South Africa’s 2026 tax filing season is officially underway, but many taxpayers are experiencing slow loading times and intermittent access issues on the SARS eFiling and SARS MobiApp platforms.
The disruptions come as thousands of South Africans log in to submit their tax returns, creating a significant surge in traffic. SARS IT teams are actively working to resolve the connectivity issues.
SARS eFiling experiencing high traffic
Taxpayers attempting to access the SARS eFiling platform or MobiApp may encounter slower-than-normal performance while demand remains high.
The issues coincide with the start of the broader Filing Season 2026, as millions of taxpayers begin submitting their annual tax returns.
Important SARS Filing Season 2026 deadlines
Taxpayers should take note of the following key dates:
- Non-provisional taxpayers: Filing opened on 13 July 2026. Returns must be submitted by 23 October 2026.
- Provisional taxpayers and trusts: Returns must be submitted by 22 January 2027.
- Auto-assessments: Taxpayers who received an auto-assessment have until 23 October 2026 to submit a corrected return if they disagree with the assessment.
Around 1.9 million taxpayers auto-assessed
SARS has already completed approximately 1.9 million auto-assessments, with around R8 billion paid out in refunds.
If you received an auto-assessment, it is important to review the information carefully before accepting it.
Check your information before submitting
Tax experts advise taxpayers to verify all pre-populated information on the SARS eFiling platform before accepting an auto-assessment or submitting a return.
This includes checking:
- IRP5 certificates
- Medical aid certificates
- Additional income sources
- Any other pre-populated tax information
Reviewing these details carefully helps reduce the risk of delayed refunds, corrections or penalties later in the process.
Taxpayers who are unable to access the platform immediately are encouraged to try again later while SARS works to restore normal performance.
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