2025 Tax Filing Season Opens Today
This article will count 0.25 units (15 minutes) of unverifiable CPD. Remember to log these units under your membership profile.
Tax season officially kicks off today, 21 July 2025. Already, 5.8 million taxpayers received Auto Assessments this year, increased from 5 million in 2024. And 99.6% of those didn’t need to make any changes. Over R10.6 billion in refunds have already been paid out, mostly within 72 hours.
If you’ve been Auto Assessed, there’s a good chance you don’t have to lift a finger. But if your return needs updating, you can still do it easily on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp.
For everyone else, the Filing Season runs from 21 July to 20 October 2025. If you're a provisional taxpayer, your deadline is 19 January 2026. SARS says online returns now generate assessments in under five seconds, all thanks to smart tech like AI and machine learning.
And it’s working: over 10.2 million people have already logged into SARS digital platforms since 4 July. Most queries are being handled online via SARS’s WhatsApp line, chatbot, and the Online Query System, so no need to queue at a SARS office unless absolutely necessary.
Important Reminders
Submit accurate info to avoid penalties.
Refunds under R100 won’t be paid out automatically.
Be alert: SARS will never send you links or ask for your login details.
Report scams to: phishing@sars.gov.za
Need more information? Use the following communication channels with SARS:
SARS Website: visit www.sars.gov.za and click on the “Individuals” tab.
SARS Online Query System (SOQS): https://tools.sars.gov.za/soqs.
SARS WhatsApp: send “Hi” or “Hello” to 0800 117 277.
Ask the AI Virtual Assistant, available 24/7 on the SARS website to answer queries.
Dial *134*7277#: to access SARS services.
SARS YouTube: visit @sarstax for how-to videos.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter says the goal is simple: “to make tax just happen.” And this filing season, it really might.
