Based on recent customer reviews, SARS delivers a deeply polarized customer experience. While individual staff members are frequently named and praised for exceptional professionalism and warmth, the overwhelming majority of interactions reflect systemic failures across payments, processing times, digital systems, and communication. Citizens consistently describe frustration with refund delays, unresponsive channels, broken online platforms, and billing errors that cause significant financial hardship.
Top Strengths:
- •Service Delivery & Staff Conduct: Named staff members like Ndalo Msomi, Samkelisiwe, Innocentia Ngwenya, and Angie receive strong individual praise for patience, professionalism, and friendliness, though this is undermined by equally frequent reports of rudeness.
TrustIndex
1.3
Score
Ranking
#197
in Government & Ombudsman Services
NPS Score
-90
Recommended: Unlikely
Apr '25 - Mar '26
Recent reviews (318)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperiencePopular mentions
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS took my money ********ly
Sars took my money from a retirement plan from old mutual while there is an arrangement in place and is being honoured fully, no late payments no skipping. I went to SARS randburg branch on 16 March 2026 to get assistance and they gave me a letter to send to old mutual to stop payment to SARS , unfortunately it was late and payment was already made to SARS. I emailed SARS debt management on 18th March telling them to refund me the money they took from old mutual because there is an arrangement in place but no one responded. I then called SARS to assist me with matter. I spoke to two different ladies after holding for over 30 minutes for each call. To my surprise they told me that SARS takes money from the owing taxpayer's account even if there is an arrangement in place. I tried to tell them what is written on Sars.gov.za under frequently asked questions; "No debt deductions will be made from your savings withdrawal if you have a payment arrangement in place. However, if you are in arrears with SARS, your debt will be deducted from your savings withdrawal. " but they didn't listen. based on this SARS is not supposed to take my withdrawal from my retirement plan because of the arrangement that is in place. All l need is a refund from SARS . I have come here because the staff at SARS is not helping me at all and l exhausted. I hope l will be assisted , its unfair what SARS is doing.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS took my money ********ly
Sars took my money from a retirement plan from old mutual while there is an arrangement in place and is being honoured fully, no late payments no skipping. I went to SARS randburg branch on 16 March 2026 to get assistance and they gave me a letter to send to old mutual to stop payment to SARS , unfortunately it was late and payment was already made to SARS. I emailed SARS debt management on 18th March telling them to refund me the money they took from old mutual because there is an arrangement in place but no one responded. I then called SARS to assist me with matter. I spoke to two different ladies after holding for over 30 minutes for each call. To my surprise they told me that SARS takes money from the owing taxpayer's account even if there is an arrangement in place. I tried to tell them what is written on Sars.gov.za under frequently asked questions; "No debt deductions will be made from your savings withdrawal if you have a payment arrangement in place. However, if you are in arrears with SARS, your debt will be deducted from your savings withdrawal. " but they didn't listen. based on this SARS is not supposed to take my withdrawal from my retirement plan because of the arrangement that is in place. All l need is a refund from SARS . I have come here because the staff at SARS is not helping me at all and l exhausted. I hope l will be assisted , its unfair what SARS is doing.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Sars Government owned entity
I have been trying to tell SARS that I dont have the information they want, they said that they will write off my debt if I pay in Decemeber 2025 I paid them and they still have not written the debt off they still handing me over to seven debt collectors I am not a sassa client, I am a pensioner nearly leaving this planet they never stop are you also in a mess with SARS I feel for you. I even gave the a affidavit they assured me they will write off my debt but they have not done as promised.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Sars Government owned entity
I have been trying to tell SARS that I dont have the information they want, they said that they will write off my debt if I pay in Decemeber 2025 I paid them and they still have not written the debt off they still handing me over to seven debt collectors I am not a sassa client, I am a pensioner nearly leaving this planet they never stop are you also in a mess with SARS I feel for you. I even gave the a affidavit they assured me they will write off my debt but they have not done as promised.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS
This may come as a shock to all. I have had the most awesome experience at SARS with a lady by the name of Felicity Randburg Branch. Incredibly helpful and worked with me on their computers. Well done guys
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS
This may come as a shock to all. I have had the most awesome experience at SARS with a lady by the name of Felicity Randburg Branch. Incredibly helpful and worked with me on their computers. Well done guys
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS CALL CENTER WI
Good i am writing after a very very frustrating experience with the SARS call center. This stems from my calls being terminated on two occasions. Words like "you tell me who the manager is then" was said to me. This happened on 2 occasions. Why do your advisors not place a client hold but rather it being just dead silence. Please call me asap to ensure that i be assisted. With 387 clients holding and when you finally get through this is the service you are given? Terrible! Sies! I requested to speak to a manger. She tells me they in a meeting. No call back option offered. No can i take down you details none of that. She waits for exactly 16:30(i was watching the time because i had a feeling she did not really ask for a manager nothing) she comes back at 16:31 exactly and states the manager is not there. Why was i placed on hold for 20 minutes. Will my airtime be remunerated as i have now spent over an hour and a half of calls with advisors who either do not know how to assist or who to ask for assistance. I am fed up and i am hoping someone can help me as this matter remains unresolved. I will call back in tomorrow and continue to post. Advisor name Nomsa and Moglasti both terminated the call in my ear and was very very sarcastic and rude. I can be rude too however, your IVR said not too. Lol.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS CALL CENTER WI
