Enter what your employer deducted vs what you actually owe — find out if SARS owes you money.
How it works:Your employer deducts PAYE every month based on an estimate. At year end, SARS calculates your actual tax. If they over-deducted — you get a refund. If under-deducted — you owe the difference.
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Enter your total annual salary (monthly salary × 12). Exclude bonuses for now.
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Find this on your IRP5 (source code 4102) or add up your monthly payslip PAYE deductions.
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Total contributions for the year. Source codes 4001, 4003, 4006 on your IRP5. Max deductible: 27.5% of income or R430,000.
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Amount your employer paid as travel allowance (source code 3701 on IRP5). 80% is taxable unless you keep a logbook.
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SARS uses a fixed rate of R4.84/km for 2026/27. A logbook is required — without one, 80% of your allowance is taxable.
Full Breakdown
Show how this was calculated
How to claim your refund
1Log in to efiling.sars.gov.za or the SARS MobiApp
2Select Returns → Income Tax → ITR12 for the correct tax year
3Complete your return — include medical aid, pension and travel if applicable
4Submit — SARS pays refunds within 72 hours of an accepted return
Estimates only. Based on SARS 2026/27 tables. Actual refund depends on your IRP5 and all income sources. Consult a tax practitioner for exact figures.
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Will SARS pay you back?
Enter your annual salary and PAYE paid above to find out
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Tax season runs July – October 2026 for individual eFilers. Filing early = faster refund. SARS may also send you an auto-assessment SMS — check it before accepting.
Tax Refund FAQs
If your employer deducted more PAYE than your actual tax liability — due to medical aid credits, pension contributions, or a travel allowance — SARS will owe you a refund. File your ITR12 on eFiling and SARS processes refunds within 72 hours of an accepted return.
SARS typically pays refunds within 72 hours of accepting your tax return. Ensure your banking details are correct on eFiling. Complex cases can take up to 3 weeks if SARS requests supporting documents.
Four main deductions increase your refund: pension/RA contributions (up to 27.5% of income), medical aid tax credits (R376/month per person), travel allowance deductions if you use your own vehicle for work, and home office expenses if your employer requires remote work.
Yes. SARS will not automatically pay a refund — you must file your ITR12 return on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp. SARS may send you an auto-assessment SMS in July — if it shows a refund and you accept it, the refund is paid without filing manually.
