How to Check Your SARS Tax Refund Status Online

What your refund status means

SARS does not publish one public list of every possible status word. What it does say is:

• The dashboard shows where your return sits in submission, verification or audit, refund processing, and whether supporting documents are still outstanding

• The ITSA Electronic refund date is the date SARS says the refund should reach your bank account

• If you were auto-assessed and a refund is due, and you agree with the assessment, SARS says the refund is paid into your bank account automatically. You do not have to accept the auto-assessment first. See Filing Season.

If your screen shows a verification or audit, a refund is usually held until that process is finished.

Why your SARS refund may be delayed

SARS aims, in its Service Charter, to pay nine out of every ten taxpayer refunds due within 72 hours, if the refund is more than R100. That is a target, not a promise for every case.

The 72-hour clock starts when the assessment has been completed, and only if:

• The refund is more than R100

• Your banking details are correct

• You have no debt or outstanding returns

• No inspection, verification or audit is required or has been started

SARS lists these delay reasons in What could delay my refund from being paid to me? (updated 20 July 2026):

• Incorrect banking details. If bank details are sent for verification, that can take up to 21 business days from when SARS has all required supporting documents. After that, SARS says the refund should be paid within 72 hours

• Income tax return selected for verification: up to 21 business days from when complete supporting documents are received, then 72 hours for the refund

• Several tax years submitted and selected for audit verification: verification finalised within 90 business days from when complete supporting documents are received for all those years

• Return selected for audit: up to 90 business days from receipt of complete, correct supporting documents, unless SARS tells you otherwise, then 72 hours for the refund

• Outstanding returns: the refund is not paid until those returns are submitted

• Outstanding tax debt: SARS may take money from the refund to pay the debt first, then pay any leftover credit

XTRAfrica has a related explainer: SARS Refund Delayed? 7 Reasons and What to Do.

What to do if your refund has not arrived

Work through the official checks, in this order:

1. Check refund status again on the MobiApp, WhatsApp, USSD, eFiling ITSA, or the Tax Return Status Dashboard.

2. Confirm your banking details. SARS says you can update bank details on the MobiApp under profile or banking details. Wrong bank details are a common delay.

3. If SARS asked for supporting documents, upload them on the MobiApp or SOQS. SARS lists file rules such as a 5 MB limit per file and formats including PDF and JPG.

4. Submit any outstanding returns. SARS will not pay a refund while returns are outstanding.

5. If you still cannot resolve it on a digital channel, SARS says you can book an appointment rather than arriving at a branch without one.

Do not send your eFiling password, OTP, or banking PIN to anyone who contacts you first.

SARS refund safety and scam warning

Refund scams are common. SARS has warned about SMS and email messages that claim you have a refund, or that a refund is under audit, then send you to a fake website.