SARS VAT Refund Delays – What You Need to Know
SARS is currently experiencing a system issue affecting the processing of VAT refunds—and many businesses may be unaware of the consequences.
We’ve seen a growing number of cases where SARS has initiated verifications or audits without issuing any notification via eFiling or email. Critically:
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No verification letters are being generated,
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No upload links are appearing on eFiling,
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Practitioners and taxpayers remain completely unaware that action is required.
As a result, VAT refunds are being silently withheld.
Why This Matters:
Even if you are still within the standard 21-day SARS refund period, your refund may already be flagged for verification or audit—without your knowledge.
Failure to respond to these hidden verification requests may lead to SARS:
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Disallowing all input VAT claims,
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Issuing immediate VAT assessments,
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Imposing penalties and interest,
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Initiating third-party appointments to collect funds directly from your bank.
What You Should Do:
We strongly advise all VAT vendors to:
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Manually check the refund status on eFiling or follow up directly with SARS,
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Do not rely on email or SMS notifications alone,
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Seek professional support to avoid missed verifications or disallowed claims.
This issue may have serious cash flow implications for your business if not addressed proactively.
Need Help?
If you are unsure whether your VAT refund is affected, or if you’re experiencing an unexplained delay, reach out to our tax team for guidance.
📩 Contact us: tax@accounting4.co.za
Let us help you protect your refund—and your bottom line.
