Essential tips for the 2025 Sars tax filing season

EVERY year, tax season creeps up on us, and somehow, despite all our good intentions, many of us still scramble at the last minute. With Sars officially opening the 2025 tax filing season from July 7 to October 20, now is the time to get your affairs in order before the inevitable rush.

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There's good news for taxpayers—Sars has streamlined the process through auto assessments, meaning that a large group of non-provisional and provisional taxpayers will receive pre-completed tax returns based on third-party data from employers, medical aids, and pension funds.

Those affected will be notified between July 7 and 20, and if the information is accurate, there’s no further action needed.

If corrections are necessary, changes can be submitted via eFiling before the October 20 deadline.

For those not automatically assessed, tax returns must be submitted manually from July 21 onwards, which is where preparation is key. Sars advises taxpayers to check their banking details to avoid delays in receiving refunds, which can be paid within 72 hours if everything is in order.

Now, let’s talk about the common mistakes that cost taxpayers time and money. Procrastination is one of them, and I speak from experience.