19/06/2026
SARS MAKES 2026 FILING SEASON EASIER WITH PHASED APPROACH
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says it has simplified the 2026 Filing Season process to provide taxpayers with greater clarity and certainty regarding submissions, refunds, and verification procedures.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 Filing Season campaign, SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu said the tax authority has adopted a phased approach to ease pressure on service channels and improve the taxpayer experience.
The Filing Season will begin with the Auto Assessment period from 1 July to 12 July 2026, during which SARS expects to issue approximately six million auto assessments. The process is aimed at taxpayers with less complex tax affairs whose tax information has been fully submitted by employers and other third-party data providers.
Dr Makhubu described Auto Assessment as a world-class innovation that allows SARS to automatically reconcile taxpayer information and issue assessments without requiring taxpayers to submit returns.
The broader filing period for taxpayers who are required to submit tax returns will run from 13 July to 23 October 2026. Provisional taxpayers will have until 22 January 2027 to file their returns.
SARS has urged taxpayers not to visit its service centres during the Auto Assessment period and instead wait for official notifications indicating whether they have been selected for the process.
The Commissioner acknowledged that Filing Season often creates uncertainty for taxpayers, who may be concerned about the information SARS holds, potential refunds, verification requirements, and supporting documentation.
"Our point of departure this year is our recognition that behind every tax number is a person trying to get it right while managing the pressures of daily life," said Dr Makhubu.
He encouraged taxpayers to conduct a pre-Filing Season "health check" by ensuring that their personal details, banking information, contact particulars, and tax affairs are up to date.
According to SARS, issues such as closed bank accounts, missing third-party data submissions, or outstanding returns from previous years could delay the assessment process and any potential refunds.
The revenue service has advised taxpayers to resolve these matters through its digital channels before Filing Season begins to ensure a smoother and more efficient experience.-