Tax Payers, SARS confirms key dates for Tax Season 2025. Find out when auto assessments will begin, deadlines and how to prepare your return.
Heads up, tax season is creeping up again. SARS just dropped the dates for Tax Season 2025, and honestly, you’ll wanna jot these down unless you enjoy late-night panic filing or—worse—dealing with penalties. Spoiler: you don’t.
🗓️ So, here’s the rundown:
- Auto-Assessments: 7 July 2025 – 20 July 2025.
- Normal Folks (Non-Provisional): 21 July 2025 – 20 October 2025.
- Provisional Taxpayers & Trusts: 21 July 2025 – 19 January 2026.
Yep, three different timelines—because taxes just can’t be simple, can they?
Now, about this auto-assessment business: SARS is leaning hard into the whole “let’s make life easier” vibe. Basically, they grab info from your boss, your bank, your medical scheme, and whoever else, and cook up a tax return for you. If you’re picked, you’ll get an SMS or email—so don’t ignore random SARS messages in July, okay?
Here’s the deal:
- Log in on their eFiling site or that MobiApp thing, and check what they’ve got for you.
- If it all looks right, cool—hit accept, and if they owe you cash, apparently you’ll see it in your account in like, three days.
- But if something’s off—maybe your boss messed up your salary slip or your bank forgot something—you can fix it, but you gotta do it by 20 October 2025. No extensions, no mercy.
tax-payers
Couple pro tips (from someone who’s seen friends panic at 11:55pm on deadline day):
- Make sure your personal details and banking info are up to date.
- Gather your documents early—don’t wait for that one last payslip to show up in your inbox.
- Seriously, just file early. Avoid the drama.
If you’re provisional (self-employed, have a side hustle, or run a trust), you’ve got longer—until 19 January 2026, but don’t get too comfy. SARS doesn’t mess around with penalties.
And if you’re a trustee, yeah, it’s on you to make sure everything’s squared away. No passing the buck.
Some extra cheat codes:
- Double-check all that third-party info. If your employer or bank hasn’t updated their stuff, you’ll be the one explaining things to SARS.
- If you get stuck or confused (totally normal), hit up a tax pro. Or, if you’re a DIY type, SARS has a chatbot, live agents, and an actual phone number—miracles do happen.
Bottom line? Stay sharp, don’t ignore those SARS emails, and please, don’t wait until the last minute. Your future, slightly less stressed self will thank you.
Need more details? Just hit the SARS website. They love publishing updates.
ARS eFiling is a free, online process for the submission of returns and declarations and other related services. This free service allows taxpayers, tax practitioners and businesses to register free of charge and submit returns and declarations, make payments and perform a number of other interactions with SARS in a secure online environment.
How do I check my SARS refund?
Refunds of R100 or more will be paid automatically within 72 hours. Refunds of less than R100 will be added to your account and paid out when your account balance exceeds R100. You can find out your refund status on WhatsApp (0800 11 7277), SARS MobiApp, or by dialling *134*7277#.
How do I check my tax number using an ID number?
You can also check your IRP5 or payslip from your employer as your tax reference number may appear there. Send an SMS to 47277 with the word “TRN” followed by a space and your ID number (or passport number or asylum number). SARS will send you an SMS with your tax number in it.
CHECK AVAILABLE VACANCIES, LATEST NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES HERE:
