Tax season scams: How to protect yourself
Tax Season Scams:
How to Protect Yourself
Criminals are pretending to be SARS through SMS, WhatsApp, phone calls and emails. Here is what to watch out for and what to do before you click, pay or share information.
Please be extra vigilant this tax season
With the 2026 tax season now open, we are seeing a sharp increase in scams where criminals pretend to be SARS. SARS will never ask you for personal or banking details by phone, WhatsApp or email unexpectedly.
The 3 Most Common SARS Scams Right Now
The “SARS Refund” SMS or WhatsApp
The link takes you to a fake SARS website that steals your banking details and eFiling login details.
The “Urgent SARS Call”
Someone calls pretending to be from SARS Collections. They may threaten arrest, asset seizure or penalties if you do not pay “outstanding tax” immediately via EFT.
They sound official and may even know some of your details.
The “Fake eFiling Email”
You receive an email that looks like it is from SARS asking you to verify your details or upload documents to release your refund.
The sender address is usually slightly incorrect, or it may appear to be a SARS email address until you click on the contact details.
How to Spot a Fake SARS Message
- SARS will never ask for your banking PIN, eFiling password or OTP by phone, email or SMS.
- SARS will never demand immediate payment to a personal bank account or through unofficial payment methods.
- Official SARS emails should end in @sars.gov.za.
- Official SARS websites are www.sars.gov.za and www.sarsefiling.co.za.
- Threats + urgency = red flag. SARS will send official letters and give you time to respond.
What to Do If You Are Contacted
-
STOP.
Do not click links, make payments or give personal information. -
VERIFY WITH US FIRST.
Forward suspicious emails or WhatsApps to your BVSA branch before you do anything. That is what we are here for. -
REPORT IT.
Report suspicious communication through the correct channels.
Report SARS Scams
- SARS Fraud Hotline: 0800 00 2870
- Email: phishing@sars.gov.za
- Scam calls: Report to SAPS
How We Will Communicate With You
As your tax practitioner, here is how we operate:
1. SARS Correspondence
All SARS correspondence comes to us first via eFiling if you are registered on our profile, and we will communicate with you.
2. Tax Payments
We will never ask you to pay tax into a random account. All payments go to SARS directly via eFiling or through SARS public recipients on online banking platforms.
3. Document Requests
If we need documents from you, we will contact you from our official email addresses or telephone numbers.
The Safest Way to Check
The safest way to check whether you owe SARS or are due a refund is to log into your SARS eFiling profile directly, or ask us to do so for you.
Never use a link in a message.
If you are unsure about any communication claiming to be from SARS, please send it to us immediately. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Let’s keep each other safe this tax season.
