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The South African
4 days ago
- Business
- The South African
SARS announces 2025 tax return auto-assessment dates
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the tax return filing dates for individuals for the 2025 tax season. The tax season for individual taxpayers (non-provisional) will open 21 July 2025 and run to 20 October 2025. Auto assessments will start rolling out two weeks before, starting 7 July 2025 and running through to 20 July. The filing season for provisional taxpayers will run from 21 July 2025 to 19 January 2026 – which is also the filing window for trusts. Make sure that you have received your IRP5/IT3(a) and other tax certificates like medical aid, retirement annuity fund, and any other third-party data relevant to determining your tax obligations. If you have forgotten your password you can reset it online through the eFiling website by clicking on Forgot Password or Forgot Username. Use our self-help online query system to retrieve your tax reference number and submit any required supporting documents. In addition, check and/or update your personal information such as banking details, address and contact details online on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp. SARS has announced a significant expansion of its auto-assessment programme for the 2025 tax season, aiming to streamline the filing process for a broader group of individual taxpayers – both non-provisional and provisional. According to SARS, the system will automatically assess a larger segment of taxpayers this year than ever before. These include individuals earning income from one or more formal or informal sources – such as employment, pensions, or freelance work – as long as their tax affairs are not considered complex. 'The process of automatic assessment is made possible by the availability of third-party data received from employers, pension fund administrators, medical aid schemes, and more,' SARS stated. Through this data, SARS pre-populates tax returns and issues what's known as an Auto Assessment. These assessments are sent directly to taxpayers via SMS or email and reflect the income, deductions, and taxes calculated based on data SARS has received from trusted third parties. If the taxpayer agrees with the figures, no further action is required. 'Taxpayers in the auto-assessment category do not have to do anything if they are satisfied with the calculation,' SARS confirmed. If you believe the auto-assessment is incomplete or incorrect, you can amend it manually. Taxpayers have until 20 October 2025 to submit changes via the SARS eFiling portal or the SARS MobiApp. This flexibility ensures that taxpayers retain control over their filings, even while benefiting from automation. The expansion of auto-assessments reflects SARS' ongoing efforts to simplify tax compliance and reduce the burden on individual filers. In 2024, millions were auto-assessed, and 2025 is expected to surpass those figures. Taxpayers are urged to ensure their personal details – especially email addresses and cell phone numbers – are updated on SARS eFiling to receive timely notifications. Where the taxpayer has a refund, they will receive it in 72 hours if all their information is correct. If they owe SARS, they must pay SARS through their respective banks, and the details are provided below. From the 7 July, SARS will communicate directly with affected taxpayers by SMS and/or email, notifying taxpayers of their auto-assessed tax returns. If there is a refund due to the taxpayer, it will be paid directly to the taxpayer's bank account within 72 business hours after the notification. If there is money owing to SARS, it must be paid to SARS' Bank Account, eFiling or through the SARS MobiApp by the stipulated date. Taxpayers can access their auto assessed income tax returns through any of SARS's channels, such as the SARS MobiApp or SARS eFiling, to review and verify the completeness and accuracy of the information that resulted in the auto assessment. If a taxpayer is satisfied with the auto assessment, they don't have to do anything further and the process terminates at this point. If the taxpayer finds that there is missing and/or inaccurate information, pertaining to either income or expenses, which may have affected the outcome, it must be declared to SARS by submitting a tax return to SARS. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
SARS opens 2025 tax season on July 7
SARS has announced the dates for the 2025 individual tax filing season, with key deadlines for both automatic and manual submissions. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has confirmed that the 2025 individual tax filing season will open on July 7, 2025 and close on October 20, for non-provisional taxpayers. This period includes automatic assessments for qualifying taxpayers and standard submissions for others. According to SARS, a large group of individual taxpayers will again be subject to automatic assessment. These assessments are based on third-party data from employers, pension funds, medical schemes, and other institutions. Taxpayers selected for automatic assessment will receive notifications via SMS or email between July 7 and 20. Individuals who do not receive an automatic assessment notification are required to file their income tax returns between July 21 and October 20. Provisional taxpayers and trusts have until January 19, 2026 to complete their submissions. Taxpayers are advised to verify that their banking and contact details are correct on the SARS eFiling system to facilitate processing, including potential refunds. There is no requirement to update details if there have been no changes. SARS states that taxpayers who are satisfied with the automatic assessment issued to them do not need to take further action. Where taxpayers identify missing or incorrect information in the assessment, they may submit corrections via SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp by October 20. Refunds for accurate returns will be processed within 72 business hours. If tax is owed, payment must be made through SARS-approved banking platforms or digital channels. From July 7, SARS will notify affected individuals of their auto-assessed status. These taxpayers can access their assessments through eFiling, the MobiApp, or other SARS digital platforms. For those required to file manually, SARS emphasises the importance of preparing documentation early and submitting returns on time. Late submissions or inaccurate returns may result in penalties. To support taxpayers during the 2025 season, SARS has made several system and service enhancements, including: Improved digital filing channels Extended service hours Step-by-step video guidance via the SARS YouTube channel Strengthened data protection measures Taxpayers are advised to make use of SARS's digital services - such as eFiling, the MobiApp, and other online platforms - rather than visiting a branch in person. If a branch visit is necessary, it's important to book an appointment ahead of time. Further information and support can be accessed via the official SARS website and digital help channels.
