If your ITA34 assessment shows that you need to pay SARS (South African Revenue Service), don’t stress—paying it off is easier than it seems if you follow this guide. I wrote this after my own frustrating experience of trying to figure out the process. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to make your payment efficiently using SARS eFiling and your online banking (in this example I used my FNB account).
Let’s dive into the steps to save you time and effort.
Table of Contents
Why Use eFiling for Payments?
Paying SARS through eFiling is one of the simplest options because you can do it from the comfort of your home. Although there are multiple ways to pay (like EFT or in-person at a bank), this guide focuses on the eFiling “Credit Push” method and confirmation via FNB.
⚠️ Quick Tip: Based on personal experience, the mobile app didn’t work for me. Stick to using a desktop or laptop for a seamless process.
Step 1: Add Your Bank Account to SARS eFiling
Before making a payment, you need to set up your bank account on SARS eFiling. Here’s how:
- Log in to SARS eFiling on your computer.
- Navigate to:
- Top menu: Home
- Left menu: Banking Details > Setup New Account
3. Fill in the following details:
- Payment Method: Select “Credit Push.”
- Account Name: Enter a nickname to recognize your account (e.g., “FNB SARS”).
- Banking Product: Select your bank (e.g., FNB).
- Account Number: Enter your bank account number.
- Save your changes.
🔔 Note: It takes about 30 minutes to an hour for SARS to verify your account. Be patient!
🎥 Optional Video Guide: SARS Banking Details Setup
Disclaimer: This video mentions “Internet Banking,” but it’s outdated—you don’t need to provide your access number or user ID.
Step 2: Locate the Tax Return and Make Payment on SARS eFiling
Once your account is verified, follow these steps to locate the return and initiate the payment:
- On the eFiling homepage, navigate to:
- Top menu: Returns
- Left menu: Returns Search > Search
- In the search menu:
- Return Type: Select “ITR12.”
- Return Issues or submitted: Choose “History.”
- Click: Search
- A list of your past tax returns will appear. Click Open next to the one you want to pay.
4. On the return page, click:
- Make Payment
5. Then on the next page click:
- Pay Now
💡 You can also print a PDF payment confirmation for your records.
⚠️ Important Note:
Some SARS guides suggest navigating to:
- Returns > Payments > Pay Now > General Unpaid.
However, I found this method unreliable—it often shows “No Outstanding Payments Found.” Stick to the process above for accuracy.
Step 3: Confirm the Payment on FNB Online Banking
After initiating the payment on SARS eFiling, you must authorize it through your bank. If you’re an FNB customer, here’s how:
- Log in to your FNB Online Banking.
- Navigate to:
- Payments > eFiling + Smart IDs
- Locate the SARS payment request and authorize it.
That’s it! Once confirmed, the payment will reflect on SARS eFiling, and you’re good to go.
Alternative Methods to pay SARS
Although this guide focuses on eFiling, you can also pay SARS via:
- In-person at a bank.
- eFiling (Credit Push or EFT).
- SARS MobiApp.
- Direct EFT (using SARS bank details).
- At a SARS Customs branch.
- Foreign payments (if applicable).
For details on these methods, check out SARS’ official guide: How Do I Pay SARS?
Are you interested in learning more about other living abroad essentials? In the “Visas and Expat paperwork” section you can find detailed guides, recommendations, tips, and much more!
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