SARS Tax Filing Period Starts 7 July: South Africans Must File by 20 October 2025

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially opened the 2025 tax filing season for individual taxpayers, running from 7 July to 20 October 2025. This period marks the window for taxpayers to submit their income tax returns for the 2024 tax year. SARS emphasises early preparation to avoid last-minute delays and ensure smooth processing of refunds.

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Key Dates for the 2025 Filing Season

Auto Assessments: 7 to 20 July 2025
Manual Filing for Individual Taxpayers: 21 July to 20 October 2025
Provisional Taxpayers Filing Deadline: 19 January 2026
Trusts Filing Window: 19 September 2025 to 19 January 2026

Taxpayers who receive an auto-assessment notification between 7 and 20 July do not need to file unless they disagree with the assessment.

What is Auto Assessment?

SARS continues to expand its auto-assessment programme for taxpayers with straightforward tax affairs. Using third-party data from employers, financial institutions, medical schemes, and retirement annuity administrators, SARS pre-populates tax returns and sends notifications via SMS or email.

If the auto-assessment is accurate, taxpayers need not take further action. However, if discrepancies arise, taxpayers can file a revised return through SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp by 20 October.

Who Must File Manually?

Taxpayers who do not receive an auto-assessment notice but are required to file must submit their returns manually from 21 July to 20 October 2025. This includes individuals with complex income sources or those who did not qualify for auto-assessment.

Provisional taxpayers, such as freelancers and rental income earners, have a later deadline of 19 January 2026 to file their returns.

CHECK OUT: SARS MobiApp vs eFiling: Which Is Better for Your Tax Filing and Why?

Important Changes for 2025

Several updates affect this tax season:

Provisional Taxpayers Auto Assessment: Certain provisional taxpayers can now opt into auto-assessment by expressing interest through SARS’s Online Query System if invited.
Foreign Tax Credits: Amendments to Section 6quat of the Income Tax Act allow taxpayers to fully utilise foreign tax credits on capital gains, with unused credits carried forward for up to six years.
Employer Reporting: Employers must report specific deductions on IRP5/IT3(a) certificates, affecting how these are reflected in tax returns.
South African Expats: Expats must clarify their tax residency status, as SARS may still consider some as residents if formal deregistration was not completed, potentially affecting their tax obligations.

Preparing for Filing

SARS urges taxpayers to:

Update banking details on eFiling to ensure quick refund processing.
Verify contact information (email and cell phone number) to receive important notifications.
Gather all relevant documents such as IRP5 certificates, medical aid statements, and investment income slips.
Be vigilant against scams, as fraudulent activities increase during filing seasons.

Filing Methods

Taxpayers can file returns via:

SARS eFiling portal – the most popular and convenient method.
SARS MobiApp – a mobile-friendly alternative for filing and checking assessments.
Manual submission at SARS branches – available but less common.

Consequences of Late or Non-Filing

Failure to file by the deadlines may result in penalties, interest on outstanding taxes, and possible legal action. SARS encourages early submission to avoid these consequences and to allow time for corrections if needed.

Get Ready

The 2025 SARS tax filing season opens on 7 July with auto-assessments rolling out until 20 July. Individual taxpayers must file by 20 October 2025, while provisional taxpayers and trusts have until 19 January 2026. Taxpayers should take advantage of the auto-assessment option if eligible and prepare their documents early to ensure compliance.