2025 SARS Tax Season Opens on July 7: What You Need to Know

Taxpayers must still exercise caution to prevent delays even if SARS is updating tax filing for 2025 with new digital tools.

SARS Launches New ‘Express Access’ for 2025 Tax Season

Quick overview

  • SARS is modernizing tax filing for 2025 with new digital tools, including the 'Express Access' feature for easier submissions.
  • The 2025 tax season opens on July 7 and closes on October 20, with early preparation recommended to avoid delays.
  • Taxpayers must ensure their banking and contact details are accurate to prevent issues with auto-assessments and refunds.
  • Despite automation, some manual follow-up may still be necessary for discrepancies, emphasizing the importance of careful review.

Taxpayers must still exercise caution to prevent delays even if SARS is updating tax filing for 2025 with new digital tools.

Key Dates for the 2025 Tax Season

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially announced the timeline for the 2025 tax season. Filing begins on July 7, 2025, and the deadline is October 20, 2025. Taxpayers are strongly encouraged to prepare their documents early to avoid last-minute complications or delays.

SARS 2025 Tax Dates

Income Taxpayer Open Close
Auto-Assessments 7 July 2025 20 July 2025
Individual 21 July 2025 20 October 2025
Provisional 21 July 2025 19 January 2026
Trusts 21 July 2025 19 January 2026

New ‘Express Access’ Tool for eFiling

In a move to streamline tax submissions, SARS is introducing “Express Access”, a feature added to the eFiling platform for the 2025 tax year. A new “Express” tab will now appear on the eFiling landing page, allowing taxpayers to more easily:

  • Access their auto-assessments for 2025
  • Submit tax returns for previous years
  • File their current year’s return
  • Update personal banking details or contact info instantly

This enhancement is designed to manage what SARS expects to be a record number of auto-assessments in 2025. The goal is to reduce user friction while enhancing digital efficiency.

Accuracy in Banking Details Remains Vital

Despite digital advances, SARS warns that incorrect or outdated banking details could still derail the automated process. Tax refunds may be delayed or halted entirely if banking information is invalid, forcing taxpayers to resolve issues manually—undermining the speed benefits of automation.

In addition, updated contact details are essential, as SARS will be communicating with taxpayers exclusively via digital channels, including email and SMS. This is crucial for receiving updates on auto-assessment status, submission reminders, and refund processing.

Auto-Assessments: Still Not Fully Passive

While SARS promotes auto-assessments as seamless, some taxpayers may find that manual follow-up is still necessary—especially if discrepancies or outdated details arise. There’s also a growing concern among some commentators that automation may be more beneficial to SARS’s collection efforts than to refund recipients.

Conclusion: With more automation, faster tools, and a record load of filings ahead, the 2025 tax season could be smoother for many—but only if personal data is accurate and up to date. Taxpayers should log into SARS eFiling early, verify their contact and banking details, and review their assessments carefully to avoid surprises or delays.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

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