SARS said the filing periods have been structured to support its auto-assessment system, which uses third-party information from employers, banks, medical schemes and other institutions to pre-populate taxpayer data and reduce the need for manual submissions.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released the key dates for the 2026 tax filing season, confirming when auto assessments will be issued and when taxpayers will be able to submit returns.
According to SARS, auto assessments will begin on 1 July 2026, with standard tax return submissions opening on 13 July. The timelines have been structured to support the revenue service’s auto-assessment system, which uses third-party data from employers, financial institutions and medical schemes to pre-populate taxpayer information and reduce the need for manual filing.
Auto assessments will run from 1 July to 12 July 2026. Non-provisional taxpayers will have from 13 July to 23 October 2026 to submit their returns.
Provisional taxpayers and trusts will have an extended filing period from 13 July 2026 until 22 January 2027.