Good i am writing after a very very frustrating experience with the SARS call center. This stems from my calls being terminated on two occasions. Words like "you tell me who the manager is then" was said to me. This happened on 2 occasions. Why do your advisors not place a client hold but rather it being just dead silence. Please call me asap to ensure that i be assisted. With 387 clients holding and when you finally get through this is the service you are given? Terrible! Sies! I requested to speak to a manger. She tells me they in a meeting. No call back option offered. No can i take down you details none of that. She waits for exactly 16:30(i was watching the time because i had a feeling she did not really ask for a manager nothing) she comes back at 16:31 exactly and states the manager is not there. Why was i placed on hold for 20 minutes. Will my airtime be remunerated as i have now spent over an hour and a half of calls with advisors who either do not know how to assist or who to ask for assistance. I am fed up and i am hoping someone can help me as this matter remains unresolved. I will call back in tomorrow and continue to post. Advisor name Nomsa and Moglasti both terminated the call in my ear and was very very sarcastic and rude. I can be rude too however, your IVR said not too. Lol.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
BAd Service at SARS Pinetown
What a poor service received at Sars Pinetown today. I received a ticket 206 just for them to scan for my documents. They called tickets after my no. unto 317 while waiting in the line. It was not busy, but no one wanted to attend to me. I had to wait over an hour, and the people decided to go on lunch, and nobody cared what I came in for. The first guy I spoke to told me that this is his employer and they will operate they want. the second lady told me that the first lady I saw outside should have told someone I came for the scan. The security just took my slip and refused to call a manager.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
BAd Service at SARS Pinetown
What a poor service received at Sars Pinetown today. I received a ticket 206 just for them to scan for my documents. They called tickets after my no. unto 317 while waiting in the line. It was not busy, but no one wanted to attend to me. I had to wait over an hour, and the people decided to go on lunch, and nobody cared what I came in for. The first guy I spoke to told me that this is his employer and they will operate they want. the second lady told me that the first lady I saw outside should have told someone I came for the scan. The security just took my slip and refused to call a manager.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS - the bad & the good
Hiya, Difficult to rate, as the phone menu-system takes one to people without enough experience of life or the work. If a case is outside of their capability, there does not seem to be anyone who can handle a complex case. On the other hand, going into SARS & meeting Mrs Jackson made my day. I have spent, cumulatively, weeks on the phone over many months. SARS has not bothered to pitch for either a face 2 face nor a virtual scheduled meeting, so I took my wife with late-stage dementia - no speech or cognitive ability - in to the Cape Town office & told them that I had done my civic duty : I was handing in a defaulter who hadn't filed her tax forms for 7 years whom they wanted to fine R27000 I told them that I had done my part & now it was over to them to try to sort out my wife's tax problem. There was a bit of a ****-show & a circus before the woman, who - thank God - had a mother with dementia, said to me that if I co-operated instead of making it her (unsolvable) problem, she would sort it out. Mrs Jackson was a hero ! There are some things that one cannot sort out over the phone. We spent over 3 hours sorting out each missing tax-year & my wife seemed to enjoy the outing - Mrs Jackson would give her a sweet or let me walk her around if Fud got restless while all the computer-processing & printing was taking place. Someone needs to give Mrs Jackson a medal for how she handled ME in my angry state, let alone how she maintained her composure & systematically sorted out the problem, year by year, even staying after her shift to complete the task. You have a gem there, SARS : don't lose her. This has to be your employee of the month - at least !
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS - the bad & the good
Hiya, Difficult to rate, as the phone menu-system takes one to people without enough experience of life or the work. If a case is outside of their capability, there does not seem to be anyone who can handle a complex case. On the other hand, going into SARS & meeting Mrs Jackson made my day. I have spent, cumulatively, weeks on the phone over many months. SARS has not bothered to pitch for either a face 2 face nor a virtual scheduled meeting, so I took my wife with late-stage dementia - no speech or cognitive ability - in to the Cape Town office & told them that I had done my civic duty : I was handing in a defaulter who hadn't filed her tax forms for 7 years whom they wanted to fine R27000 I told them that I had done my part & now it was over to them to try to sort out my wife's tax problem. There was a bit of a ****-show & a circus before the woman, who - thank God - had a mother with dementia, said to me that if I co-operated instead of making it her (unsolvable) problem, she would sort it out. Mrs Jackson was a hero ! There are some things that one cannot sort out over the phone. We spent over 3 hours sorting out each missing tax-year & my wife seemed to enjoy the outing - Mrs Jackson would give her a sweet or let me walk her around if Fud got restless while all the computer-processing & printing was taking place. Someone needs to give Mrs Jackson a medal for how she handled ME in my angry state, let alone how she maintained her composure & systematically sorted out the problem, year by year, even staying after her shift to complete the task. You have a gem there, SARS : don't lose her. This has to be your employee of the month - at least !
