SARS Hits Record R2.01 Trillion Tax Revenue for 2025/26

The South African Revenue Service announced on Wednesday that it collected a record R2.01 trillion in net tax revenue for the 2025/26 financial year, an 8.4 percent increase from the previous year and R24.7 billion above the government's budget estimate. The figure, revealed by Commissioner Edward Kieswetter in Pretoria, marks the first time collections have surpassed R2 trillion since democracy began in 1994 and underscores the agency's recovery efforts amid economic headwinds.

The achievement stems from enhanced compliance programs, administrative efficiencies, and contributions from key sectors, including mining, which added about R5 billion to the surplus. Officials attributed the success to the work of more than 14,500 employees, who navigated challenges such as sluggish economic growth, power outages, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and global supply chain disruptions. "This is an exceptional revenue performance on behalf of our nation," Kieswetter said, crediting the dedication of staff and improved systems for restoring public trust and institutional integrity.

Breakdowns of the collections highlight broad-based gains. Pay-as-you-earn income tax rose 8.5...