Avoid common tax filing mistakes this season

WHEN it comes to tax season, there are three types of people: the proactive (they know what to do and get on it fast); the procrastinator (they know what to do but leave it to the 11th hour); and the panicker, who is not sure what to do and hopes that if they ignore it, it might go away.

- JOHAN WERTH

This year's tax filing season officially kicks off in July, with auto assessments running from July 7 to 20, 2025. For non-provisional taxpayers who were not auto-assessed, they will be able to submit and file their income tax returns between July 21 to October 20, 2025.

If you're a "procrastinator" or "panicker" type, a common-but dangerous-mistake is assuming Sars will auto-assess or that no filing is needed, especially if you earn under R500,000 per annum. You can see if you're liable to submit a return by checking to see if there are communications from Sars or by using the Sars website. You can also consult a tax practitioner to confirm if you're required to file.

What is tax filing season, and who does it apply to?

The tax filing season is the period during which taxpayers must submit their income tax returns to the Sars for the previous tax year (which runs from 1 March to the last day of February of the following year). For the current period, it would refer to March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025.

Individuals who must file an income tax return are:

- South African residents and nonresidents who earned income in South Africa during the tax year.

- Individuals who: