As SARS rolls out its 2025 Income Tax Filing Season, taxpayers across the country are preparing. Here's your complete guide—from prepping returns to missing deadlines.
Gather essential documents like IRP5s, medical tax certificates, retirement annuity certificates, and bank interest statements before July.
Confirm your SARS details: ensure banking, contact info, and digital profile are updated—note SARS has discontinued paper mailings this year.
Check for auto-assessment eligibility. From 7–20 July 2025, SARS will notify selected taxpayers via SMS or email.
Review & double-check your auto-assessment. If SARS hasn’t captured all income or deductions, update your return via eFiling or the MobiApp before the deadline.
Timeline:
Auto-assessments: 7–20 July 2025
Filing window (non-provisional): 21 July–20 October 2025
Provisional taxpayers: until 19 January 2026
Yes—Auto-Assessment is expanding:
SARS expects to auto-assess over 4.8 million taxpayers based on employer, medical, investment, and retirement fund data.
Notifications go out via SMS/email between 7–20 July 2025.
If you agree with the pre-filled details, no action is needed. Refunds are processed within 72 hours if banking details are correct.
Under 65: R95,750
Aged 65–74: R148,217
75 and older: R165,689
Monthly equivalent (aged under 65):
R95,750 ÷ 12 ≈ R7,979/month
If you're under 65 and earn less than ~R8,000/month gross, you likely won’t pay income tax.
Missed submissions or payments can lead to significant penalties:
Admin penalties can start at R250/month and increase for repeat or prolonged non-compliance.
IRP6 & ITR14 deadlines penalty: a flat 20% of the tax due, plus 10% late payment interest.
Ongoing interest accrues on overdue tax balances.
Non-compliance can affect credit, tender, or loan eligibility.
Bottom line: File and pay on time—even if you missed a past year—to minimise penalties and interest.
Log in to eFiling or MobiApp: go to “Returns” → “Submit Return” → select tax year to view status.
Auto-assessment status: check under SARS Online Query System (SOQS), using “My Auto Assessment Status” from 1 July onward.
In the event of penalties, retrieve your Statement of Account via eFiling under “SARS Correspondence” → “Request Admin Penalty SOA”.
Understanding the difference is key to knowing how and when to file:
Earns income from one employer (e.g. salary with IRP5)
Pays tax through PAYE each month
Does not need to submit IRP6 forms
Typically files once a year (ITR12)
Deadline: 20 October 2025
Earns income outside of a salaried job (e.g. freelance, rental, interest)
Not taxed monthly via PAYE
Must submit two IRP6 forms during the year (Aug & Feb)
Also files a final return (ITR12)
Deadline: 19 January 2026
If you’re not sure which you are, SARS eFiling usually guides you based on your income sources
| Task | When |
|---|---|
| Gather IRP5s, certificates | Before July 7 |
| Update SARS profile | Immediately |
| Monitor auto-assessment notifications | 7–20 July |
| Review and edit return if needed | By 20 October |
| Provisional taxpayer filing | By 19 January 2026 |
| Pay any balance due | By Notice of Assessment due date |
Stay ahead by preparing early, watching for digital SARS notifications, and keeping documentation organised. Auto-assessments simplify the process—but only if all details are correct. Missing deadlines can prove costly. Use logged-in portals to monitor your filing status and account statements. A little planning now saves headaches later.
Note: Always verify you have the latest official information via SARS’s website or eFiling platform.