94 people at SARS paid R270 million, including one employee who received R11.828 million

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) revealed that it paid 94 top managers R270 million in the last financial year.

It shared this information in its 2026 Annual Report, which provided details on the average cost per occupational level.

SARS stated that it had 14,525 employees, who received a combined R9.3 billion in salaries. This works out to an average pay package of R643,301.

It has 94 top managers, who received an average remuneration of R2.9 million each. They cost taxpayers R270 million.

The 454 senior managers at the South African Revenue Service received a total of R814 million at an average pay package of R1.8 million.

The best-paid SARS employee over the last financial year was the former commissioner Edward Kieswetter.

He received a pay package of R11.83 million, which included a basic salary of R8.445 million and a bonus of R3.07 million.

The Deputy Commissioner for Corporate and Enterprise Services received R2.6 million for five months’ work.

The Deputy Commissioner for Enterprise Strategy and Modernisation received R6.6 million over the last year.

The Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Engagement & Operations enjoyed a pay package of R7.2 million, and the SARS Chief of Staff R4.8 million.

Combined, the five employees with the highest salaries at the South African Revenue Service received R33 million in taxpayer funds.

The table below shows the pay packages of the top employees at the South African Revenue Service.