Do you owe SARS? Easy ways to check your tax debt in 2025
Tax With millions of South Africans auto-assessed by Sars in 2024, financial experts warn of potential errors that could cost taxpayers. Discover how to ensure your auto-assessment is accurate and avoid costly mistakes.
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Tax season is still in full swing, and while many South Africans are expecting refunds, others may be shocked to discover they owe the South African Revenue Service (SARS) some money.
Earlier this year, the revenue service confirmed that it will be ramping up its efforts to collect outstanding tax debts more efficiently and fairly. With nearly R2 trillion expected 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".
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za