SARS 2025 Tax Filing Season: Key Dates and Auto-Assessment Procedures

Posted 02 July 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Tax

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The 2025 tax return filing season is scheduled to commence in July 2025, featuring a phased approach for auto-assessments and manual submissions.

In accordance with the administrative requirements of the Income Tax Act, No. 58 of 1962, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has confirmed that the 2025 tax filing season will officially begin on 7 July 2025. The schedule is structured as follows:

  • 7 July to 20 July 2025: This period is dedicated exclusively to the generation and issuance of auto-assessments by SARS.
  • 21 July 2025: Taxpayers who have been auto-assessed may begin submitting corrections to their returns. Additionally, individuals who were not part of the auto-assessment pool may request and complete their 2025 tax returns from this date.

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) has noted concerns regarding the progressive shortening of the filing season each year. While SARS has acknowledged these concerns and indicated that the impact will be monitored, the specific metrics for this monitoring remain undefined. SAICA has indicated it will independently engage tax practitioners to determine the impact on practice workflows, human capacity scheduling, and the maintenance of quality controls necessary to ensure full compliance with the Tax Administration Act, No. 28 of 2011.

Click here to download the SAICA Tax Alert: 2025 tax return filing season.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: You must monitor your eFiling profile between 7 and 20 July 2025 to determine if you have been auto-assessed, but refrain from attempting manual edits until the 21 July 2025 opening date.
  • For your business: Tax practices must adjust resource scheduling and workflow management to account for the compressed filing window and the specific 21 July commencement for non-auto-assessed returns.
  • For your clients: Practitioners should advise clients of the 7—20 July 2025 auto-assessment window and ensure all third-party data is verified before clients attempt to accept or correct SARS-generated assessments.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/reminder-saica-tax-alert-re-filing-season

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