No upfront cost  ·  25% of recovery only

Recover what SARS owes you.

We audit your last 5 years of VAT returns. If we find recoverable amounts, we handle everything with SARS from start to finish. Our fee is 25% of what we recover — you keep 75%.

5yr
Statutory audit window
75%
You keep of every recovery
0%
Upfront cost to you
R1M+
Minimum turnover eligible
Construction
Manufacturing
Hospitality
Professional Services
Retail & Wholesale
Property Development
Technology
Agriculture
Import & Export
Construction
Manufacturing
Hospitality
Professional Services
Retail & Wholesale
Property Development
Technology
Agriculture
Import & Export

What we do

Specialist VAT recovery.
Nothing else.

We focus exclusively on recovering overpaid VAT for South African businesses — a narrow discipline that requires deep SARS regulatory expertise.

01

Historical Return Review

A forensic review of up to 5 years of your VAT201 submissions — identifying every period where your business may have overpaid or under-claimed.

02

Input Tax Optimisation

We identify missed input tax claims across your supplier invoices, imported goods, capital expenditure, and operational expenses.

03

SARS Submission & Recovery

We prepare and submit the official Request for Correction to SARS and manage the recovery process through to payment — you receive the funds directly.

The process

Simple.
Risk-free.
Effective.

Three steps from document submission to money in your account.

01

Submit your documents

Upload your VAT returns, invoices, and supporting documents through our secure portal. It takes less than 10 minutes.

02

We audit & identify

Our specialists analyse up to 5 years of your VAT history and calculate a precise recovery figure. We come back to you with a confirmed amount before proceeding.

03

SARS pays you directly

We submit the corrected returns to SARS. When the refund lands, you keep 75% of everything recovered. Our fee — 25% of what we make you — is the only charge, and only applies once money is in your account.

04

Nothing to lose

If the audit finds nothing recoverable, you pay nothing. Our fee only applies when there is a successful recovery — that is the entire model.

750K+
VAT-registered businesses in South Africa eligible for review
5
Years of historical returns we can audit under the Tax Administration Act
75%
Of every rand recovered goes directly to your business
R0
Cost to your business if no VAT recovery is found

Fully compliant process

Every recovery is submitted through SARS's official Request for Correction mechanism. No shortcuts, no risk to your tax standing.

Confidential & secure

Your financial documents are handled with strict confidentiality. We never share client data and operate under standard non-disclosure terms.

Pure contingency model

Our fee is 25% of what we recover. No retainer, no hidden charges. We earn only when you do — which means our interests are completely aligned with yours.

Free consultation

Speak to a
specialist.
No obligation.

Book a free 15-minute call with one of our VAT recovery specialists. We'll tell you honestly whether there's an opportunity — and roughly how much.

15 minutes, no sales pressure

A short, direct conversation about your business and whether a VAT recovery is likely.

Honest assessment upfront

If we don't think there's a strong opportunity, we'll tell you straight — we only take on cases we're confident in.

Direct access to a specialist

You'll speak with someone who has reviewed hundreds of VAT return histories — not a sales person. We'll give you a straight answer on your situation.

Our fee model

25% of recovery
you keep 75%

We earn exclusively from a percentage of what we recover for you. No other fees exist.

Book your free 15-minute call

Select a date and preferred time below

May 2026
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Booking request sent.

Our specialist will confirm your slot by email and send a call link. See you soon.

Check your inbox at the email you provided.

What to upload

The documents
we need from you.

A complete list of what to gather before you submit. The more complete your pack, the more accurate your recovery estimate — and the faster SARS can pay out. Not sure about a document? Email jonny@urbanlime.co.za and we'll confirm in under 24 hours.

