The South African Revenue Services (SARS) has announced the official start of the 2025 tax filing season, effective from July 7 to October 20. During this important period SARS will automatically assess the income-tax returns of most taxpayers.

The category of taxpayers who are automatically assessed will be notified via email or SMS.

Taxpayers who do not receive an auto assessment notification from SARS are required to file a tax return from July 21. The filing season will close on October 20 for non-provisional individuals, including those whose tax matters are more complex.

With the exception of trusts, provisional taxpayers can submit returns from July 21, 2025 until January 19, 2026. Trusts can start filing tax returns from September 20, 2025 until January 19, 2026.

SARS has urged all taxpayers to prepare their documentation early, to check their assessments and to avoid last-minute submission of income tax returns. Submissions must comply with regulations and deadlines to avoid penalties.

Taxpayers must ensure their banking details are correct and updated, enabling efficient processing of refunds. To change bank details, taxpayers should first check that their security contact details (email and cellphone number) are up to date on SARS eFiling.

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What is an auto assessment?

In line with SARS’ strategic objective to make it easy for taxpayers to comply, those whose tax matters are less complicated are auto-assessed by SARS. Taxpayers who are auto-assessed do not have to file a tax return. Auto assessment is made possible by the availability of third-party data received from employers, financial institutions, retirement annuity 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. Taxpayers in the auto assessment category do not have to do anything if their assessments are correct.

Taxpayers of the opinion that SARS has not captured all the necessary information are free to make changes on their tax returns and submit the missing information through eFiling by October 20.

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Taxpayers owed a refund will receive it within 72 hours of processing if all their information is correct. If they owe tax, they must pay SARS through their banks. They can access their auto assessments through any of SARS’ channels – SARS MobiApp or e-Filing. Taxpayers should review and verify the completeness and accuracy of the information that resulted in the auto assessment. Those who are satisfied that the auto-assessment is correct do not have to do anything further.

If the taxpayer finds that there is missing or inaccurate information pertaining to income or expenses, which may have affected the outcome, it must be declared to SARS by submitting a tax return in the normal way.

For assistance, the public can make use of any of the SARS channels:
• SARS Website: visit www.sars.gov.za and click on the “individuals” tab
• SARS MobiApp
• The AI virtual assistant is available 24/7 on the SARS website to answer your queries
• SARS Online Query System (SOQS): https://tools.sars.gov.za/soqs
• SARS WhatsApp: send “Hi” or “Hello” to 0800 117 277
• Dial *134*7277# to access SARS services
• SARS YouTube: visit @sarstax for how-to videos

There is no need to visit a SARS branch. If you must, first make an appointment to avoid long queues.