It's filing season, and once a return is submitted the question is always the same: when does the money land? The honest answer is "usually quickly — but it depends." This guide covers the timelines SARS works to, what pushes a refund out, and how to see exactly where yours is.
The short answer: 72 hours (usually)
If everything is in order, SARS aims to pay a refund within 72 business hours of your assessment being completed. Through the 2026 filing season it has again been paying the bulk of auto-assessment refunds inside that window. But "72 hours" only holds when a specific set of conditions is met — miss one and the timeline changes completely.
The 72-hour target applies only if: the refund is more than R100, your banking details are valid and verified, you have no outstanding returns for previous years, you have no outstanding tax debt, and your return hasn't been flagged for verification or audit. If any one of these isn't true, your refund takes a different path.
When the 72 hours actually starts
A common misunderstanding is that the clock starts when you submit your return. It doesn't. The 72-hour window starts when your assessment is completed — once SARS has processed the return and issued your assessment (the ITA34). If your return is straightforward and isn't selected for any review, assessment is often near-instant, and the refund follows within three business days.
What can delay your refund
Most delays come down to a handful of triggers. SARS lists the full set of things that can hold up a payment on its refund-delay FAQ; these are the ones that catch people out most often.
Your return is selected for verification
If SARS selects your return for verification, it can take up to 21 business days from the date you submit complete and correct supporting documents. Once verification concludes, the refund is released and the usual 72 hours applies. The key phrase is "complete and correct" — sending partial documents effectively restarts the wait.
Your return is selected for audit
An audit is more involved than a verification. It can take up to 90 business days from the date SARS receives all your supporting documents in full, unless SARS communicates a different arrangement. Audits are less common, but they're the single biggest reason a refund can sit unpaid for months.
Your banking details need verifying
If your banking details are new or have been flagged, SARS verifies them before paying — a process that can take up to 21 business days once your supporting documents are received. Refunds are only ever paid into a verified account, so keeping your banking details current on eFiling is one of the simplest ways to avoid a hold-up.
You have outstanding returns or tax debt
SARS won't release a refund while you have returns outstanding for previous years, and it will offset a refund against any tax you owe. So if you expected a refund and received less — or nothing — an outstanding balance elsewhere is a likely reason.
The refund is R100 or less
Small refunds of R100 or less generally aren't paid out straight away. SARS typically carries the amount forward and offsets it against a future assessment rather than making a payment.
How to check your refund status
You don't have to guess — you can see where your refund is at any point through SARS's own channels:
- On SARS eFiling, open your Statement of Account (ITSA) and your latest assessment (ITA34) to see whether a refund is due and where it stands.
- The SARS MobiApp shows your assessment outcome and refund status on your phone.
- Your notice of assessment and refund status indicate whether a refund is being processed, is under verification, or has been paid.
SARS explains how to read each status on its guide to checking your refund status.
How to get your refund paid faster
- Keep your banking details accurate and verified on eFiling before you file.
- File any outstanding returns from previous years first — one missing return can block a current refund.
- If you're asked for supporting documents, upload them complete and correct the first time; partial submissions reset the clock.
- Make sure your return is accurate — over-claimed deductions are a common verification trigger.
- Respond promptly to any SARS request or letter; the 21- and 90-day windows only start once SARS has everything it needs.
Where this fits in the 2026 filing season
For 2026, SARS issued auto-assessments to most individual taxpayers between 1 and 12 July and opened manual filing on 13 July. Non-provisional taxpayers who need to file have until 23 October 2026, while provisional taxpayers have until 22 January 2027. You can confirm the current dates and your own filing obligation on the SARS Filing Season page. If you were auto-assessed and a refund was due, SARS pays it automatically — usually within the same 72-hour window.
Keeping your records refund-ready
Most refund delays trace back to something avoidable: a return that doesn't match SARS's third-party data, missing supporting documents, or figures that don't reconcile. Whether you run a business or file as an individual with side income, keeping clean, reconciled records through the year means that when a verification request lands, you can answer it in minutes rather than scrambling. That's exactly what Bluubin is built for — accounting and payroll that keep your numbers SARS-ready all year.
This guide is general information to help you get oriented — it isn't formal tax or legal advice. Thresholds, rates and deadlines change, so confirm the current figures on the SARS website or with your accountant before you act.