How do I make a payment to SARS through eFiling?

Direct answer

To pay SARS through eFiling, select the correct outstanding item or payment function in the correct taxpayer profile, check the tax type, period and amount, then create the payment. SARS says eFiling sends a payment request to the taxpayer's bank. The taxpayer must authorise it in the relevant bank product. This is called a Credit Push payment.

Creating the eFiling request does not by itself make the payment. The bank authorisation is a separate step. SARS says a Credit Push is irrevocable after approval, can be cancelled only before approval and requires the account holder to have sufficient funds.

What this means in practice

The safest method is to work from the most current SARS document. That may be an assessment, a Statement of Account, a current return liability or a payment instruction inside eFiling. Do not start with an amount from an old email, an outdated spreadsheet or a previous tax period. The wrong amount can be paid successfully, but still leave the actual liability unresolved.

Before creating the request, confirm that you are in the correct taxpayer profile. This matters for people who manage a company, trust or family member profile in addition to their own. Then check the exact tax type and period. For example, a payment that belongs to a specific return should not be treated as a general payment merely because the amount looks familiar.

After eFiling creates the request, go directly to the selected bank's genuine app or internet-banking site. Look for the SARS or eFiling authorisation request. Do not follow a banking link from an unexpected SMS or email. The bank may use its own labels and approval screens, so the bank's current instructions remain important.

Step-by-step

1. Review the SARS liability.

Open the relevant assessment, Statement of Account or return work page. Check the taxpayer, tax type, period, due date and amount. If you dispute the assessment or do not understand the balance, separate that question from the mechanics of payment.

1. Select the payment in eFiling.

Use the available payment route for the item you intend to settle. Review the amount before proceeding. If you are making an additional or voluntary payment, make sure it is appropriate for the relevant account.

1. Confirm the bank account.

Use an account that the account holder is entitled to authorise and that has sufficient funds. Do not use another person's bank login or ask someone to disclose their OTP.

1. Create the Credit Push request.

Complete the eFiling steps and save the payment reference or confirmation details. Read the screen carefully before submitting the request to the bank.

1. Authorise through the bank.

Sign in directly to the chosen bank product. Find the pending authorisation, confirm the amount and SARS payment details, and approve it if correct. SARS says approval forms the instruction to the bank to make the payment.

1. Retain and check proof.

Keep the bank confirmation and eFiling payment record. Check the SARS account later to confirm how the payment is reflected. A bank debit and SARS account allocation are related but distinct checks.

Documents and records to keep

• The assessment, statement or return that created the payment need.
• The eFiling payment reference or payment screen.
• The bank authorisation and transaction confirmation.
• The tax type, period and amount you intended to settle.
• A later SARS account record showing the payment position.

Important limits and exceptions

SARS says Credit Push transactions are irrevocable once approved. Check carefully before you approve. If you notice a mistake before approval, the guide says a Credit Push can be cancelled then. After approval, do not assume the bank or SARS will reverse it simply because the amount or reference was not what you intended.

SARS lists other payment methods, including EFT, SARS MobiApp and a foreign-payment method for qualifying foreign taxpayers without a South African bank account. Those methods have their own procedures. Do not assume that an eFiling Credit Push instruction is the same as an EFT payment with a manually entered reference.

Payment does not resolve every tax issue. You may still need to submit an outstanding return, correct an account, request a payment arrangement or lodge an objection, depending on the facts. Keep each process separate.

When to get tailored advice

Get tailored help before paying where the account balance is disputed, there are multiple linked tax accounts, a payment may be allocated to the wrong period, or you are considering paying a large amount while a return or objection is unresolved. TaxProof can help organise the current records, but only SARS can determine the account balance and allocation.

Related TaxProof guides

• What is a credit-push payment on SARS eFiling?
• Why is my SARS eFiling payment waiting for bank authorisation?

Sources

• SARS, Make a Payment