Budget 2026 & VAT

As South Africa prepares for Budget 2026, attention is shifting not to dramatic tax rate changes, but to the quiet mechanisms through which revenue is protected and expanded. While political resistance makes large VAT rate increases unlikely, SARS appears to be sharpening enforcement, modernising compliance systems, and strengthening audit scrutiny to secure revenue without altering headline tax rates.This raises important questions for businesses, SMEs, and investors: Is South Africa entering an era of enforcement-driven revenue growth rather than rate-driven taxation? And how will this affect economic activity, compliance costs, and small business sustainability?

To unpack these trends, Gugulethu is joined by Micaela Paschini, Tax Attorney at Tax Consulting South Africa to discuss Budget 2026 and the future of VAT revenue strategy.