The SARS annual report for 2025/26 shows net tax collections reached R2.01 trillion, while overdue tax debt climbed to R658.4 billion. The figures underline both the revenue service’s collection gains and the scale of unpaid tax still on its books.

SARS announced the report’s availability on Friday, 16 October 2026. Its results cover the financial year ended 31 March 2026, rather than collections made since April.

SARS annual report: the key figures

Net collections totalled R2,010.3 billion, up 8.4% from R1,855.3 billion a year earlier. SARS exceeded the revised revenue estimate by R3.4 billion, or about 0.2%.

The distinction between gross and net revenue matters: SARS received R2,468.2 billion before paying R457.9 billion in refunds. Those refunds are deducted to arrive at the net collection total.

Overdue tax debt rises

At year-end, SARS reported overdue debt of R658.4 billion, compared with R512.4 billion a year earlier. Another R46.6 billion had been assessed but was not yet due for payment.

Together, these made up approximately R705 billion in gross receivables before impairment. That is an accounting balance of amounts owed, rather than cash already available to government. It should not be read as a promise that every rand will be recovered.

The report also flags a change in debt administration: provisional tax was brought into its debt-management system during the year. Provisional tax is shown separately, and comparative figures were not restated. Readers should therefore avoid treating every debt measure in the report as directly comparable.

Why the R319.2 billion compliance figure needs context

SARS attributes R319.2 billion to identifiable compliance activities, an increase of 5% from R304 billion in the previous year. However, the total combines two different measures.

Cash collections accounted for R166.8 billion. The remaining R152.4 billion was classified as leakage protection: revenue protected through interventions, rather than another cash payment received.

Adding the full R319.2 billion to net collections would misrepresent the results. It describes the contribution of compliance work, not a separate pot of money on top of the R2.01 trillion total.

What this means for taxpayers

The results show why collection performance and taxpayer service need to be considered together. Recovering tax that is due supports public finances, while paying legitimate refunds returns money to households and businesses.

SARS says it achieved 19 of its 20 annual performance targets and recorded 99.76% availability across its digital platforms. Platform availability measures whether systems were accessible; it does not, by itself, show how quickly an individual refund or dispute was resolved.

For readers assessing the report, the central questions are how much overdue debt can realistically be collected, whether compliance interventions remain effective, and whether taxpayers experience better service alongside stronger enforcement.

Source: SARS Annual Report 2025/26, including the Commissioner’s overview, revenue results and receivables discussion; publication announcement dated 16 October 2026.

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