SARS tax filing season to open in July
Tax filing season is around the corner and South Africans are expected to square up their affairs with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) from 7 July to 20 October 2025.
According to SARS, taxpayers who are automatically assessed will begin to receive notifications from July.
'Taxpayers who do not receive notifications from SARS that they are automatically assessed, are encouraged to submit their tax returns in a timely and accurate manner from 21 July 2025.
'The Filing Season will close on 20 October 2025 for non-provisional individuals,' the revenue collector said in a statement on Monday.
Taxpayers are urged to start preparing documentation in advance and check their assessments to 'avoid last-minute delays for those that must submit an income return'.
'SARS requires taxpayers to ensure that their banking details are correct and updated. This ensures efficient processing of any refund that may be due.
'If you need to change your bank details, you must first check that your security contact details (email and cell phone number) on the SARS eFiling are up to date. There is no need to do anything if your banking details and security contact details have not changed,' SARS said.
Making compliance easier
SARS has identified a portion of provisional and non-provisional taxpayers for auto-assessment.
The move is targeted at taxpayers who have one or more sources of income from formal and other forms of employment and 'whose tax affairs are not complicated'.
The steps in the auto assessment process are as follows:
• From the 7th of July, SARS will communicate directly with affected taxpayers by SMS and/or email, notifying taxpayers of their auto-assessed tax returns.
• If there is a refund due to the taxpayer, it will be paid directly to the taxpayer's bank account within 72 business hours after the notification. If there is money owing to SARS, it must be paid to SARS' Bank Account, eFiling or through the SARS MobiApp by the stipulated date.
• Taxpayers can access their auto assessed income tax returns through any of SARS's channels, such as the SARS MobiApp or SARS eFiling, to review and verify the completeness and accuracy of the information that resulted in the auto assessment.
• If a taxpayer is satisfied with the auto assessment, they don't have to do anything further and the process terminates at this point.
• If the taxpayer finds that there is missing and/or inaccurate information, pertaining to either income or expenses, which may have affected the outcome, it must be declared to SARS by submitting a tax return to SARS.
'The process of automatic assessment is made possible by the availability of third-party data received from employers, pension fund administrators, medical aid schemes and more. This enables SARS to complete the tax declaration on behalf of this segment of taxpayers and issue them with an Auto Assessment.
'The taxpayers in the auto assessment category do not have to do anything if they are satisfied with the calculation on their tax returns. If the taxpayer is of the opinion that SARS has not captured all the necessary information, they are free to make changes on their tax returns and submit the missing information through eFiling by the 20th of October 2025.
'Where the taxpayer has a refund, they will receive it in 72 hours if all their information is correct. If the taxpayer owes the revenue collector, they must pay through their respective banks,' SARS said.
Complex matters
Those taxpayers whose tax matters are considered complex will be able to start filing their returns from 21 July until 20 October.
Provisional taxpayers as well as trust submissions will also be able to start filing on those dates.
SARS's enhanced support services this year include:
• More information on SARS's Interactive channels
• Extended customer service hours
• Updated online filing platforms for easier submission
• Comprehensive guidance and resources available on our website
• Increased security measures to protect sensitive information
'We remind taxpayers to ensure that their submissions comply with current regulations and deadlines to avoid penalties. For assistance, please visit SARS website, SARS YouTube TV channel on how to videos. you can rather plug the interactive channels for various enquiries
'Taxpayers are encouraged not to visit to our branches but use our digital channels, namely eFiling, SARS mobiapp to transact with SARS. If it is unavoidable, please book an appointment.
'Together, let's ensure a smooth and efficient filing season,' SARS concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
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