Essential must have

Core tax records

  • VAT201 return history — past 5 years, downloaded as PDF directly from SARS eFiling
  • VAT Registration Certificate (VAT103) — PDF copy
  • SARS Statement of Account — current eFiling export (PDF)
  • Company registration documents — CoR14.3 / CK1 / CK2 (PDF)
  • General ledger or trial balance — Excel/CSV export per VAT period from Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, Pastel, Zoho, or similar
Supporting where applicable

Transactions & assets

  • Supplier tax invoices — key vendors / large purchases (PDF preferred; clear JPG/PNG scans accepted)
  • Import documentation — SAD 500 / customs bill of entry / clearing agent invoices
  • Fixed asset register — Excel/CSV with dates, cost and VAT claimed
  • Vehicle purchase / finance agreements (bakkies, trucks and commercial vehicles qualify for input tax)
  • Commercial property deeds — purchase agreements and transfer duty receipts
  • Large expense receipts — any single invoice above R5,000 (travel, conferences, professional fees, repairs, marketing)
  • Bank statements — for the VAT periods under review (PDF)
Helpful speeds things up

Context & history

  • Audited annual financial statements — last 2–3 years (PDF)
  • Prior VAT audit / SARS correspondence — any letters, assessments, or queries from SARS
  • Previous VAT201 Requests for Correction — if you've amended a return before
  • Accounting software trial balance export — directly from Sage / Xero / QuickBooks / Pastel (not screenshots)
  • A short note describing any known anomalies, disputes, or periods where VAT treatment was uncertain

File formats & delivery rules

Accepted

PDF · XLSX · XLS · CSV · JPG · PNG · ZIP (for bulk). Multiple files can be zipped into one archive up to 25 MB.

Do

Export directly from eFiling & your accounting software. Remove password protection. Keep original filenames where possible.

Don't

Send screenshots or phone photos of screens. Don't lock files with passwords. Don't redact VAT numbers or amounts.

Too big?

For datasets larger than 25 MB, email jonny@urbanlime.co.za and we'll send a secure upload link.

Upload now → Email documents directly Or book a 15-min call

Document portal

Start your
free audit.

Upload your VAT-related documents below. Our team reviews every submission within 48 hours and responds with a clear recovery assessment.

Recovery estimate before we proceed

We analyse your VAT position and confirm a precise recovery amount before any work begins. You decide whether to proceed.

48-hour response

You will receive a response from our team within 2 business days of submitting your documents.

Direct communication

You deal with our specialists throughout. No call centres, no automated systems.

Submit your documents

256-BIT ENCRYPTED
Secure & private Direct to our team only Response within 48hrs

Click to upload or drag & drop

PDF, Excel, CSV, ZIP  ·  Max 20MB per file

VAT201 Returns Tax Invoices Bank Statements General Ledger Financial Statements

Documents received.

Thank you. Our team will review your submission and respond within 48 business hours with an initial assessment.

What happens next

1. We review your documents
2. Confirm recovery amount
3. You approve — then we proceed
4. SARS pays you directly

Prefer a call? Book a free 15-min chat ↓

FAQ

Common
questions.

Everything you need to know before getting started.

Still have questions?

