The South African Revenue Service (SARS) tax filing season is in full swing, with auto-assessments currently taking place. Many South Africans are expecting to receive a hefty refund for their non-provisional earnings over the last year. But this isn’t always the case….
SARS RETURNS: WHY YOU MAY NOT GET A REFUND
On social media, many South Africans have been celebrating the imminent opening of the SARS filing season. The tax administration company has already begun the process of auto-assessments, which take place between 7 and 20 July.
For some, this means a welcome refund, i.e., extra cash, for overpaid personal income taxes in the assessment year from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025.
But not everybody will receive a refund. Here is why….
Your employer has correctly calculated your tax deductions, or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax. Overcalculating or overtaxing equates to SARS paying you a refund. On the flip side, if your employer underpaid your PAYE, you are liable to pay a tax penalty directly to SARS.
You do not have allowable deductions like medical expenses, retirement funds, charitable contributions, and unreimbursed job expenses.
You did not work a whole year, and your PAYE calculations by your employer are accurate.
IMPORTANT DATES TO DIARISE
Here’s what to expect from the 2025 SARS tax filing season…
- Auto-assessments: 7 – 20 July 2025
- Filing season opens for non-provisional taxpayers who were not auto-assessed: 21 July – 20 October 2025
- Provisional taxpayers (people with multiple income streams): 21 July – 19 January 2026
ARE YOU EXPECTING A SARS REFUND THIS TAX FILING SEASON?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
