SARS Operating Hours
Right now
Closed
Closed all day today.
General trading hours
| Day | Trading hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 to 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 to 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 to 16:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 to 16:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 to 16:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
SARS publishes one schedule for all branches: weekdays 08:00 to 16:00, opening later at 09:00 on Wednesdays. SARS encourages booking an appointment before visiting a branch.
Source of these hours: sars.gov.za. Last verified 6 September 2026. Hours can change at short notice, especially on public holidays. Confirm with the branch before travelling.
Wednesdays open an hour later
The one recurring exception to the SARS branch schedule is Wednesday. Branches open at 09:00 rather than 08:00 on that day, and close at 16:00 as usual. It is a standing part of the published schedule rather than an occasional change, and it is the single most common reason people arrive at a SARS branch too early.
Every other weekday runs 08:00 to 16:00.
Weekends and public holidays
SARS branches do not trade on Saturdays or Sundays. The published schedule covers weekdays only, so a weekend visit is not an option at any branch.
Public holidays follow government office practice and branches are closed. Because the filing season deadlines fall in specific months, a public holiday landing near a deadline can remove a working day you were counting on, so plan around the calendar rather than the deadline alone.
Book before you go
SARS encourages taxpayers to book an appointment rather than arrive unannounced, specifically to avoid queueing at the branch. Booking also lets you confirm that the branch can handle what you need before you travel.
There are several ways to book:
- The SARS online appointment system on the SARS website.
- The SARS MobiApp.
- SMS the word Booking followed by your ID number to 47277.
SARS offers virtual appointments as well as in-person ones. If your matter can be handled remotely, a virtual appointment removes the trip and the queue entirely, and it is not bound by which branch is nearest you.
Finding your nearest branch
Use the official SARS branch finder to confirm which branch to visit and where it is. The finder is also where the branch business hours above are published, so it is worth checking again if you are travelling some time from now.
If your nearest branch cannot take you when you need it, SARS suggests booking at an alternative branch rather than waiting, so widening the search is often faster than holding out for the closest one.
Why these hours apply everywhere
Unlike most retailers on this site, SARS publishes a single schedule that covers its whole branch network, which is why exact times are shown above rather than a pointer to a locator. The schedule is taken from the SARS branch finder and carries the date it was last checked.
Individual branches can still close for operational reasons on a given day, so booking remains the reliable way to confirm before travelling.