Smartbook

Free SARS tool

SARS admin penalty calculator

Estimate recurring SARS administrative penalties on outstanding income tax returns — and see the maximum exposure if they remain unfiled.

Estimate your penaltiesSee how it works

What you get

  • All SARS taxable-income penalty bands
  • 35- and 47-month penalty caps
  • Multiple outstanding returns included
  • Copyable and printable result summary

From

Free

Turnaround

Instant

For

Companies and individual taxpayers

Your penalty details

Estimate the recurring penalty

Does SARS have your correct address?

The recurring penalty cap is 35 months when your address is known and 47 months when it is unknown.

Figures verified 3 September 2026. Guide only, not tax or legal advice.

Estimated penalties so far

R 3 000,00

Based on 12 charged months, 1 outstanding return, and R 250,00 per return per month.

Every further month adds

R 250,00

Maximum exposure

R 8 750,00

Monthly amount per return

R 250,00

Months until cap

23

Maximum after 23 more months

If nothing changes, SARS can charge up to R 8 750,00 on these returns.

What the estimate means

File first. Then deal with the balance.

1

It is fixed, not percentage-based

The administrative penalty is a fixed rand amount per outstanding return per month, based on the applicable taxable-income band.

2

Filing stops the clock

Submitting the outstanding returns stops new recurring monthly penalties from accumulating on those returns.

3

Some charges are excluded

This estimate excludes interest and the separate 10% late-payment penalty that may apply to unpaid tax.

4

Remission may be possible

Once the returns are filed, you can ask SARS to remit qualifying penalties. Approval is not automatic.

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