax debt to resolve first.
For more information, go to: Are your SARS details up to date? | South African Revenue Service
Beware of scams
SARS will never request passwords, one-time pins (OTPs), banking PINs, or eFiling login credentials through email, SMS, social media, or telephone. Taxpayers must use only official SARS channels and verify the credentials of any tax practitioner before sharing personal information.
See examples here of the latest SARS scams. If in doubt, please email [email protected].
What Happens if You Owe SARS
If you were not auto-assessed, the payment is due within 30 days of receiving a notice of assessment.
If you were auto-assessed, payment is due 30 days after the closing of filing season (23 October 2026) for non-provisional taxpayers.
It is your legal obligation to pay your tax on time. Alternatively, you can make payment arrangements to settle the debt.
You can make payments with:
- SARS eFiling
- EFT payments
- Bank payments
Note: When paying, use the correct Payment Reference Number (PRN), consisting of your ten-digit tax reference number followed by “T” and eight zeros, for example 0123456789T00000000.
For more information, go to: What if I owe SARS money? | South African Revenue Service.
Provisional Taxpayers Should Take Note
Eligible provisional taxpayers may also receive Auto Assessments. If you disagree with the assessment, you must correct and submit the return by the 22 January 2027 deadline.
If you were not auto-assessed, file your return before 22 January 2027. You can also use SARS digital channels to check your details and stay on track.
This Filing Season, let The Power of Done help you complete your tax matters with confidence.
SARS – at your service.
For more information, go to: Provisional Tax | South African Revenue Service
