Still waiting for your SARS refund? 4 reasons it could be stuck

SARS paid R33 billion in personal tax refunds to 3,143,675 taxpayers between 1 July and 19 October 2026, and 85% of those refunds landed within 72 hours, the revenue service said on 22 October (SARS). If you were assessed for a refund and the money still hasn't arrived, SARS's own rules point to a handful of reasons.

When should a SARS refund be paid?

SARS says the 72 hours start once your assessment is done, but only if all of these apply (SARS):

• the refund is more than R100
• your banking details are correct
• you have no tax debt or outstanding returns
• no inspection, verification or audit has been started

If any one of those fails, the 72-hour clock doesn't apply.

Why is my SARS refund delayed?

Your bank details are wrong or flagged. SARS tries to verify bank details within 24 hours. If that fails, it opens a case and asks for supporting documents, and that can take up to 21 business days after it has everything it asked for (SARS). The refund should follow within 72 hours once the check is done (SARS).

Your return was picked for verification. SARS sends a letter listing the documents it wants. It aims to finish within 21 business days of receiving them, and pays the refund only after that (SARS). If you ignore the letter, SARS can issue a revised assessment based on the information it already has.

Your return went to audit. An audit can take up to 90 business days from when SARS gets complete and correct documents. The same 90 days applies when several tax years are verified together (SARS).

You have outstanding returns or tax debt. SARS won't pay the refund until every outstanding return is in. If you owe tax, it can deduct that debt from the refund first and pay you what's left (SARS).

What can I do to speed it up?

• Check eFiling or the SARS MobiApp for letters asking for documents, and upload them by the date given (SARS). SARS also now sends assessment notices and accepts documents on WhatsApp (SARS).
• Make sure your bank details are current. You can update them on eFiling (RAV01 form), in the MobiApp under Profile Management, or at a branch (SARS).
• File any older returns you still owe, since one missing year holds back the whole refund (SARS).

The 2026 filing season for non-provisional taxpayers closes on Friday, 23 October 2026. Late returns can attract a penalty of R250 to R16,000 a month, depending on taxable income (SARS).

How much has SARS paid out this year?

By 30 September 2026, SARS had collected R1.231 trillion in gross revenue and paid R239.1 billion in refunds of all tax types, leaving R992.2 billion in net revenue. That is R15.5 billion ahead of the February Budget estimate (SARS).