The automatic assessment period has ended, and taxpayers who still need to file income tax returns can now use the SARS MobiApp to complete this process.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) previously announced that the automatic assessment period would run from July 1 to July 12, 2026. Taxpayers selected for automatic assessment received notifications to verify pre-filled tax information via the eFiling system or through the SARS MobiApp.
The revenue service confirmed that during the first days of the filing season, approximately 1.9 million taxpayers underwent automatic assessment, with about 8 billion rand in tax refunds paid within 72 hours.
Attention now shifts to taxpayers who were not selected for automatic assessment, or those who wish to amend their assessment. These individuals must file their income tax returns between July 13 and October 23, 2026. They can use either SARS eFiling or SARS MobiApp to complete their returns.
To get started, you must be a registered eFiling user with a valid login and password. The user should open the SARS Mobi app icon on the device, select the 'Login' option, enter credentials, and press 'Login' again. After logging in, you can proceed to create and fill out the tax return by pressing 'Tax Returns', which will open the Form Creation Wizard.
When working on the return, it is important to pay attention to color coding: red indicates incompleteness and the need for information entry, while blue signifies that all required information has been entered. The process involves completing standard questions to create the return, entering all necessary taxpayer data, and updating bank details.
When filling out the employee income tax certificate (IRP5) section, you must match the data with the certificate provided by the employer. If the section is marked in red, you should click 'Refresh' to update the information. You also need to review the pre-filled medical aid information in the deductions section. After this, the user clicks 'Tax Calc' to save and calculate the return, then reviews the result to determine whether they owe SARS money or are due a refund.
The user should only click 'Submit' if they are confident in the accuracy of all data. If they wish to return to work later, simply click 'Save'. After successful submission, you can navigate to the 'View Assessment' section to see the results, and download the full tax assessment in PDF format via 'View ITA34 PDF'. The result will be a negative number if a refund is due from SARS, and a positive number if the taxpayer owes SARS.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has paid out billions in tax refunds since the start of the 2026 tax filing season. However, taxpayers expecting funds can track the status of their refund through the service's digital channels.
Last week, SARS reported that approximately 1.9 million taxpayers underwent automated assessment, with about 8 billion paid out in refunds within 72 hours of the filing season opening. The service expects to conduct automated assessments for roughly six million taxpayers throughout the season. This process is designed to simplify tax filing while allowing taxpayers to verify their data and ensure the accuracy of submitted returns.
Automated assessments are pre-filled tax returns created by SARS using information obtained from third parties, including banks, employers, medical scheme administrators, and pension funds. Although the goal of the process is simplification, the responsibility for verifying the correctness of the information before accepting the assessment remains with the taxpayers.
Although some taxpayers have already received their refunds, others may still be awaiting payment processing. IOL previously reported that not everyone will benefit from the automated assessment system. The service stated that the process only works when the taxpayer's information is complete, consistent, and verified through third-party data sources, such as banks and employers.
The service clarified: 'You will not receive an automated assessment if your personal information is incomplete (you can update your details on eFiling). You will also not be subject to automated assessment if you earn income other than salary and investment income, such as rental income.'
There are several convenient digital channels to check the status of a tax refund. A taxpayer can use SARS WhatsApp by sending 'Hi' or 'Hello' to the number 0800 11 7277. They must then select the 'Refund Status' option, enter their identification number, passport number, or refugee number, provide their tax account number, and submit the request.
The SARS MobiApp mobile platform is also available: one should open the application, tap 'Refund Status' on the main screen, and follow the instructions. Additionally, the SARS USSD service can be used by dialing *134*7277# and selecting option 3, after which the identification number, passport number, or refugee number must be entered.
Residents of South Africa who are receiving automatic assessments from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in the current tax season are being warned against accepting this information without prior verification.
IOL previously reported that SARS paid out R8 billion in tax refunds in just 72 hours after the start of the 2026 tax filing season. According to SARS, by the end of July 1, 2026, over 1.9 million taxpayers had undergone automatic assessment, with approximately R8 billion disbursed in the first three days.
The tax season officially started on July 1, 2026, and already over 1.9 million taxpayers received an automatic assessment at that time. These automatic assessments are generated based on data received from employers, banks, medical scheme administrators, and pension funds. SARS uses this information to pre-fill relevant sections of the tax return.
Although the automated process is intended to simplify filing, tax experts emphasize that the responsibility for the accuracy of the data used by SARS remains with the taxpayers. The financial company Allan Gray recommended carefully reviewing the automatic assessments before approving them.
Likhle Humalo, a tax expert at Allan Gray, warned that if errors are found in the pre-filled information, it may be necessary to contact the relevant third-party provider (such as an employer or fund administrator) to correct the information at the source. She noted that this could delay the final processing of the return, so it is recommended to check the preliminary data as early as possible.
Humalo added that while automatic assessments are designed to simplify the process, they do not relieve the taxpayer of the obligation to ensure the completeness and accuracy of their return. She concluded that a quick review can determine the difference between a smooth filing process and costly subsequent adjustments, stressing: 'Convenience does not always mean accuracy: it remains your duty to thoroughly check your assessment before accepting it.'
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially launched the 2026 tax filing season. Within the first 72 hours of the start, repayments totaling approximately 8 billion rand were disbursed, and over 1.9 million taxpayers underwent automatic assessment.
The tax season commenced on July 1st, coinciding with the start of the automatic assessment period, which will run until July 12th. During this time, eligible taxpayers will receive their assessments automatically. Those not included in the automatic assessment list can begin filing income tax returns from July 13th.
According to the revenue service, by the end of July 1st, 2026, automatic determination had been conducted for more than 1.9 million filers, with repayments amounting to approximately 8 billion rand paid out in the first three days. SARS plans to conduct automatic assessments for over six million taxpayers this year, continuing to expand the use of digital services and automated tax administration.
The revenue service emphasized that the 2026 season is part of efforts to modernize tax administration through digital transformation, expanded data usage, and automated checks, aiming to reduce the administrative burden on citizens. SARS Commissioner, Dr. Johnston Makubu, stated that the goal is to make tax compliance easy for honest taxpayers.
He added that every improvement implemented this season is aimed at enhancing service quality, reducing complexity, and strengthening taxpayer trust in interactions with SARS. The objective is to allow taxpayers to spend less time on administrative matters and more time utilizing modern digital services.
Many South Africans are already receiving automatic assessments as the season begins. The service urges taxpayers to carefully review the received notifications before making any decisions. Automatic assessments are generated based on information collected by employers, banks, medical schemes, and pension fund administrators, which is used for pre-filling tax returns.
If the assessment is correct, no further action is required, and any due refund will be automatically transferred to the taxpayer's registered bank account.
According to SARS, several key improvements have been introduced for the 2026 season. These include more accurate automatic assessments based on expanded sources of third-party data. Digital self-service capabilities have also been extended through eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, and the SARS Online Query System.
Profile security has been strengthened through biometric authentication, two-factor authentication, and device-level security controls. Technical support has been expanded via the virtual assistant Lwazi AI, and the option to upload supporting documents via WhatsApp has become available. Data integration for taxpayers has been improved, and pre-filling of returns has been enhanced. SARS has also ensured the necessary capacity to handle the increased volume of interaction across various channels.
The revenue service also strongly advised South Africans to remain cautious regarding fraud. Scammers frequently target taxpayers during the filing season, using fake SMS messages, emails, and refund schemes to obtain personal or banking information. Makubu warned that taxpayers must be vigilant against anyone guaranteeing refunds or requesting confidential information without proper verification. He stressed that protecting personal data remains a shared responsibility between SARS and taxpayers.
