when will sars pay my refund 2026
SARS refunds in 2026 are often paid within 72 hours of a completed assessment if your details are in order and your return is not selected for verification or audit. If SARS needs to check your banking details, verify your return, or you have outstanding returns/debt, payment can take longer.
What that means now
- The 2026 filing season started on 1 July 2026, and auto-assessments run until 12 July 2026.
- SARS says eligible refunds can be issued within 72 hours once the assessment is final and everything matches.
- SARS has already paid out about R8 billion in refunds within the first 72 hours of the season opening.
Common delays
- Banking details verification can take up to 21 business days after SARS gets the required documents.
- Return verification can also take up to 21 business days after documents are received.
- Audits can take up to 90 business days after SARS receives all required documents.
- Refunds are also delayed if you have outstanding returns, incorrect banking details, or tax debt that SARS offsets against the refund.
How to check
SARS says the refund amount and payment date can be viewed on eFiling in the Income Tax Statement of Account, and the payment date shown there is the date the refund should be paid into your bank account.
Practical answer
If your return was auto-assessed and accepted correctly, you may see the refund in about 72 hours. If you filed manually or SARS flags anything for verification, expect a longer wait.
| Situation | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Auto- assessment, no issues | About 72 hours |
| Bank details or return verification | Up to 21 business days |
| Audit | Up to 90 business days |
| Outstanding returns or tax debt | Refund held or offset until resolved |
Bottom line
For most straightforward cases, SARS pays the refund quickly in 2026, but the exact timing depends on whether your assessment is clean and whether SARS needs extra checks.