Pretoria, 6 July 2017 – SARS would like to thank all those taxpayers who have already submitted their Income Tax Returns. As of 08:00 this morning 341 356 taxpayers have submitted their returns. The majority, 243 388 were submitted using eFiling, while 97 968 have submitted at a SARS branch.

It is important for taxpayers expecting a refund to note that SARS has this year implemented additional risk processes to ensure both the legitimacy and accuracy of the refunds paid. SARS has an obligation to both taxpayers as well as to the fiscus to ensure that fraudulent and invalid claims are stopped.

We are aware that taxpayers have an expectation that once they submit a return which results in a refund that this would be paid to them shortly thereafter. It must though be noted that such refunds can only be paid once all SARS processes have been concluded. SARS is committed to ensure that legitimate refunds are paid as soon as possible.