SARS is targeting unpaid tax debt that is not being disputed, with billions owed across VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax and administrative penalties
Taxpayers have been warned that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is turning up the pressure on unpaid tax, with billions of rand in undisputed debt now firmly in its sights.
According to Tax Consulting SA, the figure has increased by about R124 billion, or 30.4%, since March 2025. The undisputed debt includes tax amounts that taxpayers have not challenged, as well as penalties for issues such as late tax return submissions.
The firm said the increase was significant for both taxpayers and SARS. It also pointed out that the R532 billion figure does not represent SARS’ total tax debt. Instead, it refers to liabilities that are not being disputed by taxpayers and which SARS can therefore target for collection.
"The composition of the book also provides some insight into where SARS can best use its resources to apply real pressure to non-compliant taxpayers, starting with VAT, being the biggest component of circa R183.4 billion.
