As of December 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) faces undisputed taxpayer debt of R523 billion. While R71 billion has been recovered since April 2025, current trends suggest SARS will likely miss its March 2026 target of R135 billion.
Recent Treasury data indicates December 2025 collections reached R8.7 billion, exceeding the previous year’s December figure but falling R1.8 billion short of the monthly target. The total collected so far in the financial year positions SARS to achieve a baseline of R100 billion, but not the more ambitious goal.
This shortfall follows Commissioner Edward Kieswetter’s commitment, made after the Minister of Finance’s revenue estimate, to intensify debt recovery efforts and collect an additional R35 billion beyond the prior year’s total.
