Understanding your tax obligations: How to check if you owe SARS

While many South Africans anticipate refunds, others may be surprised to find they owe money to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Earlier this year, SARS announced plans to enhance its collection of outstanding tax debts more efficiently and fairly, aiming for nearly R2 trillion in revenue for the 2025/26 financial year.

SARS also announced its intention to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to help achieve the revised revenue target set by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

As the revenue service continues to enhance its tax collection abilities, some taxpayers remain unsure whether they owe SARS money or how to check their tax debt status.

This guide explains how taxpayers can easily find out if they have outstanding tax debt and what options are available to manage it.

How to check if you owe SARS

There are five ways to find out how much tax debt you owe:

• Log on to eFiling and request a statement of account.
• Log on to the SARS MobiApp and request a statement of account.
• Request a balance statement and/or statement of account for Personal Income Tax by sending an SMS to SARS on 47277.  (This service can be accessed with or without data/airtime.)
• SARS USSD Channel by typing, on your mobile device, a string of characters which comprises of an asterisk (*), followed by a few digits and ending with a hashtag (#) and dialling.  Balance (Space) ID number/Passport number/ Asylum Seeker number
• Steps on how to request tax services via the SARS USSD Channel:
  • Step 1: Initiate USSD by dialling *134*7277#
  • Step 2: Select the service you require
  • Step 3: Taxpayer Verification – SARS will request you to complete either your ID/Passport/Asylum Number
  • Step 4: Tax Resolution – Upon successful verification by SARS, a response will be displayed

Legal implications of not paying debt

According to SARS, " it is a criminal offence to submit a return without making the necessary payment in terms of Section 234(2)(d) read with subsection (k) of the Tax Administration Act (TAA)".

"It is a criminal offence for a person to wilfully and without just cause to fail or neglect to withhold and pay to SARS an amount of tax as and when required under a Tax Act as per section 234(2)(k) of the TAA".

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