Godongwana, Kieswetter visit Alberton SARS centre ahead of auto assessment rollout
Tax season has officially kicked off with site inspections, a strong push for digital services, and warnings against scams, as auto assessments roll out from July 7 to 20.
Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana and SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter conducted a site visit to the Alberton Taxpayer Service Centre to assess its readiness for the launch of auto assessment, which runs from July 7 to July 20.
During their visit, Godongwana and Kieswetter engaged directly with taxpayers, many of whom were at the centre updating their personal details such as email addresses, banking information and cellphone numbers. Others were attending to outstanding tax debts and submitting returns.
SARS has started issuing auto assessments to taxpayers with straightforward tax affairs. Where taxpayers agree with the auto assessment, no further action is required – acceptance occurs automatically, eliminating the need for manual confirmation.
Taxpayers are advised to await notification via SMS or email before accessing their accounts through eFiling or the SARS MobiApp.
To expedite refunds, SARS will automatically pay refunds below R100 directly into taxpayers’ bank accounts within 72 hours of the assessment being finalised.
Filing Season 2025 officially opens for non-provisional taxpayers and certain provisional taxpayers who were not auto-assessed.
The filing window for non-provisional taxpayers runs from July 21 to October 20, while provisional taxpayers have until January 19, 2026, to file their returns.
Key dates to diarise:
• Auto assessment notices: July 7 to July 20
• Non-provisional individual taxpayers filing: July 21 to October 20
• Provisional taxpayers filing: July 21 to January 19
Taxpayers are urged to remain vigilant against scams, which tend to spike before and during filing season.
Fraudsters may impersonate SARS officials to obtain personal information, prompt clicks on malicious links, or solicit payments.
SARS stresses that it will never request personal information via links, and it urges taxpayers to safeguard their eFiling login credentials and use only authorised tax practitioners.
For the latest scam alerts, visit the SARS website or report phishing attempts via email to phishing@sars.gov.za. To avoid penalties, taxpayers must ensure they submit accurate and timely information.
SARS encourages the use of digital platforms for a hassle-free filing season:
• SARS website (Individuals tab)
• SARS Online Query System (SOQS)
• WhatsApp: send ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello’ to 0800 117 277
• AI Virtual Assistant: available 24/7 on the SARS website
• Dial 1347277# for SARS services
• SARS YouTube channel: @sarstax for instructional videos
Godongwana praised SARS’s preparedness, stating that this year’s filing season is set to be both smooth and efficient. Kieswetter encouraged taxpayers to use SARS’s digital services to avoid queues and exposure to cold weather.
‘Taxpayers do not have to expose themselves to the elements in this cold weather and stand in queues. They can conduct their tax affairs in the comfort of their homes rather than pay taxi fares,’ Kieswetter said.
Taxpayers who need to visit SARS branches are reminded to book appointments in advance to minimise waiting times.
