The 2025 tax season kicked off on Monday, 7 July with auto-assessments notices having been sent to a number of South African taxpayers.
Those who ‘did nothing’ and ‘accepted’ the auto-assessment (without actually clicking anywhere to accept) would’ve been impressed to have received a refund in their bank accounts the following day – or far quicker than the advertised ’72 hours’.
If you have been paid, lucky you. Money in the bank earning interest is certainly a far better situation than having to wait – and wait – for SARS to respond to any query you may have.
For others, there’s been mass confusion as what to do, especially if you ‘disagree’ with the auto-assessment – but it’s already been paid out.
For others who didn’t receive an auto-assessment, tax season for filing returns manually opens on Monday, 21 July.
Don’t delay!
Meanwhile, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has advised taxpayers who disagree with their auto-assessments not to wait until 21 July to take action – but to file corrected returns immediately.
With auto-assessments having begun on 7 July and running until 20 July, SARS warned that any delay in responding could result in finalised assessments, automatic refunds, or debt notifications being processed – even if they are incorrect.
“If you disagree with your assessment, you must file a corrected return through eFiling or the SARS MobiApp right away,” the revenue service said.
Key points for taxpayers
- Do nothing if you agree with the assessment – refunds are typically paid within 72 hours, sometimes even within a day
- Act immediately if you disagree – don’t wait for manual filing season to open on 21 July
- Refunds or debts under R100 will be rolled over to the next tax year
- Updated tax returns must include any additional income or deductions not reflected by SARS (e.g. rental income, medical aid, or retirement annuity contributions)
- Keep supporting documents ready in case SARS requests proof of any updates or changes
Tax season 2025: Key dates
| Taxpayer type | Open date | Close date |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-assessments | 7 July 2025 | 20 July 2025 |
| Individual filers | 21 July 2025 | 20 October 2025 |
| Provisional taxpayers | 21 July 2025 | 19 January 2026 |
| Trusts | 21 July 2025 | 19 January 2026 |
Special notes
- Provisional taxpayers: SARS is running an invite-only pilot auto-assessment programme. Those invited may access the Provisional Taxpayer Auto Assessment Request feature if they received official notification.
- Two-pot retirement withdrawals: Taxpayers not typically required to file may be auto-assessed if they withdrew savings from a retirement fund.
SARS emphasised that taxpayers remain responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their returns – whether filed manually or auto-assessed. Failure to act promptly may result in delays, incorrect refunds, or unintended penalties.
Have you already received a SARS tax season 2025 refund? How long did it take?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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