The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has kicked off its Filing Season for the year 2026, unveiling a suite of digital enhancements aimed at streamlining the tax filing process and bolstering security measures for taxpayers. Since the start of this initiative on July 1, 2026, SARS has successfully auto-assessed over 1.9 million taxpayers, disbursing around R8 billion in tax refunds within the initial 72 hours. The agency anticipates that it will issue more than six million auto-assessments throughout this filing period.
Among the new features introduced are more precise auto-assessments, which leverage an expanded range of third-party data. Additionally, taxpayers can now take advantage of improved self-service options via eFiling and the SARS MobiApp. Other security and convenience enhancements include biometric verification, two-factor authentication, AI-driven assistance, the ability to upload documents through WhatsApp, and the digital delivery of tax notices.
SARS has advised those taxpayers who have been selected for auto-assessment to avoid unnecessary trips to service centers. Instead, it encourages them to review their assessments using the agency’s official digital platforms, which are designed to provide a seamless user experience.
In light of the increased digital activity, SARS has also issued a warning to the public to remain vigilant against phishing scams and fraudulent refund schemes. The agency emphasized that it never solicits passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs), or banking details via email, SMS, phone calls, or social media channels.