Last day to file your taxes! Do it now
Today is the last day to file your tax returns with the South African Revenue Service without penalty.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) urges non-provisional taxpayers with outstanding returns to file before the 2026 filing season closes today, October 23.
By 30 September, SARS had auto-assessed more than 6.9 million returns, a 20% increase on the previous year. SARS also extended auto assessments to certain provisional taxpayers for the first time.
From July 1 to October 19, SARS paid refunds totalling R33 158 270 to 3 143 675 taxpayers. Of these refunds, SARS paid 85% within 72 hours, reaching over 3 million taxpayers.
For the 2026 Filing Season, SARS increased its use of verified third-party data, expanded Auto Assessments, and improved its eFiling platforms.
It also enabled taxpayers to receive assessment notices and submit documents through WhatsApp, adding another digital channel for engaging with SARS.
SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu said: “Expanding auto assessments shows how better use of data can simplify taxpayers’ interactions with SARS. The speed of processing legitimate refunds is a key measure of effective tax administration.”
These improvements advance SARS’s strategic intent to encourage voluntary compliance by giving taxpayers clarity and certainty about their obligations. The aim is to make compliance easy and deliberate non-compliance difficult and costly.
“Tax administration goes beyond collecting what is lawfully due. Paying legitimate refunds efficiently is equally important to support taxpayers in a difficult economic environment and give them certainty.
“Our modernisation programme aims to improve both collection and refunds while safeguarding the integrity of the tax system,” Makhubu said.
SARS urges taxpayers with outstanding returns to file now through SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp before today’s deadline.
Late submission of Personal Income Tax returns may attract a monthly administrative penalty of R250 to R16 000, depending on taxable income, until the return is submitted.
Unpaid tax debt may also incur penalties and interest. Taxpayers unable to pay in full should contact SARS promptly to discuss payment arrangements rather than leave their obligations unaddressed.
“Every compliant taxpayer helps our country function and develop. We thank the millions who have fulfilled their obligations and urge those who still need to file to act now. Our digital platforms enable taxpayers to meet their obligations without visiting a SARS branch,” Makhubu said.
