SARS filing season dates and other important information for South African taxpayers

The South African Revenue Service’s (SARS’s) filing season will begin with an auto assessment period from 1 July to 12 July 2026, followed by the broader filing period.

This was revealed in a press statement in which the revenue service provided taxpayers’ details about the upcoming filing season.

SARS Commissioner Johnstone Makhubu said they will begin with an auto-assessment period from 1 July to 12 July 2026.

Auto assessment is aimed at taxpayers with less complex tax matters, where information is provided by employers and other third-party data providers.

Auto assessment will be followed by the broader filing period from 13 July to 23 October 2026 for provisional and non-provisional taxpayers who must submit returns.

Makhubu explained that provisional taxpayers and trusts have until 22 January 2027 to file their returns.

“The phased approach manages taxpayer flows, reduces pressure on service channels, and provides certainty about when each taxpayer should act,” SARS said.

The SARS Commissioner urged taxpayers to avoid visiting SARS Service Centres for filing support during the auto assessment period.

“This year, SARS expects to issue approximately 6 million auto assessments during this period,” Makhubu said.

SARS further encouraged taxpayers to do a pre–filing season health check by confirming that their personal details, banking particulars, and contact information are up to date.

“A closed bank account, missing third-party data submission, or an outstanding return from a previous year can all delay an otherwise smooth outcome,” he said.

“By resolving these matters early through SARS’s digital channels, taxpayers place themselves in the best position for a seamless experience.”

SARS explained that those selected for auto-assessment will receive a notification that they were part of the group.

“By using third-party data, SARS can reconcile and automatically assess these taxpayers,” it said.

Taxpayers who receive an SMS, email, or other SARS notification informing them that they have been auto-assessed don’t need to do anything.

“If they are satisfied that the information reflected is complete and correct, they do not need to do anything. Tax just happens for them,” it said.

SARS will process the outcome accordingly, and if a refund is due and all details are in order, it will be issued within 72 hours.

For those who need support, SARS’s contact centres and service centres are open during normal weekday hours from 08:00 to 16:00.