By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African Revenue Service (SARS) will officially begin the 2026 tax filing season on 1 July, with millions of taxpayers expected to receive automatic assessments before the broader filing period opens.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu said the filing season will once again begin with an Auto Assessment phase aimed at taxpayers whose tax affairs are straightforward and whose information has already been submitted by employers and other third-party institutions.
The Auto Assessment period will take place from 1 July to 12 July 2026.
During this time, SARS expects to issue around six million automatic assessments using information received from employers, financial institutions and other data providers.
Taxpayers selected for Auto Assessment will receive a notification from SARS through SMS, email or other official communication channels.
According to Makhubu, refunds due to qualifying taxpayers will be paid within 72 hours, provided banking details and tax records are correct and up to date. SARS has urged taxpayers not to visit Service Centres during the Auto Assessment period, stressing that the process is designed to happen automatically for eligible individuals.
Makhubu said SARS has implemented robust systems and capacity upgrades to handle high volumes, with a virtual “waiting room” in place on eFiling and the SARS MobiApp to manage volume surges.
If too many users log in simultaneously, some will be held briefly in a secure queue to keep systems running smoothly.
SARS’s Contact Centres and Service Centres are also fully staffed to provide support when needed, with normal weekday hours (08:00–16:00).
There is no need for taxpayers to take a day off work or take a taxi to visit a SARS Service Centre. Taxpayers are encouraged to use enhanced digital channels first before considering a visit to a SARS Service Centre,” he said.
Where taxpayers need to visit a Service Centre, they can book an appointment online via the SARS website; by calling 0800 00 7277 and selecting option 0; or by sending an SMS to 47277 with “Booking” followed by an ID or passport number.
Makhubu reminded South Africans that tax compliance remains both a legal responsibility and an important contribution to funding public services and infrastructure.