SARS:
TAX FILING SEASON DATES AND INFORMATION:
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pleased to announce the official start of the 2025 Filing Season, effective from 7 July 2025 to 20 October 2025. This season marks an important period when SARS will automatically assess the income-tax returns of most taxpayers. The category of taxpayers who are automatically assessed will receive notification from SARS from 7 – 20 July 2025. Taxpayers who do not receive an Auto Assessment notification from SARS and are required to file a tax return can do so from 21 July 2025. Filing Season will close on 20 October 2025 for non-provisional individuals.
SARS urges all taxpayers to prepare their documentation early to check their assessments and to avoid last-minute delays when submitting an income-tax return.
Taxpayers must ensure that 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 cell phone number) are up to date on SARS e-Filing. We always communicate this information through to our clients, please advise SW Accounting Services should the banking details changed.
NOTE: there is no need to do anything if your banking details and security contact details have not changed.
Auto Assessment
In line with SARS’s strategic objective, is to make it easy for taxpayers to comply, taxpayers 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 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.
We, at SW Accounting Services always check the auto assessments of all our clients and rectify the problems that may occur at a small administration fee. If we at SW Accounting Services, are of the opinion that SARS has not captured all the necessary information we will make changes on their tax returns and submit the missing information through e-Filing on or before the due date 20 October 2025.
Taxpayers owed a refund, will receive it in 72 hours if all their information is correct, according to SARS. If they owe tax, they must pay SARS through their banks, we normally load it on E-filing for all our clients to authorise these payments.
Auto Assessment will work as follows:
- From 7 July, SARS will send an email or SMS to taxpayers or to us, notifying them that their assessment has been automatically calculated.
- Refunds will be paid directly into the taxpayer’s bank account within seventy-two business hours after the notification. Money owed to SARS must be paid to SARS through online banking, e-Filing, or the SARS Mobi-App by the stipulated due date.
- Taxpayers can access their auto assessments through any of SARS’s channels, such as SARS Mobi-App or e-Filing. Taxpayers should review and verify the completeness and accuracy of the information that resulted in the Auto Assessment. We do this service to all our clients.
- Taxpayers 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 either income or expenses, which may have affected the outcome, it must be declared to SARS by submitting a tax return in the normal way. SW Accounting will assist with this.
Taxpayers Who Must File a Tax Return (Non-Provisional and Other Taxpayers)
This population represents taxpayers whose tax matters are complex. This population can start filing tax returns from 21 July 2025 until 20 October 2025.
Except for Trusts, Provisional taxpayers can submit returns from 21 July 2025 until 19 January 2026. Trusts can start filing tax returns from 20 September 2025 until 19 January 2026.
This year, SARS’s support services are improved thanks to:
- More information on SARS’s interactive channels.
- Extended customer service hours.
- Updated online filing platforms for easier submission.
- Comprehensive guidance and resources available at SW Accounting Services.
- Increased security measures to protect sensitive information.
We remind our taxpayers that their submissions must comply with regulations and deadlines to avoid penalties. We will send out letters to all our clients as a reminder to submit the necessary detail to us at: info@swaccounting.co.za
For any personal assistance, please mail us at: info@swaccounting.co.za or phone us to make an appointment on: (011) 760 1992 / (011) 763 5145.