With Tax Season 2026 set to officially launch next week, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued a strong advisory urging all taxpayers across the country to verify that their banking and contact details are accurate and fully up to date before the season commences. Failure to do so could result in delayed refunds, missed correspondence, or vulnerability to scams.
Key Takeaways
- Verify your banking details before 1 July 2026: Ensure your registered bank account details on SARS eFiling or the MobiApp are correct before the season begins, as incorrect details will prevent refunds from being processed successfully.
- Wait for your SMS or email before taking action: SARS will notify auto-assessed taxpayers between 1 and 12 July 2026. Only upon receiving this notification should taxpayers log in to review their assessment and confirm whether a refund is due or an amount is owed.
- Never click links or share banking details via email or SMS: SARS will never request banking details through email or SMS, nor will it direct taxpayers to external websites. All communication should be verified and all actions taken exclusively through SARS eFiling or the official SARS MobiApp.
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Auto-Assessments Begin 1 July 2026
Taxpayers will begin receiving notices of auto-assessments from Wednesday, 1 July 2026, which marks the formal start of the 2026 tax season. The rollout of auto-assessments is scheduled to take place over a two-week period, concluding on 12 July 2026. Following this window, manual filing will be open to taxpayers from 13 July through to 23 October 2026.
Auto-assessment means SARS uses third-party data it already holds, such as information from employers, banks, medical aid schemes, and retirement annuity fund administrators, to compile a tax return on your behalf. You do not need to submit anything if the information is correct.
Over 6 Million Auto-Assessments Expected This Year
SARS Commissioner Johnstone Makhubu confirmed earlier this month that the revenue service anticipates issuing in excess of 6 million auto-assessments during the 2026 season. He further noted that the system is expected to build upon the efficiencies achieved in previous tax years and will continue to process and pay out tax refunds to qualifying taxpayers within 72 hours of an assessment being accepted.
However, for this process to run as smoothly and as stress-free as possible, taxpayers are required to ensure that all of their personal and financial details, including registered banking details, are accurate and current before the season begins.
Tax Season 2026 Key Dates
| Income Taxpayer | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Assessments | 1 July 2026 | 12 July 2026 |
| Individual | 13 July 2026 | 23 October 2026 |
| Provisional | 13 July 2026 | 22 January 2027 |
| Trusts | 13 July 2026 | 22 January 2027 |
What Happens If Banking Details Are Incorrect
SARS has confirmed that where a tax refund is due, it will automatically be paid directly into the taxpayer’s registered bank account. Should those banking details be incorrect at the time the auto-assessment is processed, any refund that is due will not be successfully disbursed, and the taxpayer will be required to contact SARS directly to rectify the matter, which can cause significant delays.
To update your banking details, log into SARS eFiling and navigate to “My Profile,” then “Portfolio,” and select “Bank Account Details.” Alternatively, this can be done via the SARS MobiApp. Note that SARS may require supporting documentation to verify a bank account change as a security measure.
How Taxpayers Are Notified and What to Do Next
Auto-assessed taxpayers will be notified of their assessment by SARS via either SMS or email between 1 and 12 July 2026. The notification will indicate whether a tax refund is due to the taxpayer or whether an amount is owed to SARS.
Upon receiving this notification, taxpayers must log into SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp to review and confirm that all information on the assessment is correct.
- If all the information is correct, no further action is required from the taxpayer.
- If the information is found to be incorrect, the taxpayer must immediately review all the relevant details and submit any missing or amended information as soon as possible.
Taxpayers may also check their auto-assessment status through SARS Online Query System (SOQS), an online portal designed to assist taxpayers in tracking the progress of their assessments without needing to call the SARS contact centre. However, SARS has stressed that taxpayers should wait for their SMS or email notification between 1 and 12 July 2026 before checking their status, in order to confirm that they are in fact being auto-assessed.
Step-By-Step Auto-Assessment Process
- Auto-assessments roll out from 1 July 2026 through to 12 July 2026.
- SARS notifies the taxpayer of an auto-assessment via SMS or email.
- The taxpayer checks their ITA34 Notice of Assessment on SARS eFiling, the MobiApp, or via WhatsApp.
- If the assessment is correct, no further action is needed. If the assessment is incorrect, the taxpayer must immediately review all details and submit missing or corrected information via eFiling or the MobiApp.
- The auto-assessment status can be monitored via the SARS Online Query System (SOQS).
