Don’t Miss Out! R265 Refund Unclaimed by 1 Million South Africans

The South African government’s tax agency SARS (South African Revenue Service) has recently made a big announcement—there are more than 1 million citizens across the country who have not been able to claim a tax refund of R265 or more. Surprisingly, these people themselves are not aware of this refund. You may also be one of them.

SARS says that these refunds are for those who had paid the tax, but due to some reasons, that amount could not be returned to their account—such as incorrect bank details, incomplete information or lack of updates in the profile.

In this article, we will tell you what this R265 refund is, who are eligible for it, how to check whether you are also entitled to it or not, and what is the process of claiming a refund.

What is R265 refund and why is it being issued?

The R265 refund is an initiative by SARS aimed at delivering old, unclaimed tax refunds to deserving citizens. Sometimes PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax is deducted from the salary in excess of the amount due, or the taxpayer is not entitled to it for some other reason.

Among the tax returns filed between 2018 and 2022, there are many cases where citizens should have received money back, but either their bank details were not updated or they were unable to claim it due to lack of information.

This initiative by SARS aims to:

• Settle old pending tax refunds
• Return the money lying in government accounts to citizens
• Increase public confidence in the SARS system
• Make tax payment a transparent and seamless process

And most importantly—you do not need any agent or third party to get this refund. It is a completely free process and you can do it yourself through the official website or mobile app of SARS.

Who is eligible for the R265 refund?

If you filed your tax returns between 2018 and 2024 and received a smaller or no refund than you expected, you may be eligible for this scheme. Read the eligibility criteria below carefully:

• You must have filed your tax returns between 2018 and 2024
• Your income has been taxed with PAYE or provisional tax
• You have not received any refund or your return is reported as ‘balanced’
• You have a valid South African ID or tax number
• Your bank details are registered and verified with SARS
• Your SARS account is not blocked for any compliance violations
• You have not claimed this refund before

How to know if you are eligible for the R265 refund?

SARS has made the process very easy this time so that every citizen can check their refund status on their own. You can check your eligibility by:

• By logging in to the SARS eFiling website
• Through the SARS MobiApp (Android or iOS)
• By calling the SARS helpline—with ID and tax number
• By visiting the nearest SARS branch (an appointment may be required)
• By submitting an online query on the SARS website
• Checking for SMS or email notifications (from noreply@sars.gov.za)
• Checking the “Unclaimed Refunds” tab in your eFiling account

Process for claiming a R265 refund—step by step guide

If you have confirmed eligibility, it’s now important to know how to claim a refund. Follow the steps below:

• Log in to SARS eFiling
• Select “Income Tax” under the “Returns” tab
• View the tax year for which the refund is specified
• Update or confirm your bank details
• Upload any documents required
• Accept the confirmation on the screen
• Refund processing is completed within 3–7 working days

Why can’t you claim your R265 refund?

Sometimes eligible individuals are unable to claim their refund. Some common reasons for this are:

• Bank details not updated or verified
• Phone number or email is out of date
• Returns for some tax years not filed
• People are not aware of the refund
• eFiling account is inactive or locked
• Ignoring SMS/email notifications

How much refund can you get?

Although it is called the “R265 Refund”, the actual refund amount could be more or less depending on your tax history. Below is an estimated table:

What if you missed an SMS or email from SARS?

Sometimes refund notifications are sent via mail or SMS, which people ignore. Here is what you can do:

• Check for emails from noreply@sars.gov.za
• Check for SARS messages in your SMS inbox
• Log into the eFiling portal and check the “Inbox” tab
• If you don’t understand anything, call SARS
• Stay away from any suspicious emails/links—SARS never asks for OTP or login password

What to do if you haven’t received your refund even after it has been approved?

If your refund has been approved but hasn’t been credited to your account, the problem may be due to one of the following reasons:

How to verify bank details?

The biggest reason for a delay in refund is the lack of verification of banking details. To do this, follow these steps:

• Log into eFiling and go to “Maintain Banking Details”
• Select a bank account in your name—joint or third-party accounts are not acceptable
• Upload a recent bank statement (within 3 months)
• Check the spelling of the account name and ID number
• Do not provide a closed or dormant account—only a current account will be acceptable
• Verification can take up to 72 hours

When will you receive the refund?

SARS has not yet announced a deadline, but it has made it clear that the sooner you claim, the better. If you delay:

• The window may close for older tax years
• Delays in verification may result in entitlement being lost
• Failure to claim on time may result in money being confiscated
• It is best to apply before the end of the 2025 tax year

Can someone else claim for you?

Yes, but only an official tax practitioner or SARS agent can do so. For this:

• You need them to sign a “Power of Attorney” form
• The person must be registered with SARS
• Do not give login details to a private entity or individual
• Avoid scams that ask for a percentage of the refund

Conclusion:

In these times of economic challenges in the country, a refund of R265 may seem like a small amount, but it can be a relief for many people. And for you, it could be just the beginning—in many cases, it could lead to a much larger refund. So if you filed taxes between 2018 and 2024, visit the SARS portal today to check your status. The process is free, safe, and can improve your future.

FAQs