Global Tax Reform Filing Date Moved to March 2026
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In line with global efforts to tackle tax avoidance and profit shifting by multinational companies, South Africa is implementing the GloBE rules, part of the OECD’s Global Minimum Tax framework, also known as Pillar Two.
This means that large multinational groups will soon be required to pay a minimum effective tax rate of 15% in each country they operate in. SARS is putting systems in place to support this, and all affected businesses will need to comply.
Who Needs to Comply?
The GloBE rules affect Multinational Enterprise (MNE) Groups that meet both of the following:
They operate in more than one country, and
They have annual revenue of €750 million or more (roughly R15 billion)
In short: if a business is part of a large international group, even if it operates only one division or company in South Africa, the local entity must comply with the new rules.
This includes:
Identifying who in the group will submit the new GloBE Information Return (GIR)
Ensuring SARS is notified in time
Being ready for digital filing via the SARS eFiling system in 2026.
Rollout Delays
SARS has postponed the rollout of the GloBE registration and notification system from December 2025 to 16 March 2026. This allows more time to align systems with international standards and reduce risks for businesses and SARS alike.
Important Deadlines
March 2026: eFiling portal for GloBE registration and notification goes live
30 April 2026: Extended deadline for notifying SARS who will file the GIR (Designated Local Entity, Ultimate Parent Entity, or Designated Filing Entity)
30 June 2026: Extended deadline for submitting the GIR for MNE Groups with fiscal years ending before 31 December 2024
For other MNEs: GIRs must be filed 18 months after the end of the 2024 fiscal year (and 15 months for future years).
What Is the GloBE Information Return (GIR)?
The GIR is a mandatory new filing that shows how much tax the MNE group paid in each country. It helps SARS check if the global minimum tax rule is being followed.
South African entities in the group must either:
File the GIR locally, or
Notify SARS who in the group will do so (in which country), and confirm that country has a proper agreement in place with South Africa for automatic information sharing
Good News for Business
South Africa has taken steps to reduce unnecessary burdens:
Signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) – enabling automatic exchange of GIRs with other countries
Qualified its Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax – meaning companies are less likely to face double taxation if already paying enough tax locally
What Accountants Should Do Now
If you work with MNE clients:
Identify affected clients early
Start internal readiness planning for notifications and GIR submissions
Help clients map reporting lines and understand who will file what, and where
Ensure the appointed entity is recognised by SARS, especially if the return will be filed outside South Africa
For firms supporting MNEs, this is also a strategic advisory opportunity—covering compliance, tax planning, and international coordination.