- Tax refunds are expected to be paid within 72 hours, and any tax debt must be settled by the indicated deadline.
- Taxpayers have until 23 October 2026 to request a reduced or additional assessment if required.
The ITA34 is the official Notice of Assessment issued by SARS, summarising your income, deductions, and the tax outcome, whether a refund or a liability. It is important to save a copy for your records each year.
Keeping Details Up to Date: Why It Matters Beyond Refunds
Ensuring that personal and contact details are kept current is not merely beneficial for receiving tax refunds promptly. It also plays a critical role in helping taxpayers avoid penalties and in ensuring they remain compliant with SARS requirements throughout the year.
SARS discontinued the printing and posting of physical letters entirely in 2025 and has since moved wholly to digital correspondence for all taxpayer communication. This means that if a taxpayer’s email address or mobile number is outdated, they risk missing critical notices entirely.
SARS processes tens of millions of digital communications each year. The shift to fully digital correspondence in 2025 was part of the revenue service’s broader modernisation strategy, aimed at reducing costs and improving turnaround times for taxpayer engagements.
SARS generates various categories of letters and notices, including:
- Notices of tax assessments
- Audit notifications and verification requests
- Final demands or payment reminders
- Requests for supporting documentation
- Assessment adjustments or penalty notices
- Dispute or objection outcomes
Missing the deadlines contained within these notices can result in serious consequences. In cases involving enforcement notices, taxpayers could face financial penalties. In other circumstances, missing deadlines could result in a taxpayer being flagged as non-compliant, which may have a negative impact on future filings and interactions with SARS.
Details You Must Keep Current
To reduce these risks and ensure seamless communication with SARS, taxpayers should verify and, where necessary, update the following:
- An active and accessible email address linked to their SARS profile
- An updated mobile number for receiving SMS notifications
- Correct details of the registered representative for companies, trusts, and other entities
- Regular access to a SARS eFiling account or the SARS MobiApp
It is advisable to check your SARS eFiling profile at least once every three months, even outside of tax season. This ensures that any changes to your personal circumstances, such as a new employer, a new bank account, or a change of address, are reflected promptly and do not cause complications during filing season.
Protecting Yourself From Tax Season Scams
Tax season is also a particularly active period for criminals and fraudsters, who increase their activity significantly to take advantage of taxpayers who are expecting communication from SARS. Cybercriminals are well aware of the timelines and the types of notices that SARS sends, which allows them to craft convincing fake communications.
Phishing is one of the most common forms of cybercrime in South Africa during tax season. The term “phishing” refers to fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information, such as banking credentials or personal identity numbers, by disguising the attack as trustworthy communication from a legitimate institution such as SARS.
Phishing scams involving counterfeit SARS notices and spoofed SARS email addresses are extremely prevalent during this period. Many of these fraudulent communications prompt taxpayers to update their banking details or click on links in order to process payments or receive refunds.
What SARS Will and Will Not Do
SARS has been unequivocal in its position on this matter:
- SARS will never request banking details via email or SMS under any circumstances.
- SARS will not send taxpayers to external hyperlinks or other websites, including those belonging to banks or financial institutions.
- All legitimate SARS communication must be confirmed through SARS eFiling or the official SARS MobiApp.
- All payments to SARS must be made through eFiling or the MobiApp only.
If you receive any communication that appears to be from SARS and are uncertain whether it is genuine, do not click on any links. Instead, log directly into your SARS eFiling account by typing the URLwww.sarsefiling.co.zamanually into your browser, or open the official SARS MobiApp to check for any notices. You can also call the SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277 to verify correspondence.
To avoid falling for scams, SARS has advised all taxpayers to resolve any doubts and to double-check their banking and contact details before the season begins. Being proactive before 1 July 2026 is the most effective way to ensure a smooth, safe, and efficient tax season experience.
Conclusion
With Tax Season 2026 just days away, the single most important step any South African taxpayer can take right now is to log into SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp and confirm that all personal, contact, and banking details are accurate and up to date. Whether a refund is anticipated or a tax liability is expected, having correct details on record ensures that the process unfolds without unnecessary delays, missed notices, or the need to contact SARS to resolve avoidable errors. Taxpayers are equally encouraged to remain vigilant against phishing scams and fraudulent communications that intensify during this period, remembering that all legitimate SARS interactions take place exclusively through official channels. A few minutes of preparation before 1 July 2026 could save considerable time, stress, and potential financial setbacks in the weeks ahead.
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