Book a free 15-min call jonny@urbanlime.co.za
Who qualifies for a VAT recovery audit?
Any VAT-registered South African business with annual turnover above R1 million and at least 2 years of operating history qualifies. We work across all industries — construction, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, professional services, and more.
What does the 25% contingency fee mean exactly?
Our fee is 25% of the total VAT amount actually recovered from SARS. If we recover R100,000, VATBACK earns R25,000 and you receive R75,000. If we find nothing, you pay nothing — there is no assessment fee, no retainer, and no hidden costs whatsoever.
How far back can you go?
Under the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011, we can request corrections to VAT returns going back 5 years from the date of submission. This gives most businesses a substantial audit window across up to 20 VAT periods.
Is this legal? Will it trigger a SARS audit?
Entirely legal. We use SARS's official Request for Correction (RFC) process — the same mechanism SARS itself recommends for correcting past submissions. We are correcting legitimate overpayments, not disputing SARS assessments. This process does not trigger a broader audit of your affairs.
What documents do I need to provide?
To begin, we typically require your VAT201 return history (downloadable from eFiling), a general ledger or trial balance for the relevant periods, and key supplier invoices. The exact requirements depend on your business type — we'll confirm what's needed after reviewing your initial submission.
How long does the process take?
Initial assessment: 2–5 business days. Full audit and RFC preparation: 2–4 weeks depending on document volume. SARS processing of the RFC: typically 21 business days under the Tax Administration Act. Total time from submission to refund: generally 6–10 weeks.
In what format should I upload my documents?
We accept most standard business file formats. For VAT201 return histories and eFiling exports, download them directly from SARS eFiling as PDF — do not screenshot or photograph the screen. General ledgers and trial balances are best submitted as Excel (.xlsx or .xls) or CSV files exported from your accounting software (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, Pastel, etc.). Supplier invoices and tax invoices should be PDF where possible; scanned copies in JPG or PNG are accepted provided they are clear and legible. Please do not submit password-protected files — remove protection before uploading. If you have a large volume of documents, you may zip them into a single .zip archive. Maximum file size per upload is 25 MB; contact us if you need to share a larger dataset.
How are my documents and data kept secure?
All documents you submit are transmitted over 256-bit SSL/TLS encrypted connections — the same standard used by major banks. Once received, your files are accessible only to the VATBACK specialist team assigned to your case; they are never shared with any third party without your written consent. We retain your documents for the duration of your engagement plus a five-year period thereafter to support any subsequent SARS queries, after which they are securely and permanently destroyed. Our data-handling practices comply fully with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) No. 4 of 2013. A Non-Disclosure Agreement is available on request before you share any documentation.

Security & Compliance

Who exactly can see my documents inside VATBACK?
Access is strictly limited to the specialist assigned to your engagement and the principal reviewer. No administrative staff, no interns, no outsourced processors and no sub-contractors see your data. Access is logged and reviewed. We operate on a least-privilege model — any team member not directly working on your file has zero visibility over your documents.
Where is my data physically stored?
Documents are held in encrypted cloud storage in POPIA-compliant jurisdictions (South Africa / European Economic Area). Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256. Data in transit is protected by TLS 1.2 or higher. No documents are stored on personal devices, laptops left unattended, or unencrypted external drives.
Is VATBACK POPIA compliant?
Yes — fully compliant with the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013. We process only the information required for the VAT recovery engagement (lawful processing), inform you of exactly what we collect (openness), limit retention to the engagement period plus 5 years for audit-trail purposes (minimality), and never share your data with third parties without your written consent (purpose specification). Our Information Officer can be reached at jonny@urbanlime.co.za.
Will you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before I send documents?
Absolutely. We will sign either our standard mutual NDA or yours — whichever you prefer — before any documents are exchanged. Request one by emailing jonny@urbanlime.co.za and it will be returned signed within one business day.
Can I request deletion of my data once the engagement ends?
Yes. Under POPIA you have the right to request deletion of your personal information. Because SARS may query a Request for Correction up to 5 years after submission, we recommend retention for that period to protect your refund. If you still want earlier deletion, email jonny@urbanlime.co.za and we will process your request within 30 days and issue a written destruction certificate.
What happens if there is a security incident or data breach?
We maintain a written incident-response process aligned with POPIA's Section 22 notification requirements. If a breach affecting your data is confirmed, you and the Information Regulator will be notified in writing as soon as reasonably possible — with the nature of the breach, the data involved, the corrective steps taken and recommendations for your own protection. To date, VATBACK has not experienced a data breach.
Do you use my documents for anything other than the VAT audit?
No. Your documents are used solely to identify and recover overpaid VAT from SARS. We do not train AI models on your data, do not sell or rent your information, do not share with marketing partners, and do not use your data for any service other than the one you engaged us for. Ever.