South African tax year 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027
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SARS tax refund calculator

Enter the figures from your IRP5 to see whether SARS will pay you a refund or you will owe money. Medical aid, retirement annuities, out-of-pocket medical costs and a travel logbook are the usual reasons for a refund.

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Deductions and medical aid

This is an estimate of an ITR12 assessment using the SARS tables. eFiling's figure can differ if your IRP5 has codes this calculator doesn't cover.

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Why you might get a tax refund

Your employer deducts PAYE every month as if your salary is your only income and you have no deductions. SARS only sees the full picture when you file your ITR12. You get money back when:

  • You paid into a retirement annuity privately (not through payroll).
  • You had medical expenses your scheme didn't pay, or you are 65+ or have a disability.
  • You get a travel allowance and kept a logbook of business kilometres.
  • You started or stopped working during the year, so PAYE was worked out on a full-year salary.
  • You earned a bonus in a month that pushed PAYE up more than your annual tax needs.

Where to find the numbers

All of these are on your IRP5/IT3(a), which your employer must give you and which also shows on eFiling: 3601 salary, 3605/3606 bonus and commission, 3701 travel allowance, 4102 PAYE, 4474/4005 medical aid contributions and 4001/4003/4006 retirement fund contributions.

How long does a SARS refund take?

Most refunds are paid within 72 hours of the assessment if your banking details are verified. If SARS selects you for verification, you'll need to upload supporting documents and it can take 21 business days or longer after you submit them.

2026 filing season dates

Auto-assessments ran from 1 to 12 July 2026. Non-provisional taxpayers file from 13 July to 23 October 2026, provisional taxpayers by 22 January 2027. See all tax deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a refund if I only earn a salary?

Yes, if you have deductions your employer didn't account for: private RA contributions, medical expenses, a travel logbook, or if you didn't work the full year.

I got an auto-assessment. Can I still claim?

Yes. If the auto-assessment is missing deductions (an RA certificate or medical expenses), file a return on eFiling within 40 business days to correct it.

Is a refund taxable?

No. A refund is your own tax being paid back, not income.

Why does SARS say I owe money?

Usually because you had two employers at once, other income (freelance, rental, interest above the exemption) or a travel allowance without enough business kilometres.

Last updated 2026-10-10. Sources: SARS rates of tax for individuals, medical tax credit rates, interest exemption, capital gains tax and the rate-per-kilometre schedule on sars.gov.za.