SARS tax season 2025 dates

South Africa’s 2025 Tax Season officially opened on 7 July 2025, marking the start of SARS’s auto assessment rollout.

SARS has announced that auto assessments will be issued in batches from 7 to 20 July. From 21 July, the filing window opens for manual tax submissions. This includes individual taxpayers (both provisional and non-provisional), as well as trusts.

Several important updates were introduced this year:

• Wider Auto Assessment net: Some provisional taxpayers will now be invited to participate in auto assessments.
• New request option: SARS has launched a “Provisional Taxpayer Auto Assessment Request” via its Online Query System. Eligible taxpayers who receive an invitation can request to be included in the auto assessment process for 2025.
• Notifications: Auto-assessed taxpayers will be notified via SMS or email. Be sure to check your eFiling profile or the SARS MobiApp.
• Scam alerts: Be vigilant – SARS has warned of an expected rise in fraud and phishing scams during tax season.
• Expats, take note: South African expatriates must indicate whether they have reinstated their tax residency. Those who have not formally ceased their residency may still be considered tax residents – this could have implications if returning to SA in future.

These are just a few of SARS’s many changes introduced for 2025. Staying informed – and filing correctly – is essential.

2025 Tax Season deadlines

Here are the filing periods for the various taxpayer types:

• Auto-Assessed:  7 July 2025 – 20 July 2025
• Individuals: 21 July 2025 – 20 October 2025
• Provisional: 21 July 2025 -19 January 2026
• Trusts: 21 July 2025 – 19 January 2026