The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially opened the 2025 Tax Season, with an expanded auto-assessment programme once again taking centre stage. Taxpayers are urged to check their status and act promptly to remain compliant.
Key Dates for 2025
- Auto-assessments: Rolled out from 7 July to 20 July 2025
- Individual (non-provisional) taxpayers: 21 July to 20 October 2025
- Provisional taxpayers and trusts: 21 July 2025 to 19 January 2026
What’s New This Year
SARS has expanded auto-assessments to include a larger group of taxpayers. Using third-party data from employers, banks, medical schemes and retirement funds, SARS pre-populates returns and issues an assessment automatically. Where a refund is due, it is typically paid within 72 business days if banking details are correct.
What You Should Do
- Confirm your contact and banking details are up to date on eFiling.
- Review your auto-assessment carefully. If it is accurate, no action is needed.
- If information is missing or incorrect, file a corrected return before the relevant deadline to avoid penalties.
Source: BusinessTech, “SARS announces auto assessment change for tax season 2025” (businesstech.co.za).
If you need assistance understanding how these developments affect you or your business, GZ & Co. is here to assist.
