Notice on VAT Refund Claim Timelines

Please take note of the estimated timelines associated with each stage of the VAT refund claim process. The two tables indicate the different labelling on the VRA Website and the Online Portal.

These timelines serve as a guideline to help you understand how long a claim is expected to remain at a specific stage. It is unlikely that your claim will progress to the next stage before the relevant timeline has elapsed.

Certain factors may impact the duration of the process. For example, if the claim involves the purchase of a second-hand vehicle, SARS may conduct additional review procedures, which can extend the processing time.

Please note that while timelines provide a general expectation, the stage of your claim may still be updated at any point during the VAT refund process.

VAT Refund Agency Website