THE South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that the 2026 tax filing season will commence on July 1, starting with the auto assessment period.

Last week SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu explained the auto assessment period will run until July 12.

Following this the broader filing period opens from July 13 until October 23 for provisional and non-provisional taxpayers who must submit returns.

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Provisional taxpayers and trusts have until January 22, 2027 to file their returns.

Taxpayers are urged not to come to SARS’s Service Centres for filing during the Auto Assessment period.

This year, SARS expects to issue approximately six million auto assessments during this period.

“Our point of departure this year is our recognition that behind every tax number is a person trying to get it right while managing the pressures of daily life. With that in mind, SARS encourages taxpayers to do a pre–Filing Season health check by confirming that their personal details, banking particulars, contact information, and tax affairs are up to date. A closed bank account, missing third-party data submission, or an outstanding return from a previous year can all delay an otherwise smooth outcome.

“By resolving these matters early through SARS’s digital channels, taxpayers place themselves in the best position for a seamless Filing Season experience. If you are chosen for Auto Assessment, like millions of other taxpayers, wait for a notification from SARS to see if you are part of that population. By using third-party data, SARS can reconcile and automatically assess these taxpayers,” he said.

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