Tax and SARS knowledge base

Can I change the bank account SARS uses for my refund?

Last reviewed: 28 August 2026

Direct answer

Yes. SARS says banking details can be changed on eFiling by registered eFilers, in the SARS MobiApp through Profile Management, at a SARS branch if you are not registered for eFiling, or while completing and submitting an individual ITR12. Use the route that applies to you, complete any identity or bank verification SARS requests and keep the confirmation. Updating bank details does not itself confirm that a refund is due or that SARS will release one immediately.

Bank-detail changes are security-sensitive. Start from the official SARS website, eFiling or MobiApp, not from a link in an unsolicited email or SMS. Do not share your eFiling password, banking password or one-time pin with anyone who offers to speed up a refund. SARS's normal verification process can require information, but you should submit it only through a verified SARS channel.

What this means in practice

The account SARS holds is part of the taxpayer profile. It is not an instruction to your employer or a general refund claim. If you have changed banks, closed an account, opened a new account, or noticed that the details are out of date, update the profile before relying on it for future SARS payments or refunds. SARS lists updating personal details, including bank details, as an eFiling service.

Before you begin, make sure the account information is correct. Use the account that belongs to you and have the banking evidence ready if SARS requests it. A mismatch between identity information, bank ownership or contact details can lead to a verification query. Do not attempt to work around a mismatch by entering a partner's, relative's or employer's bank account. Instead, establish why the records differ and use the genuine SARS route to resolve it.

An update is not a promise of a refund. A refund depends on the underlying assessment, compliance status, verification and any other SARS process that applies. SARS's 2026 Filing Season guidance tells auto-assessed taxpayers to ensure banking and contact details are up to date, but it does not say that all such taxpayers will receive a payment. First check whether the tax position actually shows a credit or refund.

The timing matters if you are close to filing or have received a SARS request. Update early, then retain the confirmation. If a refund is pending, do not make repeated profile changes unless SARS tells you to do so. Several changes can complicate the audit trail and do not necessarily accelerate the process.

Step-by-step

Confirm what needs changing.

Check whether your account number, branch details, account type, contact information or legal name has changed. Compare your profile details to current bank records before you enter anything.

Use a real SARS access point.

Start at the SARS website and use eFiling or the MobiApp. SARS says registered eFilers can change bank details on eFiling, while the MobiApp route uses Profile Management. If you cannot use eFiling, SARS says a branch route may be available, subject to the current appointment process.

Enter only your current information.

Complete the profile fields carefully. Use the details for the account you are entitled to use. Do not copy a number from an old payment instruction or from an email, because the record may be out of date or fraudulent.

Complete verification through the official route.

SARS may require identity, contact or bank verification. Follow the case-specific screen instructions and upload only the requested evidence through eFiling, MobiApp, the SARS Online Query System where directed, or the approved branch process.

Save proof of the change.

Retain the confirmation page, reference or case number and the date. Keep copies of the documents submitted. A short note of which channel you used can help if you need to follow up later.

Check for SARS correspondence.

Monitor the email address and mobile number registered with SARS, and log in to review official notices. If SARS asks for more material, respond through the actual case rather than resubmitting documents through an unrelated service.

Check the tax position separately.

If you expect a refund, review the latest assessment and statement of account. The bank update only corrects where SARS may pay an amount that is otherwise due. It does not alter the tax calculation, remove a verification requirement or decide a dispute.

Documents and records to keep

Your ID or passport information, where relevant to the verification prompt.
Current bank-account details in your own name and any evidence SARS specifically requests.
Current email and mobile contact details.
The eFiling, MobiApp or branch confirmation and case reference.
Latest assessment, statement of account and all refund-related SARS correspondence.

Keep this information private. A genuine tax practitioner can assist through proper SARS shared access, but you should remain able to see the change and the correspondence. Never send a copy of a bank statement, login credentials or a one-time pin to someone who calls unexpectedly.

Important limits and exceptions

This article does not determine whether SARS will accept a particular account, whether a refund is payable, or the time SARS will take to process it. Your actual profile, assessment and verification status control those outcomes. A branch visit may require an appointment, and digital options can be subject to security or identity checks.

Do not use a bank-detail change to attempt to resolve an unrelated tax debt, an incorrect assessment or a return that has not been submitted. Deal with each issue in its correct SARS workflow. Where a notice appears suspicious, do not respond through the link in the message. Instead, navigate independently to SARS and check your profile.

When to get tailored advice

Ask for help when the account is not in your name, the profile is locked, identity details differ from bank records, a refund has been held for verification, you are dealing with a deceased estate, or a practitioner has an unclear access role. Take the exact SARS notice and the confirmation of the profile change with you.