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Millions of South Africans will be auto-assessed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) this year, with the tax authority expecting more than six million taxpayers to benefit from faster assessments and quicker refunds. According to SARS, the number of auto-assessed taxpayers has already exceeded one million, with refunds paid out in record time.
SARS says it has already paid out approximately R8 billion in refunds to taxpayers whose assessments required no further verification. The tax authority expects this number to increase significantly as more taxpayers are auto-assessed.
The expansion of SARS' Auto Assessment programme has been a major driver of this growth. Instead of requiring taxpayers to manually complete and submit a return, SARS gathers information directly from employers, banks, retirement funds, medical schemes, and other third-party institutions.
Using this data, the revenue service pre-populates tax returns and calculates whether a taxpayer is due a refund or owes additional tax. This means that many South Africans may not need to file a traditional return at all, provided the information supplied is complete and accurate.
To support the filing season, SARS has introduced several new digital enhancements designed to simplify interactions with the tax authority. Among the most notable updates are: More accurate Auto Assessments using expanded data from third-party institutions. Enhanced digital self-service through eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, and the SARS Online Query System. Expanded WhatsApp functionality, allowing taxpayers to upload supporting documents and receive Notices of Assessment and Statements of Account. Improved security, including biometric verification, two-factor authentication, and device-level security measures.
Greater use of artificial intelligence through the Lwazi AI virtual assistant, which can assist taxpayers with queries and navigation.
One of the biggest benefits of the Auto Assessment programme has been the speed at which refunds are processed. SARS said approximately R8 billion in refunds had already been paid within 72 hours to taxpayers whose assessments required no further verification. While not every taxpayer will receive a refund this quickly, the automation of the assessment process has significantly shortened waiting times for many individuals whose tax affairs are straightforward.
The revenue collector said these efficiencies form part of its broader vision of becoming a “smart, modern SARS” that makes tax compliance easier for honest taxpayers. “Our goal is to make compliance effortless for honest taxpayers,” said SARS Commissioner Johnstone Makhubu. “Every enhancement introduced this Filing Season is designed to improve service, reduce complexity, and give taxpayers greater confidence when engaging with SARS.”
Watch out for tax scams While SARS has strengthened its digital platforms and security systems, the tax authority is also warning taxpayers to remain alert to fraudsters. Scammers often become more active during filing season, sending fake emails, SMSes, or WhatsApp messages claiming taxpayers are due refunds or requesting sensitive personal information.
SARS stressed that taxpayers should never trust anyone who guarantees a tax refund or asks for confidential information without proper verification. The introduction of stronger authentication measures, including biometric verification and two-factor authentication, is intended to help protect taxpayer information against increasingly sophisticated cybercrime.
SARS said taxpayers selected for Auto Assessment between 1 and 12 July should avoid visiting service centres unless instructed to do so. Instead, they should wait for official communication from SARS and review their assessments using eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, or other authorised digital platforms.
The expansion of SARS’ Auto Assessment programme has been a major driver of this growth. Instead of requiring taxpayers to manually complete and submit a return, SARS gathers information directly from employers, banks, retirement funds, medical schemes, and other third-party institutions.
Using this data, the revenue service pre-populates tax returns and calculates whether a taxpayer is due a refund or owes additional tax. This means that many South Africans may not need to file a traditional return at all, provided the information supplied is complete and accurate.
The introduction of stronger authentication measures, including biometric verification and two-factor authentication, is intended to help protect taxpayer information against increasingly sophisticated cybercrime.
“Our goal is to make compliance effortless for honest taxpayers,” said SARS Commissioner Johnstone Makhubu. “Every enhancement introduced this Filing Season is designed to improve service, reduce complexity, and give taxpayers greater confidence when engaging with SARS.”
SARS said taxpayers selected for Auto Assessment between 1 and 12 July should avoid visiting service centres unless instructed to do so. Instead, they should wait for official communication from SARS and review their assessments using eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, or other authorised digital platforms.
To support the filing season, SARS has introduced several new digital enhancements designed to simplify interactions with the tax authority. Among the most notable updates are: More accurate Auto Assessments using expanded data from third-party institutions. Enhanced digital self-service through eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, and the SARS Online Query System. Expanded WhatsApp functionality, allowing taxpayers to upload supporting documents and receive Notices of Assessment and Statements of Account. Improved security, including biometric verification, two-factor authentication, and device-level security measures.
Greater use of artificial intelligence through the Lwazi AI virtual assistant, which can assist taxpayers with queries and navigation.
One of the biggest benefits of the Auto Assessment programme has been the speed at which refunds are processed. SARS said approximately R8 billion in refunds had already been paid within 72 hours to taxpayers whose assessments required no further verification.
SARS is warning taxpayers to remain alert to fraudsters this filing season. Scammers often become more active during filing season, sending fake emails, SMSes, or WhatsApp messages claiming taxpayers are due refunds or requesting sensitive personal information.
SARS stressed that taxpayers should never trust anyone who guarantees a tax refund or asks for confidential information without proper verification. The introduction of stronger authentication measures, including biometric verification and two-factor authentication, is intended to help protect taxpayer information against increasingly sophisticated cybercrime.