How do I view SARS payment history and proof of payment on eFiling?

Direct answer

Use the correct taxpayer profile in SARS eFiling to locate the relevant payment or account entry, then save the available SARS confirmation with the payment reference number, amount, tax type and period. Also keep the independent bank proof. The two records answer different questions: a bank record helps prove that an instruction was paid, while the SARS account information helps you see whether SARS has recorded and allocated the amount against the intended obligation.

Do not rely on a screenshot with no reference or date. In a later reconciliation, objection, refund query or internal audit, you need enough information to link the payment to the taxpayer, the liability and the relevant period.

What this means in practice

Payment history is especially useful where several liabilities are paid close together, a bookkeeper has changed, a return has been amended, or SARS says that an amount is outstanding. It lets you start with evidence rather than memory. Before searching, identify the tax reference number, tax type, approximate payment date, amount and payment reference number, commonly called the PRN.

Choose the correct individual, company, trust or other taxpayer profile first. A common mistake is to search a personal profile for a company payment, or to use a group portfolio without confirming which entity is selected. If the payment is connected with PAYE, VAT, provisional tax or income tax, keep that tax type visible in your working notes. That makes it easier to compare the payment with the right assessment or return.

SARS's payment guidance explains that payment processes use the information and reference connected to the liability. A payment confirmation is therefore not the end of the task. You still need to check that the entry is reflected on the applicable account and that it has reduced the correct balance.

Step-by-step

1. Gather the payment details before logging in.

Have the payment date, amount, tax type, taxpayer reference and PRN available. If the payment was made by another person or business bank account, obtain the bank confirmation as well.

1. Open the right SARS eFiling profile.

Confirm the taxpayer name and tax reference number on screen. For an organisation, make sure you have not selected a different entity with a similar name.

1. Locate the payment or account information.

Use the payment and account functions available for that tax profile. Menu labels can change, so follow the current SARS eFiling display rather than an old screenshot. Look for the entry that matches the date, amount and reference in your records.

1. Save useful evidence.

Download or save the available confirmation, statement or history view. Record the PRN, value date, payment amount, tax type and period in your payment register. A single PDF or screenshot is not enough if it hides the identifying details.

1. Compare the entry with the bank record.

Check that the bank record and SARS record relate to the same amount and reference. If a payment was grouped with other payments, make a note explaining the split and retain the underlying schedule.

1. Reconcile the SARS account.

Review the statement of account or applicable account balance after the payment has had time to process. If the account still shows an amount due, establish whether the payment is pending, underpaid, linked to another period or allocated differently before making a second payment.

Documents and records to keep

• SARS payment confirmation, payment history entry or statement of account.
• Bank proof of payment showing the date, amount and payer.
• The PRN, taxpayer reference, tax type and tax period.
• The assessment, payment advice or return that created the liability.
• A reconciliation note for any difference, reversal or grouped payment.

For a business, retain the evidence in a consistent payment register. Include the preparer and reviewer where payment approval is separated from payment capture. This protects the business if an employee leaves or SARS asks for support later.

Important limits and exceptions

A bank proof does not by itself establish that SARS allocated the payment correctly. Conversely, an account entry may need investigation if it appears without a matching bank record. Never alter a PRN simply to make a payment look matched, and do not reuse an old reference for a different liability unless SARS's current process specifically tells you to do so.

If the entry concerns a formal payment arrangement, an objection, a disputed assessment or a refund, the account history is only one part of the evidence. Keep the related SARS correspondence and do not assume that an account balance resolves the underlying dispute.

Be alert to phishing. SARS payment history should be accessed through the official SARS eFiling route, not a link in an unexpected email or SMS. SARS does not need your bank password or one-time bank code merely to show payment history.

When to get tailored advice

Get help when a payment is missing after a reasonable processing period, has been allocated to the wrong tax type or period, appears twice, or relates to several entities. TaxProof can help reconcile the bank record, payment reference and SARS account before you approach SARS. SARS remains responsible for the final account allocation.

Related TaxProof guides

• What is a SARS payment reference number, or PRN?
• How do I download a SARS statement of account?
• How do I reconcile payments using a SARS statement of account?

Sources

• SARS, Make a payment