South African Revenue Service Announces Scheduled Maintenance
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that it will conduct scheduled maintenance on its digital platforms this weekend as part of ongoing efforts to modernize its technology infrastructure and improve online services. This maintenance forms part of SARS's strategy to ensure its digital systems remain secure, reliable, and capable of delivering streamlined services to taxpayers and traders. The planned maintenance will take place during the following periods: Saturday, 6 June, from 20:00 until 01:00 on Sunday, 7 June 2026 and Sunday, 7 June, from 09:00 until 13:00.
During these maintenance windows, users may experience intermittent disruptions when accessing SARS eFiling, tax services, and customs digital platforms. SARS has also warned that responses to transactions submitted during the maintenance period, including Customs Response (CUSRES) messages, may be delayed.
To minimize disruptions, the revenue service has urged traders and stakeholders to submit all Goods Declarations (bills of entry) and Road Manifest documentation, particularly priority consignments, before 19:00 on Saturday, 6 June. SARS said the upgrades are aimed at supporting its vision of becoming a smart, modern revenue authority with technology systems that are trusted, secure, and accessible, while making it easier for taxpayers and traders to meet their compliance obligations.
SARS advises users to plan accordingly and complete any urgent transactions before the maintenance windows begin. SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter said in a statement, "Our vision is to become a smart, modern revenue authority, and our digital systems play a critical role in enabling this vision." Kieswetter was appointed as the commissioner in 2019 and has been instrumental in implementing various reforms at SARS.
SARS has also introduced several measures to improve online services, including a mobile app for taxpayers and traders. The app allows users to access various SARS services, including eFiling and customs clearance. The mobile app is one example of SARS's efforts to modernize its services and make it easier for taxpayers and traders to comply with tax requirements.
In 2020, SARS reported a significant increase in the number of taxpayers using the eFiling platform, with over 1.5 million taxpayers filing their tax returns online. This is a direct result of SARS's efforts to improve online services and make it easier for taxpayers to comply with tax requirements.
SARS has also launched an initiative to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comply with tax requirements. The initiative, called the SARS SME Hub, provides a range of resources and support to help SMEs understand their tax obligations and meet their compliance requirements. According to SARS, the initiative has been successful in helping SMEs to comply with tax requirements and improve their tax compliance rates.
The planned maintenance may cause some inconvenience to taxpayers and traders, but SARS has assured users that the upgrades are essential to improve online services and ensure the security and reliability of digital systems. Kieswetter said in a statement, "We understand that the maintenance may cause some disruptions, but we are confident that the upgrades will improve our online services and make it easier for taxpayers and traders to meet their compliance obligations."