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Very RUDE and INSENTIVE SARS OFFICIALS
Am not happy on how SARS handled my arrangement which i was the one phoned them and mafe the arranagent that started Jan 2026. Now because January we all know we have more financial budden and i was behind with my child school fees from last year i have to pay double including the registration then for jan i paid SARS late in first week of Feb and another payment on the 20th Feb and honoured their payment end of Feb. Then yesterday i received a call from thrir unfriendly SARS officials as usual asking why i made a payment before month end and i asked was there a problem if i made a payment early? Becuase i believe one is allowed to pay anytime when they have the money early to avoid not paying @all. She told me to pay exactly month end not on any other day SARS if full on NONSENSE considering that there are Government officials who dont bother to pay TAX then whe you try to pay they still tell you NONSENSE then today i received an email from my Work telling me i will be Garnish from this month what the Hell so just because i skip January and tried to pay late FEB then it comes to that even if i honoured their payment so i was suppose not to pay my child school fees and the official i spoke to today was also very insensitive as if they dont have Debts
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Very RUDE and INSENTIVE SARS OFFICIALS
Am not happy on how SARS handled my arrangement which i was the one phoned them and mafe the arranagent that started Jan 2026. Now because January we all know we have more financial budden and i was behind with my child school fees from last year i have to pay double including the registration then for jan i paid SARS late in first week of Feb and another payment on the 20th Feb and honoured their payment end of Feb. Then yesterday i received a call from thrir unfriendly SARS officials as usual asking why i made a payment before month end and i asked was there a problem if i made a payment early? Becuase i believe one is allowed to pay anytime when they have the money early to avoid not paying @all. She told me to pay exactly month end not on any other day SARS if full on NONSENSE considering that there are Government officials who dont bother to pay TAX then whe you try to pay they still tell you NONSENSE then today i received an email from my Work telling me i will be Garnish from this month what the Hell so just because i skip January and tried to pay late FEB then it comes to that even if i honoured their payment so i was suppose not to pay my child school fees and the official i spoke to today was also very insensitive as if they dont have Debts
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS /OLD MUTUAL
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SARS STATING I OWE R15000FOR SARS, THE REASON OLD MUTUAL DID NOT DEDUCT TAX ON THE INVESTMENT FROM OLD MUTUAL AND THEREFOR I CANNOT REQUEST OFF PAYMENT ON SARS AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF R2500, THE GUY TOLD ME HE DONT HAVE A " I have reviewed your income tax statement of account. As of 17 March 2026, no payments or salary deductions are reflecting on the SARS system, and the outstanding balance remains due. Only interest has been raised monthly on the account. Please note that the Final Demand is not a threat, but a standard system-generated notice that is issued when an outstanding balance exists and no payments are reflecting on the account at that time. It is not issued personally and does not take into account informal arrangements made outside of SARS systems. If deductions have recently commenced via your employer, these may not yet be reflected due to processing timelines. Once payments are received and allocated, the account position will update accordingly. Should you require any clarification regarding the statement or the amounts reflected, please let me know" I THINK THAT SARS AND OLD MUTUAL MUST COME TO LIGHT I DO NOT HAVE R2500 TO PAY ONCE OFF!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
SARS /OLD MUTUAL
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SARS STATING I OWE R15000FOR SARS, THE REASON OLD MUTUAL DID NOT DEDUCT TAX ON THE INVESTMENT FROM OLD MUTUAL AND THEREFOR I CANNOT REQUEST OFF PAYMENT ON SARS AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF R2500, THE GUY TOLD ME HE DONT HAVE A " I have reviewed your income tax statement of account. As of 17 March 2026, no payments or salary deductions are reflecting on the SARS system, and the outstanding balance remains due. Only interest has been raised monthly on the account. Please note that the Final Demand is not a threat, but a standard system-generated notice that is issued when an outstanding balance exists and no payments are reflecting on the account at that time. It is not issued personally and does not take into account informal arrangements made outside of SARS systems. If deductions have recently commenced via your employer, these may not yet be reflected due to processing timelines. Once payments are received and allocated, the account position will update accordingly. Should you require any clarification regarding the statement or the amounts reflected, please let me know" I THINK THAT SARS AND OLD MUTUAL MUST COME TO LIGHT I DO NOT HAVE R2500 TO PAY ONCE OFF!