SARS Pays Out R10.6bn in 72 Hours Thanks to AI-Powered Auto Assessments

SARS Pays Out R10.6bn in 72 Hours Thanks to AI-Powered Auto Assessments
Within only three days, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) processed and paid out R10.6 billion in tax refunds, signalling a major shift in how technology is transforming government services. It’s the fastest refund turnaround SARS has seen to date, all thanks to its AI-powered auto assessment system.

This year, 5.8 million taxpayers were auto-assessed during the short window between 7 and 20 July. That’s a notable jump from 2024, when 5 million people were processed through the same system. The process, according to SARS, is driven by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time data from third-party sources like employers and financial institutions. Tax Commissioner Edward Kieswetter says the goal is simple: to make tax compliance so effortless that “tax just happens.” He added, “Ultimately, our aim is to make the best service to be no service at all.” Kieswetter urged taxpayers to make use of SARS’s digital platforms during the filing season, which kicked off on 21 July.

The AI behind SARS’s system didn’t just speed things up, it got it right, too. Of all the auto assessments issued, 99.6% were accepted by taxpayers without any need for changes. And for those who did want to adjust their returns, SARS made it easy to do so through eFiling or the MobiApp. The digital uptake has been impressive. According to SARS, more than 2.1 million people used online platforms to interact with the taxman. Around 1.1 million queries were sorted through the SARS Online Query System, 707,000 were handled via WhatsApp, and another 290,000 were answered by the AI chatbot, Lwazi. Since early July, over 10.2 million people have logged into SARS’s digital systems.

Refunds over R100 are paid directly into verified bank accounts, no paperwork, no waiting rooms. SARS says these instant payments are still subject to strict checks to stop fraud and dodgy claims. AI also plays a big role here, flagging suspicious activity before money is sent out. As the auto assessment phase wraps up, the focus now shifts to the regular tax filing season. If you weren’t auto-assessed or need to tweak your info, you’ve got until 20 October to file online. Provisional taxpayers have a bit longer, until 19 January next year.

One last warning from SARS: don’t fall for phishing scams. They’ll never ask you to click a link or share login details by email or SMS. If in doubt, always go straight to the official SARS website.

Please share your thoughts contact Nkosinathi via email: Journalist-Nkosinathi@thepostnews.net

About the Author

Nkosinathi Mkhize

Author

View All Posts